Southern African Safaris, Birding & Wildlife Tours

Lawson’s Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris offer a number of  Southern African safaris focusing on birding and wildlife tours. We are based in the picturesque town of Nelspruit, South Africa, not far from the south-western corner of the Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s greatest conservation areas. So, we’re lucky to have such awesome birding and game viewing on our doorstep offering truly amazing safaris in Southern Africa!

But who are we? Well, we started out 30 years ago this year (2020) as probably the first dedicated South African birding tour outfit. Back in the day when maps were paper and learning was done the hard way – by boots-on-the-ground research!

Over the last three decades we’ve grown somewhat (but still maintain that family business ethos). And we’ve expanded our range of Southern African safaris to cover more countries on the continent and including custom tours and safaris. So, we now operate in much of Southern Africa and select countries in East Africa such as Kenya and Tanzania.

Moreover, we are keen birders and general natural history enthusiasts, photographers and travellers. And what better way to combine these passions than to run a birding and wildlife travel company? Sharing these passions with fellow nature enthusiasts from across the globe is what we do. And we do it very well – according to our clients, that is!

We have a collection of professional guides we use for our Southern African safaris and wildlife tours, all of whom are utterly professional, passionate about what they do, experienced, knowledgeable, capable, fun and all-around good characters. All are good all-rounders and most have their own areas of specialization, be it birding, photography, herpetology etc.

So, if you are thinking of a birding, wildlife, or  asafari in Southern Africa we’d be honoured to set it up for you. “You’ll want to return to Africa with us time and time again!”

Our Guides:

Leon Marais (Director / Marketing / Guide): Leon was born in South Africa and is a THETA/FGASA (Level 3) and SKS National Birding Specialist Guide. He was acquainted with the joys of flying creature watching by his granddad and has been viewing winged animals through optics for as far back as he can recall. After school he read for a Postgraduate B Soc Sc Degree in Geography/Environmental Science at the University of Natal and afterwards started his controlling profession in the private cabin safari industry, going through around 6 years directing in the Sabi Sands, Kapama Game Reserve and Addo Elephant National Park, where he built up an exceptional affection for African well evolved creatures and the hunters specifically.

Bert Palthe (Guide): Bert is a long-standing enlisted South African Tourist Guide and has an abundance of involvement, both in the travel industry and natural life protection. In the wake of qualifying as an expert in Nature Conservation, he proceeded to oversee select private game stores in South Africa’s Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces. Bert is currently a full-time visit pioneer, having spent various years in the Western Cape however is presently situated in the Magaliesburg. He has an enthusiastic interest in untamed life, winged animals and nature preservation by and large and appreciates offering his insight to other people. He talks familiar Dutch and is a top pick with our customers. He drives visits in South Africa as well as in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia.

We are members of SATSA (South African Tourism Services Association) and are SATSA Bonded.