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if my count is right I have about 121 days before leaving for Kruger: 2 nights Shimuwini, 1 night Mopani and 2 nights Sirheni. Already I am like a kid planning meals, routes, when to do what, picnic sites, BIRD HIDES and making list of species that I will be looking for. My little head is spinning!

My better half (not an avid birder) and my 2 kids (they are avid at being kids!) will be joining me and I figured that since my parents (not birders) had the will to take me to Kruger as a young child some 30 years ago, I will treat them to a Kruger visit (they haven't been since then).

Now then my conundrum : I last saw Punda and Pafuri on my honeymoon some 13 years back and frankly I got more honeymooning done than bird watching. Considering that I will have the whole non-birding family in tow and that I will not be staying further north than Sirheni, would it be worth driving to Pafuri for some good birding or would it be better to look for some birding hot spots nearer to the camps where I will be staying, allowing more time with a great family

Any advice is welcome as long as it doesnt involve accidently leaving the famility at one of the look-outs Some advice on which spots to visit would be great. Also, I've read of some good birding in the Olifants area - is it worth driving down to there?

Shimuwini: 22 June
Shimuwini: 23 June
Mopani: 24 June
Sirheni: 25 June
Sirheni: 26 June

Chuck the birds... your family is more important!

If you MUST bird, the areas where you will be staying are already great for birding, so you do not have to make any special detours to places like Punda's Mahonie Loop, Pafuri's Crooks Corner and Picnic Spots.

A good skill to learn is to get your eyes working independently of each other (like a chameleon's); that way you can bird unobtrusively with the eye on the far side of the family while maintaining eye-contact with family members with the near-side eye...

You can see birds in the wilderness and family in the city .

A good line (true).....I have seen more leopards while looking for birds.

Also, you might just awaken an interest. When I go with non-birders, I don't overdo it, but try to show them the colourful/large/interesting birds.

Tricky, good luck.

Etienne, I did chuckle at your post.

Now, just a word, as a mother, not a birder... if you can change your camps, I would. Best birding is done if you can leave your children to do their own thing. With all due respect for lovers of the north, your camps are really surrounded by lots of Mopani. Not bad for mystics, horrible for children.

The north, in winter, is for purists.

If you can, go south. You don't even have to go very south. Find a place where the kids can play.