Background

Hi there , my name is Herman Kielblock and I look forward to guiding you around Cape Town and the Western Cape of South Africa on your next birding holiday . I was born and raised in the town of Somerset West, between False Bay and the rugged Hottentots Holland mountains in the Western Cape, blessed to have nature at my doorstep from a young age. My parents both had a love for nature and the outdoors, so it was natural for me to develop an interest in all things natural from a young age.

Herman Kielblock

I eventually turned my passion for the outdoors into a career of nature guiding across Southern Africa that has spanned the last 22 years; guiding in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. As my experience and knowledge as a nature guide progressed, I was drawn to the smaller things in nature; such as the fynbos vegetation, the marine environment, geology and a passion for birding; and that’s how Herman’s birding tours was born. I now make my homebase in Bellville , around 20 minutes from the Cape Town CBD.

Birding Tour philosophy

I am a professional nature guide with an all round love for nature and a passion for birding. I believe birding cannot stand alone from all the other aspects of nature and therefore I aim to provide a birding tour where you will also learn more of the geology, marine environment, fynbos, mammals and climate . I provide an experience with birds being the priority but not the basis on which the enjoyment or success of the experience is dependent. Novices, experienced birders and nature lovers are all most welcome.

Freelance guiding experience

I have guided extensively all over Southern Africa; I have lead many private guided tours but have also been privileged to freelance for the following travel and tour companies:

Umkulu safaris
Bhejane 4×4 tours
Jenman African safaris
Banoa
Exodus Adventure travels
Encounters Travel
Uros Travel

Qualifications

Field Guides Association of Southern Africa

FGASA Marine guide Southern Africa
FGASA Nature guide Southern Africa
Fynbos Biome specialist
FGASA Regional SKS birding course In progress
Western Cape Cultural Tour guide, DEAT registered

      
 Excellent5.028 reviews
 5.0
 Excellent28 reviews
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      Posted on Google  
   
   Carolyn DiGuiseppi 
 10 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Spent two well planned days with Herman, one around Cape Town and the other the Overberg tour. Fantastic birding including the Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird. Learned a lot about the birds, as well as their environment. And a bit of history and culture as well, which was great as one of us was not a birder.  Herman is excellent company, friendly and warm with a great sense of humor. Highly recommend!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Emily Larkin 
 15 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +9
My husband and I spent three days birding in and around Cape Town in August. Herman was an excellent guide! We learned so much from him about the birds, the area, and much more. We visited Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, Betty's Bay, West Coast National Park and more. Among the highlight birds were the Cape Rockjumper, Black Harrier, Cape Sugarbird, Blue Cranes, Spotted Eagle Owls, all of the sunbirds, the cormorant rookery, and, of course, the African Penguins. We saw many, many more birds than that, but those really stand out. Herman provides lunch on his tours and he was able to accomodate my allergy to red meat. We would definitely book him again!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Pauline Ko 
 16 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. J'ai fait une sortie ornithologique avec Herman et c'était super !
Il est passionné et passionnant. Son aptitude à reconnaître tant de chants et cris d'oiseaux est impressionnante. On a observé beaucoup d'espèces en une journée.
Je suis très contente d'avoir pu faire une sortie avec lui. Il était important pour moi que la sortie soit éthique et sans repasse, et c'était le cas. ❤️
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Julen vega marin 
 33 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Gran día conociendo la naturaleza y avifauna de Ciudad del Cabo y alrededores con un anfitrión espectacular.
Con gran conocimiento de fauna, flora y del entorno y con gran entusiasmo por dar a conocer su ciudad.
Vivimos momentos especiales, algunos mágicos y también divertidos.
Sin duda repetiríamos la experiencia y lo recomendamos 100%
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Nancy Kinkade 
 37 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Herman spent two days with my husband and me birding Cape Town and Western Cape. He is an excellent birder and made sure that we both got to see each species he found and was patient as we worked to get good pictures. We were so happy to get almost 100 species often seeing both male and female. This was our first time in South Africa and it was wonderful. We enjoyed talking to him during the drives from place to place and must say he is an excellent driver.
The food was good, conversations great and l must say we laughed a lot. He went out of the way to stop at a pharmacy for me and even took the time to recommend a place for dinner. I highly recommend Herman!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jean Ou 
 108 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
My friend and I booked a one-day birding tour with Herman in Cape Town, and the experience exceeded our expectations. From the very beginning, he was responsive to all of our questions and communications. On the day of the tour, he arrived ahead of time, was professional and courteous throughout, and even escorted us back to our hotel afterward.

His knowledge of the local birdlife was exceptional. He was able to quickly locate many of the species we were hoping to see and shared fascinating information about them along the way. Thanks to his expertise, we saw an impressive number of birds, including several of our target species.

I highly recommend him to anyone interested in birding in the Cape Town area. His professionalism, friendliness, and outstanding birding skills made for a memorable and successful day in the field.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Yan Liu 
 108 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Herman is a very passionate, knowledgeable, professional, and easy going birding guide.  We had a wonderful birding day in Cape Town with his guide.  We photographed around 50 species of birds in a winter day.  I will definitely ask him for a birding tour if I am back to South Africa.  Also, I will recommend him to my friends.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Alison Gardiner 
 188 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I enjoyed a full day of birding in the Western Cape, starting with the Strandfontein Water Purification Plant where we saw and identified hundreds of waterbirds. We progressed to El Rooi, and I was happy to see a number of the Fynbos birds. Herman is a knowledgeable guide and I learnt a lot about the Fynbos Biome in the course of our viewing. At Stoney point I learnt how to distinguish between the different species of Cormorants. The final stop was at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, where I was able to identify more Cape "lifers". More importantly, we had time to observe their habits in the peaceful garden setting. We made our way back to Cape Town through the tranquil Wheatbelt of the Overberg. I can thoroughly recommend Herman's day tour. His experience as a guide is evident as he shared a vast amount of information in a relaxed and conversational manner.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Walter Beyleveldt 
 217 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend. Fantastic day out with Herman. Very knowledgeable, great company, tailors tour to find your target birds.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Lennart Eriksson 
 234 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An utterly perfect day and more was spent with Harman. He took us both to the best birding spots in and around Cape Town. We saw a range of birds from Fynbos species to water birds. Cannot recommend a more perfect guide and tour to meet your most exacting needs.