Tim Cockcroft

12 Testimonials Write a testimonial for Tim

Tim is an excellent guide. After the first day in and around Port Alfred (Barthurst etc), we did a second day out to Grahamstown for Karoo birds. Both days hugely successful. He is very knowledgeable on butterflies and other insects, as well as on local history etc. He is a lot of fun and super easy-going. I recommend him very highly. Well done and thanks, Tim ????????

Spent a half day birding with Tim around the Port Alfred area. It was a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. The success of the day was purely down to Tim’s extensive knowledge of birds, the habitat and their calls. It was well worth the cost and I would have no hesitation to recommend him to other visiting birders. I will definitely book again.

Firstly, we have the feeling that the Port Alfred area is probably a bit of undiscovered bit of birding paradise, the variety is quite surprising. There is quite a range of habitats which brings with it a considerable diversity of species. Some are quite unexpected, like the presence of narina trogons in the area. Then, Tim, born and bred in the area, has a length and breadth of knowledge of the local environment which I'm sure will take some beating. In an afternoon and morning I was able to add 9 "lifers" to my quite decent sized list. Tim also has a very engaging personality which makes the time "Fly By!" We certainly highly recommended a birding trip to Port Alfred - and the engaging of Tim to enrich your birding knowledge and experience.

My husband and I had a wonderful full day tour with Tim. In just 8 hours he helped us locate 10 of the lifers on our list. Two of these are listed as uncommon and several are described as 'secretive' or 'remains concealed in dense foliage,' so the result of our tour is a testament to Tim's hard work and dedication to his clients. The highlight of our day was finding the Narina Trogon which I have been longing to see for many years. Such a special celebration as we stood beneath the trees, sharing high 5's all round! We really enjoyed Tim's company throughout the day and are still amazed at his ability to recognise bird calls. We highly recommend Tim as a birding guide. So do yourself a favour and book a tour!

We booked a half day with Tim, it ended in a full day because the lifers seemed to be unending. Tim is an extremely informative and knowledgeable guide. He knows exactly where to find a specific bird. He went through so much trouble to find the Narina Trogan which was one of our ultimate birds to find. We can definitely recommend Tim as a bird guide (and joker). Steven and Angela from Cape Town

We had another great birding tour with Tim while on holiday back in our home sunny South Africa. Tim showed us numerous bird habitats which were very productive thanks to Tim’s keen ear and expertise. We saw a wide variety of bird species, as well as many animals and beautiful views. Tim is knowledgable and clearly passionate about birding. We highly recommend Tim for a birding tour. Samantha and Brad Rich, Toronto Canada

I only had one morning to spend on birding after a work trip. Unfortunately it was a very windy day, but Tim planned a special itinerary through a beautiful landscape of farmland and nature reserves, and showed me some unique birding sites in unexpected places. He found me no less than four lifers, despite the stiff breeze and clouds of dust, which was remarkable! He has a wealth of useful, detailed and entertaining knowledge and knows the environment he lives and works in like the back of his hand.

We had another very enjoyable birding tour with Tim yesterday . There are many different habitats in the Port Alfred area and Tim certainly knows where to look for the wide variety of bird species which are prolific here . He is very professional and his knowledge of birds and bird calls is truly impressive . We highly recommend Tim for a five star birding tour , such an uplifting and enriching experience ! Anthony and Trevorlyn Adams Port Elizabeth , South Africa

Tim is a super guy and really knowledgeable guide. He's absolutely fantastic with bird calls. With Tim's help I was able to see 6 bird species I'd never seen before (even though I'm a frequent visitor to the area!). If you're in the Port Alfred area and enjoy birds/ birding definitely give Tim a call.

20.01.2024 wonderful morning birding with Tim Cockcroft Tim has excellent knowledge of birds and where to find them, specially in the Port Alfred area. He provided interesting and relevant information about bird behaviour. His ability to imitate and recognise bird calls was incredible and was an invaluable asset to assist with our sightings. We had many close and exciting viewings, including the NarinaTrogan, European Honey Buzzard and Dark Backed Weaver which were just 3 of the 10 lifers we saw. Tim really lived up to our 5 star rating. Janet Webber and Anne Collins

Tim gave us a special time that we will remember always, enriching us through his knowledge and skills. As thrilling as it was to see many birds, the joy of the day was derived equally from spending time with a man so attuned to his environment. Our little group included people of varying levels of knowledge and enthusiasm, but Tim made none of us feel inept, while the most experienced among us took so much from the outing. We will be back!

Myself and my wife have twice hired Tim as a guide when we visit South Africa. Tim is extremely knowledgeable as well as personable and funny. He is very good at finding birds, identifying them (both by sight and song), and getting his clients into a position where they can see and photograph the bird. His familiarity with the local area ensures that you will have a very productive outing and see lots of birds. Although he cannot guarantee a particular species (they are wild animals after all and are not at his beck-and-call), he will do everything he can to give you the best opportunity to see it. On our last trip he was able to find our most sought-after species, the Narina Trogon. We had been looking for this bird for several years and Tim knew exactly where to go for us to find one. It was the highlight of our visit. Tim always has suggestions on the best possible sites and a back-up plan in case weather or other circumstances work against you. I can unequivocally recommend Tim and his services as a guide. - Phil Heise, Crestview, Florida, USA