Photographer: Clayton Burne   Destination: South Africa

 

 

South Africa is a stunning land of contrasts, with rugged coastlines and high mountain peaks overlooking dry, arid landscapes that gradually give way to lush bush and forest habitats. Reflecting the diversity of its landscapes, South Africa hosts a melting pot of cultures, resulting in a captivating history and a delightful variety of accommodations, wines, and cuisine. It is also the birthplace of Rockjumper Birding Tours, launched 27 years ago in 1998, and is home to many of Rockjumper’s staff and tour leaders.

 

Among the slopes and rocky crags of South Africa’s Cape Fold Mountains, the endemic Cape Rockjumper pictured above, can be found. This species is perfectly adapted for leaping and striding between boulders in its rugged habitat. The male is boldly marked, with a deep rufous belly and rump, a striking black throat, and a sharp white moustache, while the female is more subtle with a softer mottled burgundy chest.

 

The world’s rockjumpers are a unique group of birds native to Southern Africa. They are largely localized in distribution, favouring high mountain areas; however, the Cape Rockjumper can occasionally be found at sea level where the Cape Fold Mountains rise dramatically from the shores of False Bay. For years, the taxonomy of rockjumpers baffled ornithologists, as they were traditionally classified with families such as thrushes, old world warblers, and babblers. They are now recognized as most closely related to the Rockfowl (Picathartes) of West and Central Africa, forming a sister family. The family Chaetopidae consists of just two species: the Cape Rockjumper, endemic to the Western Cape province, and the Drakensberg Rockjumper, which inhabits high elevations in the Drakensberg Mountain range across the provinces of Kwazulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the isolated mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. While both species are never common, they can be relatively easy to observe in suitable habitats. They are usually confiding and vocal, often heard singing from a boulder or calling between pairs or family members. Using their characteristic jumps, they search for food on the ground among grass tussocks or at the bases of small bushes before leaping onto nearby rocks. Unique and full of character, rockjumpers are a proud symbol of South Africa’s rich endemic birdlife and a highlight of any birding adventure in the country.

 

Beyond the striking Cape Rockjumper, South Africa offers wildlife experiences that few places can match. Here, vibrant birdlife meets Africa’s iconic Big Five. South Africa is an excellent place to connect with other sought-after bird families like the monotypic Secretarybird and it is also the only place in the world to see both species of Sugarbird: Gurney’s and Cape. Other families like bustards, larks, sunbirds, weavers and widowbirds and bushshrikes are particularly well represented alongside top iconic wildlife like Lion, African Elephant, White and Black Rhinoceros, Giraffe, African Wild Dog, Cheetah and Leopard!

 

Experience fabulous cuisine and quality wines as you explore the Western Cape, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, take a trip up Sani Pass to discover the heights of the Drakensberg Mountain range and its exceptional array of endemics or visit one of the world’s greatest conservation areas, the Kruger National Park, for thrilling birding and wildlife viewing! All this and more can be enjoyed on our tours below.