This Birding, Wine and Big Game tour has been specifically crafted for those who wish to view the wide variety of South Africa’s most sought after birds and mammals, whilst also enjoying South Africa’s award-winning, famous wines. We base ourselves in Cape Town for the beginning of the tour, widely recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful cities and within easy reach of the country’s prime vineyards! From here we venture north along the Atlantic Coast, experiencing the diverse ecosystem of the West Coast National Park, before heading east for the interior dry country riches of the Tanqua Karoo. After exploring and sampling the best wines of the Western Cape, we wing our way to the province of KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa’s eastern seaboard. From our base within the Manyoni Private Game Reserve, a private 'Big 5' wildlife reserve, we shall enjoy comfortable game drives through some of the country’s finest birding and mammal habitat. From the endemic rich Fynbos Kingdom of the Western Cape to the teeming wildlife of Manyoni Private Game Reserve, this tour offers the very best of southern African birding, game viewing and wine!

Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.

Top Birds

Western Cape: Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Siskin, Protea and Cape Canaries, Orange-breasted, Malachite & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, African Penguin, African Oystercatcher, Crowned, Bank & Cape Cormorants, Black Harrier, Southern Black and Karoo Korhaans, Cape Spurfowl, Bokmakierie, Jackal Buzzard, Southern Boubou, Swee Waxbill, Karoo and Large-billed Larks, Karoo Eremomela, Ground Woodpecker, Cape Weaver, Cape Bulbul, Maccoa Duck, Cape Teal, Cape Shoveler, South African Shelduck, Victorin’s, Cinnamon-breasted, Rufous-eared and Namaqua Warblers, Cape Penduline Tit, White-backed Mousebird, Greater and Lesser Flamingos Zululand: Common Ostrich, Saddle-billed and Marabou Storks, African Openbill, Bateleur, Martial, Crowned, African Hawk- and Tawny Eagles, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Lappet-faced Vulture, Natal Spurfowl, Crested Guineafowl, Bronze-winged Courser, Southern White-faced Owl, Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, Neergaard’s and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, African Broadbill, Gorgeous, Orange-breasted & Grey-headed Bushshrikes, Pink-throated Twinspot, Rudd’s Apalis, Eastern Nicator, Bearded Scrub Robin, White-throated, White-browed and Red-capped Robin-Chats, White-eared Barbet, Black-bellied & Violet-backed Starlings, Narina Trogon, Blue-mantled & African Paradise Flycatchers, Black-bellied Bustard

Top Mammals

Western Cape: Afro-Australian Fur Seal, Common Eland, Blesbok (Bontebok), (Cape) Mountain Zebra, (Red) Hartebeest, Cape Grysbok, Cape Grey Mongoose Zululand: The ‘Big 5’ (Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, Black and White Rhinoceroses, African Buffalo), Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Serval, Waterbuck, Natal Red & Grey Duikers, Steenbok, Bushbuck, Common Wildebeest, Plains Zebra, Giraffe, Chacma Baboon and Vervet, Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, Cape Porcupine, Black-backed Jackal, White-tailed Mongoose, Common Genet, African Savanna Hare and Thick-tailed Greater Galago

Habitats Covered

Western Cape: mountains, Fynbos, coastal waters, semi desert, wetlands Zululand: acacia savanna, bushveld, sand forest, riverine forest, grasslands, rivers, wetlands

Expected Climate

Western Cape: subtropical with occasional rain, can be cold at times Zululand: subtropical and dry, warm to hot

Max Group Size

9 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

relaxed to moderate pace with undemanding walks

Accommodation

comfortable to very comfortable

Ease of Birding

mostly easy with a few tougher species

Other Attractions

Western Cape: Table Mountain, incredible coastal scenery, Tanqua-Karoo, great food & wine Zululand: vast, pristine wilderness, large numbers of African mega-fauna

Photographic Opportunities

excellent

What our clients say about us

Gareth Robbins
SH, South Africa Comp V 2015

Thoroughly enjoyed Gareth - sense of humour was great and he worked tirelessly to ensure everyone could see the bird.

Gregory de Klerk
KK, Eastern South Africa X 2016

Greg was a fantastic guide, and I hope that I can take another tour/bird with him again in the future. I greatly enjoyed birding and spending time with him, he was very personable and I'm glad that we were able to become friends. Greg knew where to search for the birds and was extremely knowledgeable about birds and other wildlife and natural history. I also greatly appreciated how Greg dealt with issues that arose with other guests, and how quickly he tried to step in and prevent problems from escalating further. Guiding can be a difficult job, and Greg did a terrific job.

Toni Geddes
AJ, South Africa 2022

Thank you Rockjumper for a fabulous time in South Africa. We had an amazing experience. The accommodations were fantastic, the office staff was on top of everything (thanks Hayley!), winery tours/tastings were a perfect way to end a day of birding. The combination of locations and varied points of focus - for those of us not too serious birders - made the trip beyond enjoyable. Thank you to our amazing guide Toni - she was fantastic, so knowledgeable not only of birds & wildlife but with all things botanical! Zebra Hills is a breathtaking place, we're trying to figure a time to get the whole family back for another adventure. 9 stars because we did miss a few birds and big game but frequently mother nature has other plans! Lovely time, lovely country, lovely people, looking forward to getting back sooner than later.

Douglas McCulloch
MC - South Africa 2019

Doug (Douglas McCulloch) is a gentleman and a scholar, and my husband and I very much appreciated his guiding. His knowledge of the birds, other animals, and plants encountered on the trip is tremendous. His ability to get us “onto the bird” was much appreciated – I can still hear him say, “just above the dot.” His communication skills are excellent, and his patience with each of us was un-ending. In addition, his knowledge of the natural history of the area was extensive and very helpful. He was also able to provide some information about the social, political and economic climate of Southern Africa without opinion or agenda. He made an effort to get to know each member of the tour and to be responsive to their particular interests with regard to the tour. His energy was unending – even including an evening walk to look for honey badgers when we had already had a long day and an excellent evening meal. Obviously, I cannot say enough good about him. We would definitely welcome an opportunity to tour with him in the future, should our economic situation provide for another Rockjumper adventure in Africa.

David Hoddinott
DS - South Africa 2021

The tour was expertly led by David Hoddinott, who was attentive to the clients and exceptionally knowledgeable. He ensured everyone had seen each species of bird encountered. The weather took a turn, but David was keen to stick out as long as it was safe to give us the best chance of maximising our species. Highly recommended.

South Africa - Birds, Wine & Big Game 2024

22 Jun 2024 - 03 Jul 2024 (12 days)

ZAR81,950 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Quinton Josop

Tour price (Per person): ZAR81,950 * USD4,293 * GBP3,534 * EUR4,065 * AUD6,726

Single Supplement: ZAR11,500 * USD602 * GBP496 * EUR570 * AUD944

Flight costs: ZAR3,100 * USD162 * GBP134 * EUR154 * AUD254

South Africa - Birds, Wine & Big Game 2025

19 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2025 (12 days)

ZAR86,000 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Quinton Josop

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): ZAR86,000 * USD4,505 * GBP3,709 * EUR4,266 * AUD7,058

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Tour Route Map

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