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South Africa - Flock to Marion - Eastern Extension

© Drakensberg Rockjumper by Adam Riley
South Africa - Flock to Marion - Eastern Extension 2028

07 Feb 2028 - 16 Feb 2028 (10 days)

ZAR65,995 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Jan Pienaar

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Tour Price (Per person): ZAR65,995 (USD4,034 * GBP3,066 * AUD5,755 * CAD5,701)

Single Supplement: ZAR3,795 (USD232 * GBP176 * AUD331 * CAD328)

South Africa’s eastern provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga offer some of the finest birding and wildlife experiences in the country. This wonderfully varied region supports an extraordinary diversity of habitats, from high-altitude grasslands and mist-belt forests to subtropical wetlands, savanna and broad river valleys, and with them comes an equally impressive array of birds and mammals.

Over ten days, this tour showcases many of the eastern region’s most celebrated birding destinations. We begin beneath the dramatic Drakensberg escarpment, where the legendary Sani Pass climbs into the highlands of Lesotho and offers access to a distinctive suite of montane specials. From there, we descend through the lush Natal Midlands, exploring endemic-rich forests and rolling countryside before continuing north to the wetlands and coastal habitats around St Lucia and iSimangaliso.

The journey then moves into the renowned game-rich reserves of Zululand, where superb bushveld birding is complemented by the chance to encounter some of Africa’s most iconic mammals. Mkhuze Game Reserve in particular is famed for its remarkable bird diversity, while the surrounding lowveld supports an exceptional selection of raptors, hornbills, bee-eaters, kingfishers and other characteristic species.

Our final major stop is Wakkerstroom, one of South Africa’s premier highveld birding areas and a stronghold for several sought-after grassland endemics and near-endemics. Here, broad open plains and rolling uplands provide a fitting contrast to the forests, mountains and wetlands of the earlier part of the tour.

Combining outstanding birding, dramatic scenery and excellent mammal viewing, this compact eastern South African journey offers an exceptional cross-section of the region’s natural riches and some of the most rewarding birding to be found anywhere in the country.

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

Top Birds

Blue, Wattled & Grey Crowned Cranes; Denham’s Bustard; Blue Korhaan; Southern Bald Ibis; Drakensberg Rockjumper; Gurney’s Sugarbird; Bush Blackcap; Ground, Bennett's & Olive Woodpeckers; Knysna, Purple-crested & Livingstone’s Turacos; Chorister Robin-Chat; Drakensberg & Karoo Prinias; Grey Tit; Karoo & Olive Thrushes; Fairy Flycatcher; Layard's & Chestnut-vented Warblers; Cape Parrot; Narina Trogon; Gorgeous & Olive Bushshrikes; Spotted & Orange Ground Thrushes; Cape & Sentinel Rock Thrushes; Rudd’s Apalis; Woodward’s & Cape Batises; Grey Waxbill; Brown & Bearded Scrub Robins; Buff-streaked & Sickle-winged Chats; Pink-throated Twinspot; Neergaard’s, Scarlet-chested & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds; Green Malkoha; Half-collared & Giant Kingfishers; Little & White-fronted Bee-eaters; Southern Boubou; Cape & Forest Canaries; Cape, Spectacled & Southern Brown-throated Weavers; Yellow-breasted Pipit.

Top Mammals

African Elephant; African Buffalo; White Rhinoceros; Meerkat; Black Wildebeest; Nyala; Greater Kudu; Plains Zebra; Common Warthog; Common Eland; Sloggett’s Vlei Rat; Common Hippopotamus.

Habitats Covered

Dune and mist-belt forest, acacia savanna, high elevation and coastal grasslands, mountains, wetlands

Expected Climate

Subtropical with chances for occasional rain, warm to hot in Kruger and Zululand, cooler in highlands, can be cold in winter

Max Group Size

5 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Moderate. Suitable for all birding / wildlife interest levels and most mobility capabilities. Can be a little tiring due to travel distances.

Accommodation

Good to comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Undemanding, most species provide good visuals. A small number of scarce/rare species.

Number of Species Expected

320 - 360

Other Attractions

Sani Pass and Drakensberg Mountains, dramatic scenery, Zulu culture, Indian Ocean, iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Photographic Opportunities

Good to very good. Some hides, mostly for mammal photography.

What our clients say about us

Keith Valentine
PS, South Africa - Birds & Wine 2018

I'd read and heard positive feedback about Rockjumper before I booked the tour, so I was quite pleased when Keith Valentine, our guide, and Rockjumper were able to exceed my expectations. I knew Keith's role within the firm, so my expectations were particularly high. Keith was terrific. He knows the birds in great detail, including their field marks, calls, and where they can be found. He also deeply understands what it means to provide his customers a great experience, which he did his best to provide. A true leader and nice person that others in the firm can hopefully learn from and follow. All in all, this was a trip of a lifetime for me and my wife.

James Wade Lee
FO, South Africa - Otero (Northern Pre-Tour Ext) 2026

excellent knowledge of birds and ability to point them out. very congenial. the trip was well organized and wonderful.

Keith Valentine
LAM, South Africa - Alvaro's Adventures 2025

I had the best time and found Keith Valentine the most knowledgeable guide. The trip was absolutely amazing and I would definitely travel with Rockjumper again. I particularly enjoyed the vast types of habitats we visited and the amazing numbers and diversity of the birds we observed. I look at my photos now and relive the trip. It was so much fun. The trip to Manyoni was utterly phenomenal. A trip of a lifetime observing the Big 5 in their native habitats. Thanks so much. The guides at Zebra Hills were very knowledgeable and all the extra info they gave us about animal behaviors was wonderful? I had no preconceived notions of what type of accommodations we would have, but I was very satisfied.

Gregory de Klerk
CS - South Africa 2019

As a guide myself for more than 10 years (starting back in the early 90s), I believe I can give a sincere and realistic review of Greg de Klerk's performance during our nearly 2 weeks in Eastern South Africa. With this in mind, I can say that Greg did an excellent of maintaining and overseeing all aspects of our trip from start to finish. I particularly felt that his capacity for maintaining the various and sometimes complex logistics was impressive and well above average. Whether it was making sure that everyone's accommodations were comfortable, or helping us find a restroom during one challenging afternoon, when the restaurant we were eating in randomly closed their bathrooms down, Greg was always "on top of his game." This is not to mention his excellent abilities in the field as well. As a professional wildlife biologist, I was very impressed with Greg's abilities "beyond " just identifying species, so to speak. ln other words, Greg gave impressive, in-depth natural history descriptions of nearly every species of wildlife we recorded.

Daniel Danckwerts
AC & MJ, South Africa 2019

Thanks to Rynart Bezuidenhout and Daniel Danckwerts for an unforgettable tour. Their effort to give us the very best experience was sublime. Not only was our ambition to see the wanted birds, animals and nature much more than fulfilled – our competent, friendly and openminded guides also managed to give a perspective into the life and culture in South Africa of today. This we appreciate a lot.

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Tour Route Map