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South Africa - Flock to Marion - Sani Pass post-tour extension

© Bokmakierie by Adam Riley
South Africa - Flock to Marion - Sani Pass post-tour extension 2028

07 Feb 2028 - 11 Feb 2028 (5 days)

ZAR25,995 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

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Tour Price (Per person): ZAR25,995 (USD1,557 * GBP1,199 * AUD2,318 * CAD2,258)

Single Supplement: ZAR835 (USD50 * GBP39 * AUD74 * CAD73)

South Africa’s eastern escarpment rises dramatically into the rugged peaks and high plateaux of the Drakensberg, creating one of the country’s most spectacular and rewarding birding regions. At its heart lies the legendary Sani Pass, where steep mountain slopes, alpine grasslands and the highlands of Lesotho support a distinctive assemblage of sought-after and highly localised birds.

This short tour is designed to showcase the very best of this remarkable region, with particular emphasis on South Africa’s montane and escarpment endemics. Foremost among our targets are Drakensberg Rockjumper and Gurney’s Sugarbird, representatives of two bird families found only in southern Africa. We will also search for a superb supporting cast that includes Mountain Pipit, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Drakensberg Siskin, Bush Blackcap, Barratt’s Warbler and Orange Ground Thrush.

The journey through Sani Pass itself is a highlight, climbing from lush foothills and forested valleys into the stark beauty of the high Lesotho Plateau. Along the way we will watch for both Cape and Bearded Vultures soaring over the escarpment, while lower-elevation habitats offer opportunities for the increasingly threatened Cape Parrot and a variety of other regional specials.

Combining dramatic mountain scenery with a concentrated selection of some of South Africa’s most distinctive birds, this compact extension offers an excellent introduction to the avifauna of the Drakensberg and is equally rewarding for first-time visitors and seasoned southern African birders.

Top Birds

Blue Crane, Denham's Bustard, Southern Bald Ibis, Cape & Bearded Vultures, Black Harrier, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Gurney's Sugarbird, Bush Blackcap, Ground Woodpecker, African Rock Pipit, Cape Longclaw, Knysna Turaco, Cape Parrot, Olive Bushshrike, Bokmakierie, Layard's Warbler, Orange Ground Thrush, Cape & Sentinel Rock Thrushes, Buff-streaked Chat, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Drakensberg Siskin, Forest Canary. 

Top Mammals

Grey Rhebok, Common Eland, Springhare, Slogget's Ice Rat. 

Habitats Covered

mist-belt forests, high-elevation grasslands, mountains, wetlands. 

Expected Climate

Subtropical conditions with chances for rain. Cool in the highlands. 

Max Group Size

5 with 1 Rockjumper tour leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Relaxed. 

Accommodation

Excellent

Ease of Birding

Easy

Number of Species Expected

150+

Other Attractions

Sani Pass into Lesotho, excellent scenery

Photographic Opportunities

Good but time limited

What our clients say about us

David Hoddinott
KL, South Africa - Western Bird Photography Tour (Small Group) 2026

This relaxed tour was absolutly perfect for me and my husband Jan Wendeby. Everything was perfect, I enjoyed every minute of the tour.

David Hoddinott
G, South Africa Mega

I would like to add my thanks to you, Crystal, and all the other people associated with Rockjumper for making this the best birding tour in which I have participated. David's leadership was superb as our trip bird count shows. I would be happy to go with Rockjumper on future trips. Thanks again for your assistance during the Mega South Africa trip.

Keith Valentine
JT & LT - Birds & Wine

We are writing to say thank you for all you did for us on our recent Birds and Wine tour with you and Alvaro. We really enjoyed meeting you and spending two weeks touring with you around South Africa. The itinerary that you put together with Alvaro was great and all the arrangements worked out to give us a wonderful tour. Your knowledge of the birds and patience spent helping us find and see all the birds really helped us to enjoy our experience and increase our knowledge. We spent much of our time in the Manyoni Reserve in the vehicle with you and it was always exciting finding the wildlife and hearing your analysis of the situation. We also truly appreciated your selection of wineries to visit, the wines we tasted, and the wines you selected to take with us to Zebra Hills Lodge. Your knowledge of the wine and wineries greatly added to our pleasure on the tour. We live in the Northern California wine region and the opportunity to compare South Africa’s wine with the product we know was very enlightening for us. Both the wineries we visited and the wines we tasted convinced us that we were in an excellent wine producing region of the world.

James Wade Lee
WD, South Africa - Eastern (Small Group) III 2026

A guide with a wealth of knowledge on ornithological topics, an excellent ear for bird calls, an expert at identifying species, and a thorough understanding of where to find particular species. I am very pleased with the trip you organised.

David Hoddinott
MW, South African Mega 2015

David was a fantastic guide whose love for his homeland, and passion for its wildlife, shone brightly. I couldn’t have wished for a better guide to show me the wonders of South Africa.

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