phone-icon 1-888-990-5552 email-icon info@rockjumper.com
user-icon
Log in / Register

South Africa - Flock to Marion - Western Endemics

© Karoo Eremomela by Clayton Burne
South Africa - Flock to Marion - Western Endemics 2028

21 Jan 2028 - 31 Jan 2028 (11 days)

ZAR69,995 SPACES AVAILABLE

client-img

Tour Leader: Rockjumper Tour Leader TBC

Book Now

Tour Price (Per person): ZAR69,995 (USD4,280 * GBP3,254 * AUD6,109 * CAD6,050)

Single Supplement: ZAR4,895 (USD299 * GBP228 * AUD427 * CAD423)

Southern Africa’s dry west is a vast and captivating region that remains well off the traditional birding circuit. Stretching from the fynbos-covered mountains of the Western Cape into the open plains and rugged semi-deserts of the Karoo, this remarkable corner of South Africa supports an exceptional concentration of endemic and range-restricted birds, including some of the country’s most sought-after larks.

Designed as an exciting extension ahead of Flock to Marion, this tour explores a selection of these seldom-visited landscapes in search of the many special birds adapted to South Africa’s arid west. Particular attention will be given to the region’s endemic larks, alongside a superb supporting cast of bustards, coursers, chats, canaries and other dry-country specialists.

Our journey will also take us through two globally significant botanical regions found nowhere else on Earth: the Cape Floristic Region and the Succulent Karoo. From spectacular fynbos-clad mountain slopes, home to Cape Rockjumper and a host of Cape endemics, we venture into the starkly beautiful Karoo, where wide horizons and seemingly empty plains conceal an impressive diversity of highly localised birds. Returning towards Cape Town, we round out the experience along the Atlantic coast, with opportunities to visit the impressive Cape Gannet colony and productive wetlands and strandveld of the West Coast.

Combining some of South Africa’s least-visited birding areas with a remarkable collection of endemics and dramatic scenery, this extension offers the perfect introduction to the country before the adventure to Marion Island begins.

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

Top Birds

Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Siskin, Cape Bulbul, Protea & Black-headed Canaries, Orange-breasted, Dusky, Greater Double-collared & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, African Oystercatcher, Crowned, Bank & Cape Cormorants, Hartlaub’s Gull, Southern Black, Northern Black & Karoo Korhaans, Ludwig’s & Denham's Bustards, Cape Spurfowl, Victorin’s, Namaqua, Cinnamon-breasted, Layard’s & Rufous-eared Warblers, Fairy & Fiscal Flycatchers, Karoo Eremomela, Dune (Barlow’s), Red, Sclater’s, Stark's, Karoo-long-billed, Sabota, Cape Clapper, Agulhas Long-billed & Cape Long-billed Larks, Capped Wheatear, Cape Penduline Tit, White-backed Mousebird, Karoo & Tractrac Chats, Karoo Scrub Robin, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Cape Grassbird, Karoo Prinia, Pririt Batis, Verreaux's, Crowned & Booted Eagles, South African Shelduck, Karoo Thrush, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Burchell's Courser, Orange River White-eye, Greater Kestrel, Forest & Cape Canaries.

Top Mammals

Afro-Australian Fur Seal, Common Eland, Blesbok (Bontebok), Mountain Zebra, Hartebeest, Cape Grey Mongoose, Cape Grysbok, Springbok, Klipspringer, Grey Rhebok, Chacma Baboon, Springbok and Meerkat

Habitats Covered

mountains, semi-desert, fynbos, coastal waters, wetlands, dunes, gravel plains

Expected Climate

temperate with occasional rain, can be cold in winter. The hinterland reaches high temperatures during the day, before plunging at night.

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, target driven. Not suitable for novice birders. Can be a little tiring due to travel distances.

Accommodation

Comfortable lodges.

Ease of Birding

Some scarce and rare species that may require greater effort to find that normal.

Number of Species Expected

220 - 240

Other Attractions

Tanqua-Karoo, Table Mountain, Cape Peninsula, great food & wine

Photographic Opportunities

Good to very good.

What our clients say about us

André Bernon
A

A massive thanks has to go to André, the ranger, he was exceptional. His knowledge of wildlife was incredible. We were able to learn so much about the animals, plants and he is the 'bird' guru!! We cant thank him enough for his time, going out of his way to show us everything possible, we saw everything.

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

Highly satisfied with the tour. We saw a lot of the countryside and found far more birds than I expected. David certainly knows his birds and his country very well. Food and accommodations were excellent. I would recommend the tour.

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.

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.

Gregory de Klerk
SK & TG, South Africa

Greg de Klerk was a truly superb guide, and his supporting guides were a great complement to his leadership. He was knowledgeable beyond our highest expectations, patient, helpful, well-organized, and disciplined. If we have the chance to do further tours with you, chances are very high that I would specifically look for ones that Greg leads, because he personally made the tour special. His expertise and professionalism speak well for the South African guiding profession, your company, and the country as a whole. We felt genuinely fortunate to be introduced to South Africa by Greg. Susan and I have worked with several South Africans over the course of our careers, and they all returned back to their homeland when they stopped working. Greg’s display of the country showed us why they all do this, and he personally could not have been a more clear-headed and knowledgeable spokesperson for the country (including its challenges). We normally dread long drives, but he made them not only tolerable, but educational, fun, and memorable. You have a special resource in your employ, the kind of person who can go beyond creating satisfied customers, and convert us into stark raving fans of your tours. We hope you realize that, because it is not common.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Your details

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form

  • Contact permission

    We would love to send you Newsletters (twice yearly).via Type a message, Promotions/Discounts (weekly), Blog Articles/Image of the Month (monthly) and other content that we think you would find interesting. If you are happy with this then please select your preferences below. If you would like to unsubscribe from previous subscriptions, or leave our mailing list entirely, then please do so by visiting the Preference Centre link at the bottom of these emails.

Route Map

Tour Route Map