Name: South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026
Brand: Rockjumper Birding
Price: ZAR32,995

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Northern pre-tour Extension 2026

06 Feb 2026 - 12 Feb 2026 (7 days)

ZAR47,950 - 3 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

Tour price (Per person): ZAR47,950 * USD2,729 * GBP1,999 * EUR2,313 * AUD4,144

Single Supplement: ZAR3,550 * USD202 * GBP148 * EUR171 * AUD307

This tour pairs with the South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026. Check here to include it in your booking.

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Cape pre-tour Extension 2026

07 Feb 2026 - 12 Feb 2026 (6 days)

ZAR36,950 - 4 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

Tour price (Per person): ZAR36,950 * USD2,103 * GBP1,540 * EUR1,783 * AUD3,193

Single Supplement: ZAR2,800 * USD159 * GBP117 * EUR135 * AUD242

This tour pairs with the South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026. Check here to include it in your booking.

Flight costs (Linked Tour): ZAR2,310 * USD131 * GBP96 * EUR111 * AUD200

South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026

12 Feb 2026 - 21 Feb 2026 (10 days)

ZAR32,995 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Rockjumper Tour Leader TBC

Pricing notes : A meal supplement of ZAR5,000.00 will be charged per person to cover all meals for the duration of the Challenge.

Tour price (Per person): ZAR32,995 * USD1,878 * GBP1,375 * EUR1,592 * AUD2,851

Single Supplement: ZAR6,550 * USD373 * GBP273 * EUR316 * AUD566

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Cape post-tour Extension 2026

21 Feb 2026 - 26 Feb 2026 (6 days)

ZAR36,950 - 3 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Keith Valentine

Tour price (Per person): ZAR36,950 * USD2,103 * GBP1,540 * EUR1,783 * AUD3,193

Single Supplement: ZAR2,800 * USD159 * GBP117 * EUR135 * AUD242

This tour pairs with the South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026. Check here to include it in your booking.

Flight costs (Linked Tour): ZAR2,310 * USD131 * GBP96 * EUR111 * AUD200

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Eastern post-tour Extension 2026

21 Feb 2026 - 03 Mar 2026 (11 days)

ZAR73,950 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: David Hoddinott

Tour price (Per person): ZAR73,950 * USD4,209 * GBP3,083 * EUR3,568 * AUD6,390

Single Supplement: ZAR3,950 * USD225 * GBP165 * EUR191 * AUD341

This tour pairs with the South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026. Check here to include it in your booking.

This unique and fun birding and wildlife challenge provides the opportunity to explore the world-famous Kruger National Park in north-eastern South Africa, from its remote north to its vast south. Not only will you get to experience amazing birding and wildlife viewing, but you will also be assisting in saving a special bird from imminent extinction. All proceeds raised will go directly to BirdLife South Africa for vital research and conservation work to protect one of Africa’s, and indeed the world's, most endangered and little-known species – the White-winged Flufftail. Rockjumper Birding Tours has volunteered its resources and expertise to arrange and coordinate this event and will not be benefiting financially.

Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most famous, oldest, largest and magnificent reserves and will play host to this birding and wildlife challenge during February 2026. In total, a maximum of 8 teams will take part in what will be a light-hearted, exciting competition where teams explore Kruger National Park from top to bottom, recording all the species of birds and mammals they encounter over an 8-day period. Each team of up to 9 participants will have its own open safari vehicle, professional safari driver guide, and experienced volunteer birding leader. Each team will be awarded a single point for every species of bird and mammal, regardless of the difficulty associated with locating the species, and the team with the highest score at the end of the 7 days will be crowned the Birding & Wildlife Champions of Kruger. We will be exploring the length of Kruger from Punda Maria in the north to Berg-en-Dal in the south. The challenge will begin in Johannesburg, where we will enjoy a welcome dinner and a briefing. Thereafter, we will all transfer to Mopani and the challenge begins as we enter Kruger National Park. The challenge ultimately concludes in Berg-en-Dal for an epic final night of festivities and prize-giving.

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

Tour Facts

Top Birds

Common Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Red-crested Korhaan, Southern Ground Hornbill, Bateleur, Martial, Crowned, African Hawk- and Tawny Eagles, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Lizard Buzzard, Lappet-faced, Cape, White-backed, Hooded & White-headed Vultures, chances for the elusive African Finfoot, White-crowned Lapwing, Swainson’s & Natal Spurfowls, Coqui Francolin, Bronze-winged Courser, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Southern White-faced Owl, Pearl-spotted & African Barred Owlets, Southern Red-billed & Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills, Brown-headed Parrot, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Burchell’s & Cape Starlings, Magpie & Southern White-crowned Shrikes, Red-headed Weaver, White-throated Robin-Chat, Acacia Pied Barbet, Burchell’s Coucal, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Violet-eared Waxbill, Burnt-necked Eremomela, African Pygmy & Giant Kingfishers, Black, Woolly-necked, Saddle-billed & Yellow-billed Storks, African Openbill.

Top Mammals

The ‘Big 5’, Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Side-striped Jackal, Greater Kudu, Giraffe, Spotted Hyena, Nyala, Common and Central African Large-spotted Genets, Wild Cat, African Civet, Serval, Cape Porcupine, White-tailed Mongoose, Klipspringer, Thick-tailed Greater Galago, Honey Badger, Caracal.

Habitats Covered

acacia savanna, bushveld, terminalia woodland, riverine forest, grasslands, rivers, wetlands

Expected Climate

subtropical with occasional rain, warm to very hot

Max Group Size

Teams of 9 with with 1 expert leader and one driver guide

Tour Pace & Walking

UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

relaxed

Accommodation

comfortable

Ease of Birding

easy

Number of Species Expected

300+

Other Attractions

vast, pristine wilderness

Photographic Opportunities

excellent

What our clients say about us

OS - South Africa 2019

David Hoddinott was a superior guide with extensive knowledge (of course) about the avifauna, but also provided good knowledge about other nature matters as well as SA culture and geography apart from being an overall nice person. Would highly recommend.

DT, South Africa

Our short custom tour with two day trips out of Cape Town was really excellent. Our guide Julian was knowledgeable and engaging and generally a great fit for our small family of three. We found almost all our main target species and Julian was always quick to set up the scope to ensure we all got great views of the more distant birds. As a family with a range of interests including not only birds, but also mammals and plants, we really appreciated that Julian found the right balance between trying hard to find some of the more difficult birds and allowing some extra time for studying plants, especially at Kirstenbosch. Thanks Julian, for a great couple of days! Thanks also to Daniel and Laverne for your help with planning and logistics!

JH, Cape & Kruger II 2015

Heinz was incredible. His knowledge and personality were wonderful. What a wonderful young man! We had an incredible time.

RT, South Africa 2018

As an experienced world traveller and birder, I must say that the Eastern South Africa and Cape Extension III tours went beyond my already high expectations. All in all, we saw nearly 540 bird species, plus many mammals, including the "Big Five". Our guide, Andre Bernon, really made an effort for us all to see each and every species, and was also very knowledgeable about reptiles, mammals, South African history etc. An excellent guide!

MH & AH, South Africa 2022

Our group of six was very lucky to have Julian Parsons and Musa as our tour guide and driver! Excellent knowledge of birds, biomes, and local culture and politics. Also both had a great sense of humor and they were adaptable to our group's moods: the perfect match for our group! We would recommend both of them for any future tours! Bottom line, a very memorable trip with lots of great memories. Thanks to all.

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Northern pre-tour Extension 2026

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Cape pre-tour Extension 2026

South Africa - Kruger Challenge 2026

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Cape post-tour Extension 2026

South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Eastern post-tour Extension 2026