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 * USD2,737 * GBP2,015 * EUR2,325 * AUD4,147

Single Supplement: ZAR3,550 * USD203 * GBP149 * EUR172 * 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 * USD2,109 * GBP1,553 * EUR1,792 * AUD3,196

Single Supplement: ZAR2,800 * USD160 * GBP118 * EUR136 * 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 * USD132 * GBP97 * EUR112 * 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 * USD1,884 * GBP1,387 * EUR1,600 * AUD2,854

Single Supplement: ZAR6,550 * USD374 * GBP275 * EUR318 * 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 * USD2,109 * GBP1,553 * EUR1,792 * AUD3,196

Single Supplement: ZAR2,800 * USD160 * GBP118 * EUR136 * 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 * USD132 * GBP97 * EUR112 * 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 * USD4,222 * GBP3,108 * EUR3,586 * AUD6,396

Single Supplement: ZAR3,950 * USD226 * GBP166 * EUR192 * AUD342

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 2018

Our leader, Andre Bernon, was very good and very knowledgeable, he was also good with general South African knowledge, which was a good thing.

RK, South Africa

The tour was fantastic. Julian Parsons is an excellent guide. Outstanding with both birds and people. Several times he was required to troubleshoot problems and issues and did so without distracting from the trip in any way. Our driver was also fantastic. Two flat tires, but he quickly changed out to the spare and arranged to have both fixed, after hours! He was very personable and incredibly safe driver. We always arrived on time (or early) without incident, including when we had the flat tires.

RH & SH, South Africa 2021

First, compliments to whoever came up with the concept of this tour. It seems unusual, even unique. This was a second choice for us because COVID restrictions postponed our tour to Cape, Kruger, and the Victoria Falls extension. The inclusion of the wine tastings seemed whimsical but it was genius. It’s as if we had 2 different vacations, back-to-back, and both memorable. We suspect that logistics for this tour were especially challenging. Glen was more than up to the task, every booking was right on time and of excellent quality. Rockjumper is a class act! We had some really memorable sightings and wildlife experiences due to Glen’s knowledge and diligence. We also appreciate that besides the birds and big mammals he gave us lots of information on habitat, environmental challenges, and especially for Suna and me, knowledge of plants. We walk around our California neighbourhood and notice all the imported African plants growing in our yards! We felt the timing was good too. It was late spring in the fynbos with many flowers still showing, and we were able to see many migrant birds down from the north.

TD, South Africa 2018

Keith Valentine is a great guide and his knowledge of the birds and their calls was just amazing.

DL, South Africa

The tour was great. I got along well with the other participants and I greatly appreciated Greg de Klerk. I quickly realised he knew what he was doing and could relax. He was careful to make sure we all got to see all the birds. I will definitely use Rockjumper again... Can't go wrong!

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