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South Africa - Kruger Challenge - Northern pre-tour Extension

© Baillon's Crake by Rob Williams
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 * USD2,710 * GBP2,010 * EUR2,373 * AUD4,159

Single Supplement: ZAR3,550 * USD201 * GBP149 * EUR176 * AUD308

South Africa is quite simply one of the most pleasurable countries in which to travel, offering fantastic birding, exceptional wildlife viewing, and breathtaking photographic opportunities—all supported by world-class infrastructure. This relaxed tour of northern South Africa takes us birding through a wide range of habitats, from Highveld grasslands and acacia-dominated savannas to arid Kalahari fringe and the lush montane forests of the Magoebaskloof, offering a diverse and exciting selection of bird species along the way.

We begin our journey in the Highveld grasslands around Johannesburg, home to several localised species and an ideal introduction to the region's avifauna. From here, we explore the rich acacia woodlands of Zaagkuildrift, a perennial favourite among birders. These dry thornveld and riverine woodlands lie along the edge of the Kalahari Basin and provide habitat for some of the area’s most sought-after species, including the striking, Crimson-breasted Shrike, vibrant Violet-eared Waxbill, subtle Barred Wren-warbler, and desert-adapted Kalahari Scrub Robin and Ashy Tit. The combination of open savanna and riverine thickets ensures a busy and varied birding experience.

We’ll also visit one of South Africa’s premier wetland reserves, where expansive reedbeds and floodplains host a wide variety of waterbirds and grassland specials. With good luck, we may encounter species such as African Pygmy Goose, White-backed Duck, Hottentot Teal, and Black Heron, while adjacent grasslands may produce Marsh Owl, African Quailfinch, and a range of wetland-associated warblers and crakes.

Our route then takes us through Polokwane Nature Reserve, one of the most important strongholds for the highly range-restricted Short-clawed Lark. This near-endemic species is a top target here, and the surrounding bushveld supports an exciting mix of species such as Southern Pied Babbler, White-bellied Sunbird, and Burchell’s Starling.

The final leg of our tour is spent in the cool, misty forests of Magoebaskloof, where we target a host of montane and forest specialists amid scenic ravines and moss-draped trees. Notable species include Black-fronted Bushshrike, Chorister Robin-Chat, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, and, with luck, the endangered and elusive Cape Parrot. The forests may also produce Narina Trogon, Olive Bushshrike, and various flycatchers and sunbirds, offering a perfect end to a tour that truly has it all—from wetlands and dry-country specialities to highland forests rich in endemics and near-endemics.

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

 

 

Top Birds

Common Ostrich; Fulvous Whistling Duck; Red-winged and Orange River Francolins; Knysna Turaco; Northern Black Korhaan; African Emerald Cuckoo; African Finfoot; Buff-spotted and Red-chested Flufftails; African Rail; African and Baillon's Crakes; Bat Hawk; Cape Vulture; Crowned and Martial Eagles; Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk; African Wood Owl; Narina Trogon; Broad-billed Roller; Half-collared Kingfisher; Olive Woodpecker; Cape Parrot; Black-fronted Bushshrike; Grey Cuckooshrike; Cape Penduline-tit; Ashy Tit; Yellow-streaked Greenbul; Gurney's Sugarbird; Orange Ground Thrush; Marico Flycatcher; Chorister Robin-chat; Great Sparrow; Scaly-feathered Weaver; Green Twinspot

Top Mammals

Blesbok; Black Wildebeest; Mountain Reedbuck; Yellow Mongoose; Cape Clawless Otter;

Habitats Covered

highveld grassland, montane forest, acacia savanna, bushveld, terminalia woodland, riverine forest, grasslands, rivers, wetlands

Expected Climate

subtropical and dry, warm to hot. Can be cold to very cold in the early mornings and evenings

Max Group Size

5 with 1 Rockjumper leader

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.

Undemanding, perfectly suited for all birding / wildlife interest levels and most mobility capabilities. Our Relaxed series of tours are designed to focus on having an enjoyable holiday with a bird and wildlife focus. Where possible; we have reduced or removed long drives, single night stays and poor/rustic accommodation. We have also sought to reduce or remove difficult hikes, narrow/muddy trails and otherwise oppressive environmental conditions. Early starts and night birding are mostly optional, and we will not spend much time searching for difficult and/or skulking species. These tours are not suitable for hardcore birders and listers, or dedicated photographers.

Accommodation

Good to comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Undemanding, most species provide good visuals. A small number of scare / tricky species.

Other Attractions

vast, pristine wilderness

Photographic Opportunities

Very good to excellent.

What our clients say about us

Gregory de Klerk
JM - South Africa 2024

Great tour with amazing birds to see. Greg and Ward did a terrific job of finding the birds and making sure we saw everything. Kruger National Park was spectacular and we had unbelievable views of the animals. Loved the safari vehicle through the park and would recommend using it on future tours. The van was good as we all had window seats. Unfortunately there were issues with opening a couple of the windows along with electrical issues with the refrigerator and charging units at each seat but the guides adjusted to the situation as needed to make the experience a good one. The trip had a lot of time inside the van and sighting/seeing birds from the van. I would have liked more walking maybe on the roads when possible but I understand we were trying to see as many birds as possible. Overall a remarkable trip lead by professional, experienced guides and a great group of birders made this trip memorable.

David Hoddinott
NP, South Africa

It was a great pleasure to meet David Hoddinott, and a privilege really to spend time with such a great birder. Mine was a focussed trip around several species not seen in South Africa, and we saw all the birds, including a wonderful view of a male Buff-spotted Flufftail. David also found a few species where I had only had single sightings previously. We had to reschedule my trip at short notice and the Tailormade team at RJ were really helpful to ensure this section of our trip went ahead. Many thanks.

Daniel Danckwerts
AM - South Africa 2022

Dan was excellent and really knowledgeable.

James Wade Lee
JM - South Africa 2024

Great tour with amazing birds to see. Greg and Ward did a terrific job of finding the birds and making sure we saw everything. Kruger National Park was spectacular and we had unbelievable views of the animals. Loved the safari vehicle through the park and would recommend using it on future tours. The van was good as we all had window seats. Unfortunately there were issues with opening a couple of the windows along with electrical issues with the refrigerator and charging units at each seat but the guides adjusted to the situation as needed to make the experience a good one. The trip had a lot of time inside the van and sighting/seeing birds from the van. I would have liked more walking maybe on the roads when possible but I understand we were trying to see as many birds as possible. Overall a remarkable trip lead by professional, experienced guides and a great group of birders made this trip memorable.

Daniel Danckwerts
EL, South Africa 2022

Daniel Danckwerts was excellent—great hearing and eyesight and was excellent at pointing out exactly where the skulky bird was lurking. He was able to find the group many birds that various members of the group had missed on previous trips to South Africa. And more importantly, he was a store of information about the birds, animals and Kruger. Teamed up with Daniel was our most excellent Kruger driver-guide Dirk who knew where everything was and could find it. We navigated this very complicated trip (flight to Skukuza, travel in south Kruger, flight to Cape Town, testing for covid, boarding the MSC Orchestra and off on our cruise around the Cape of Good Hope only with Daniel’s help and guidance. I am hoping to return to Kruger (for the third time) to bird with Daniel and Dirk on the Kruger Challenge. More than the birds, the trip was fun.

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