South Africa has the highest number of endemic and near-endemic bird species of any country on the African continent. Some of these special birds such as Drakensberg Rockjumper and Blue Crane – are beautiful and charismatic; while others, including the endangered Rudd’s and Botha’s Larks, are less striking but incredibly range-restricted. To boot, South Africa is also home to two very impressive endemic families, the striking Rockjumpers and Sugarbirds.
The focus of this 22-day endemics mega-birding tour is to see as many of these South African endemic, breeding endemic and near-endemic species as possible. Every single one of the 99 birds falling into this category as well as most of the 78 species falling into the category of endemic or near-endemic to the southern African sub-region are targeted during the tour. Furthermore, we will seek out many other special and sought-after African species; and, in the course of this tour, we have the potential to rack up a very impressive bird list in terms of species numbers, rarities and great sightings. Mammals will likewise form a major focus of our attention, and we can expect to also find an incredible diversity of reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife. We invite you to join us on this exciting celebration of our endemic treasures during this ultimate South African mega-birding adventure!
Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.
African Penguin, Blue and Wattled Cranes, Ludwig’s and Denham’s Bustards, Blue, Southern Black and Karoo Korhaans, African Oystercatcher, Crowned, Cape and Bank Cormorants, Cape and Natal Spurfowls, Southern Bald Ibis, Cape Vulture, Black Harrier, Cape & Drakensberg Rockjumpers, Cape & Gurney’s Sugarbirds, Bush Blackcap, Ground Woodpecker, Rudd’s, Botha’s, Short-clawed, Red, Sclater’s, Cape Long-billed & Barlow’s Larks, African Rock & Yellow-breasted Pipits, Cape Longclaw, Knysna, Purple-crested & Livingstone’s Turacos, Cape Parrot, Gorgeous, Black-fronted & Olive Bushshrikes, Bokmakierie, Victorin’s, Namaqua, Cinnamon-breasted, and Layard’s Warblers, Fairy Flycatcher, Karoo Eremomela, Cape and Grey Penduline Tits, White-backed Mousebird, Spotted & Orange Ground Thrushes, Cape and Sentinel Rock Thrushes, Rudd’s Apalis, Woodward’s Batis, Karoo & Brown Scrub Robins, Karoo & Buff-streaked Chats, Pink-throated Twinspot, Neergaard’s, Orange-breasted & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, Cape & Drakensberg Siskins, Protea, Cape, Forest & Black-headed Canaries.
Black & White Rhinoceroses, Southern African Hedgehog, Meerkat, Black Wildebeest, Nyala, Cape Grysbok, Aardvark, Aardwolf, Springhare, Common Eland, Bat-eared Fox, Blesbok (Bontebok), Grey Rhebok, Klipspringer, Springbok, African Wild Dog, Cheetah
dune and mist-belt forest, acacia savanna, high elevation and coastal grasslands, mountains, semi-desert, fynbos, coastal waters, wetlands
subtropical conditions with occasional rain, cooler in the highlands and the Cape
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
comfortable guesthouses and lodges
mostly easy with some difficult species
500 - 550
Cape Peninsula, Sani Pass, Lake St. Lucia, Zululand game reserves, good food & wine, remote and seldom visited areas, spectacular scenery
good, but limited by time
Thoroughly enjoyed Gareth - sense of humour was great and he worked tirelessly to ensure everyone could see the bird.
Greg was brilliant (the best guide I've ever had). He found most of the birds we were trying for, and always did his utmost to get us all onto them.
I deeply appreciate that Keith Valentine worked hard to find the endemics and warblers that I had expressed an interest in.
The lynchpin for our entire experience was the guide - and Greg de Klerk was simply brilliant. He was extremely skilled in knowing where the birds might be, and finding them once we got there. He carefully made sure that we all saw the bird. He was very knowledgeable about bird and mammal behaviour, and shared a lot of information with the tour members. He smoothly handled logistics, is a good driver, and patient with non-nationals who are unfamiliar with South African customs. He has a wonderful sense of humour; and a very warm and outgoing personality, which stimulated good relations between tour members. We would be very excited to go on another Rockjumper trip with him!
André Bernon was top notch in finding birds and getting us to see and/or hear them. He drove the car like a pro and had everything in control. Everything went totally smooth all the time and we would go on any trip with him again, in a heartbeat.
02 Nov 2023 - 23 Nov 2023 (22 days)
ZAR103,950 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Julian Parsons
Tour price (Per person): ZAR103,950 * USD5,533 * GBP4,515 * EUR5,202 * AUD8,577
Single Supplement: ZAR9,500 * USD506 * GBP413 * EUR475 * AUD784
Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2023
01 Nov 2024 - 22 Nov 2024 (22 days)
ZAR107,950 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: James Lee
Tour price (Per person): ZAR107,950 * USD5,746 * GBP4,689 * EUR5,402 * AUD8,907
Single Supplement: ZAR9,500 * USD506 * GBP413 * EUR475 * AUD784
Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2024
24 Nov 2024 - 15 Dec 2024 (22 days)
ZAR107,950 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Quinton Josop
Tour price (Per person): ZAR107,950 * USD5,746 * GBP4,689 * EUR5,402 * AUD8,907
Single Supplement: ZAR9,500 * USD506 * GBP413 * EUR475 * AUD784
Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension II 2024
31 Oct 2025 - 21 Nov 2025 (22 days)
ZAR113,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Julian Parsons
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR113,000 * USD6,015 * GBP4,908 * EUR5,655 * AUD9,324
Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2025
23 Nov 2025 - 14 Dec 2025 (22 days)
ZAR113,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: James Lee
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR113,000 * USD6,015 * GBP4,908 * EUR5,655 * AUD9,324
Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension II 2025
South Africa - Mega: Kruger Extension III 2019 - October 2019
South Africa - Mega Birding Tour III 2019 - October 2019
South Africa - Eastern VI 2019 - September 2019
South Africa - Eastern V 2019 - September 2019
South Africa - Cape Wildflowers, Birding & Big Game I 2019 - August 2019
South Africa - Eastern IV 2019 - May 2019
South Africa - Mega: Kruger Extension II 2019 - February 2019
South Africa - Rallid Quest 2019 - February 2019
South Africa - Eastern III 2019 - February 2019
South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II 2019 - February 2019
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