South Africa - Mega Birding Tour I 2024

01 Nov 2024 - 22 Nov 2024 (22 days)

ZAR107,950 - No Spaces Available

Wait List
client-img

Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

Tour price (Per person): ZAR107,950 * USD6,125 * GBP4,635 * EUR5,503 * AUD9,071

Single Supplement: ZAR9,500 * USD539 * GBP408 * EUR484 * AUD798

Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2024

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II 2024

24 Nov 2024 - 15 Dec 2024 (22 days)

ZAR107,950 - No Spaces Available

Wait List
client-img

Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop

Tour price (Per person): ZAR107,950 * USD6,125 * GBP4,635 * EUR5,503 * AUD9,071

Single Supplement: ZAR9,500 * USD539 * GBP408 * EUR484 * AUD798

Can be linked with:

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour I 2025

31 Oct 2025 - 21 Nov 2025 (22 days)

ZAR107,950 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

Tour price (Per person): ZAR107,950 * USD6,125 * GBP4,635 * EUR5,503 * AUD9,071

Single Supplement: ZAR8,500 * USD482 * GBP365 * EUR433 * AUD714

Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2025

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II 2025

23 Nov 2025 - 14 Dec 2025 (22 days)

ZAR107,950 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

Tour price (Per person): ZAR107,950 * USD6,125 * GBP4,635 * EUR5,503 * AUD9,071

Single Supplement: ZAR8,500 * USD482 * GBP365 * EUR433 * AUD714

Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension II 2025

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour I 2026

30 Oct 2026 - 20 Nov 2026 (22 days)

ZAR112,300 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: Ryan Tyrer

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): ZAR112,300 * USD6,372 * GBP4,822 * EUR5,725 * AUD9,437

Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2026

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II 2026

22 Nov 2026 - 13 Dec 2026 (22 days)

ZAR112,300 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): ZAR112,300 * USD6,372 * GBP4,822 * EUR5,725 * AUD9,437

Can be linked with: South Africa - Kruger Extension II 2026

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.

Top Birds

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

Top Mammals

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

Habitats Covered

dune and mist-belt forest, acacia savanna, high elevation and coastal grasslands, mountains, semi-desert, fynbos, coastal waters, wetlands

Expected Climate

subtropical conditions with occasional rain, cooler in the highlands and the Cape

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking
warning-icon

WARNING: This tour involves strenuous activities and is intended for experienced adventurers. If you prefer a more relaxed experience, please check out our [Explore Relaxed Tours]

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.

Accommodation

comfortable guesthouses and lodges

Ease of Birding

mostly easy with some difficult species

Number of Species Expected

500 - 550

Other Attractions

Cape Peninsula, Sani Pass, Lake St. Lucia, Zululand game reserves, good food & wine, remote and seldom visited areas, spectacular scenery

Photographic Opportunities

good, but limited by time

What our clients say about us

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.

Gregory de Klerk
JB, South Africa

Greg gave the best introductory talk (regarding group dynamics and birding etiquette), that I have ever heard. Excellent.

David Hoddinott
G, South Africa Mega

I would like to add my thanks to you, Crystal, and all the other people associated with Rockjumper for making this the best birding tour in which I have participated. David's leadership was superb as our trip bird count shows. I would be happy to go with Rockjumper on future trips. Thanks again for your assistance during the Mega South Africa trip.

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.

David Hoddinott
MO, South Africa 2021

Always a fantastic experience with Rockjumper from inquiry through to the end. Guides always the best of the best

  • Your details

  • Hidden
  • 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.

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

Tour Route Map

English