31 Jan 2025 - 03 Feb 2025 (4 days)
ZAR20,950 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Daniel Danckwerts
Tour price (Per person): ZAR20,950 * USD1,177 * GBP912 * EUR1,092 * AUD1,775
Single Supplement: ZAR1,150 * USD65 * GBP50 * EUR60 * AUD97
Embark on a thrilling birding expedition to the famed Sani Pass, the highest mountain pass anywhere in South Africa where the rugged beauty of the Drakensberg Range meets the high Lesotho Plateau. With a blend of modern convenience and untamed wilderness, this journey promises unforgettable encounters with several of South Africa’s most sought-after near-endemic species. Top among these are the Drakensberg Rockjumper and Gurney’s Sugarbirds, each belonging to endemic bird families. Other notable targets will include the little-known Mountain Pipit, Sentinel Rock-thrush, endangered Cape Parrot, Orange Ground Thrush, Bush Blackcap, Barratt’s Warbler, Cape and Bearded Vultures, and Drakensberg Siskin. Join us for a short tour that will leave a lasting impression on both novice and seasoned birdwatchers alike!
Blue Crane, Denham's Bustard, Southern Bald Ibis, Cape & Bearded Vultures, Black Harrier, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Gurney's Sugarbird, Bush Blackcap, Ground Woodpecker, African Rock Pipit, Cape Longclaw, Knysna Turaco, Cape Parrot, Olive Bushshrike, Bokmakierie, Layard's Warbler, Orange Ground Thrush, Cape & Sentinel Rock Thrushes, Buff-streaked Chat, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Drakensberg Siskin, Forest Canary.
Grey Rhebok, Common Eland, Springhare, Slogget's Ice Rat.
mist-belt forests, high-elevation grasslands, mountains, wetlands.
Subtropical conditions with chances for rain. Cool in the highlands.
6 with 1 Rockjumper tour leader
Relaxed.
Excellent
Easy
150+
Sani Pass into Lesotho, excellent scenery
Good but time limited
"We all immensely enjoyed this Tailor-made tour. Dan is an excellent guide: great ears, great eyes, persistent, patient, cheerful, and knowledgeable about all nature. He really went all out for us, and he succeeded in finding very elusive and range-restricted species. We hope to travel with him in the future. Other aspects of the trip: lodging, transportation, etc. were excellent too. We appreciate the behind-the-scenes efforts by Heinz and the rest of the Rockjumper team."
David was a fantastic guide whose love for his homeland, and passion for its wildlife, shone brightly. I couldn’t have wished for a better guide to show me the wonders of South Africa.
Julian was an excellent tour leader and bird guide. I would happily travel with him again.
There are not enough superlatives to describe Daniel Danckwerts! He is a superstar of a guide and I am glad I had the opportunity to tour with him, because he will be in great demand when the word gets out how amazing this tour was! Although he is one of your junior guides, he conducts himself with poise and confidence in excess of his years. His passion for birding, culture and history is unsurpassed and his laugh is absolutely infectious. He knew all the hotspots for the notoriously difficult species on this tour and even when the birds weren't cooperating, he devised innovative means to ensure the group would have the best opportunity to see these very, very elusive birds. We learned a few lessons on this inaugural tour about patience and stamina.... it is certainly not for the faint-hearted because it requires a lot of hard work but the rewards certainly exceeded the effort. Where else do you have the opportunity to see mythic flufftails and crakes all in one place? I will absolutely travel with Daniel again!
Glen's pacing of the tour was particularly good - relaxed whenever possible and upping the pace when necessary. His responsiveness and attention to client requests was admirable, as was his general demeanor throughout. Nice to spend such a long trip with someone so enthusiastic and sociable.
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