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South Africa - Northern Birds & Big Game (Relaxed)

© Baillon's Crake by Rob Williams
South Africa - Northern Birds & Big Game (Relaxed) 2026

31 Mar 2026 - 11 Apr 2026 (12 days)

ZAR87,950 - 4 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop

Tour price (Per person): ZAR87,950 * USD4,734 * GBP3,781 * EUR4,542 * AUD7,535

Single Supplement: ZAR9,100 * USD490 * GBP391 * EUR470 * AUD780

South Africa is quite simply one of the most pleasurable countries in which to travel, offering fantastic birding, exceptional wildlife viewing, and breath-taking photographic opportunities, along with world-class infrastructure. This relaxed tour of northern South Africa takes us birding in the Highveld grasslands around Johannesburg, the open Acacia woodlands of Zaagkuildrift and cool montane forests of Magoebaskloof for a series of endemic and near endemic species.  

We’ll then head to the bird- and game-rich lowlands and the world-renowned Kruger National. Here we will enjoy several days in this spectacular reserve enjoying the classic African savanna and the many superb birds and mammals associated with this massive conservation area.

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

 

 

Top Birds

Johannesburg, Rust-de-Winter & Magoebaskloof: Fairy Warbler; Red-throated Wryneck; Black-faced & Violet-eared Waxbills; Chestnut-vented Warbler; Scaly-feathered Weaver; Cut-throat Finch; Green-winged Pytilia; Cape Parrot; Knysna Turaco; Orange Ground Thrush; Chorister Robin; Black-fronted Bushshrike; Kruger NP: Common Ostrich; Kori Bustard; Southern Ground Hornbill; Bateleur; Martial & Crowned; Eagles; Marabou & Saddle-billed Storks; Lappet-faced, White-backed, Hooded & White-headed Vultures; Double-banded Sandgrouse; Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl; Lilac-breasted Roller; Southern Red-billed & Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills; Brown-headed Parrot; Burchell’s Starling; Southern White-crowned Shrike; Red-headed Weaver; White-browed Robin-Chat.

Top Mammals

Johannesburg, Rust-de-Winter & Magoebaskloof: Blesbok; Black Wildebeest; Mountain Reedbuck; Yellow Mongoose; Cape Clawless Otter; Kruger: The ‘Big 5’ (Lion; Leopard; African Elephant; Black & White Rhinoceroses; African Buffalo); Cheetah, African Wild Dog; Side-striped Jackal; Greater Kudu; Southern Giraffe; Spotted Hyena; Nyala; Common & Central African Large-spotted Genets; Wild Cat; African Civet; Cape Porcupine; White-tailed Mongoose; Klipspringer; Plains Zebra; Common Warthog

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

6 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

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

comfortable to very comfortable

Ease of Birding

mostly easy with a few tougher species

Other Attractions

vast, pristine wilderness, huge numbers of African mega-fauna

Photographic Opportunities

good to excellent

What our clients say about us

Julian Parsons
RO, South Africa 2022

Julian was an excellent tour leader and bird guide. I would happily travel with him again.

James Wade Lee
JS - South Africa 2024

Greg and Wade were both amazing in their depth of knowledge of all things South African! They made sure we all got on the birds and described in detail what we should be looking for. Accommodations were lovely (Kruger a little less so, but ok). The Safari was the highlight of the trip. All in all I’d definitely recommend this tour.

David Hoddinott
EB, South Africa 2014

My wife and I were part of a six person tour of South Africa that was led by David Hoddinott. Our trip was excellent and seamless. David was the perfect guide for our group and, as I’m sure you’re aware, is an extraordinary birder and bird finder.... Thank you to Rockjumper, and David especially, for taking the time to create such a wonderful trip for our group. As always, I’m sure that it’s a challenge to accommodate numerous personalities within a group and David was great at it. We all liked him from day one and he was always positive and up for anything. He was an absolute joy to be with. We’d previously been to Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Botswana and South Africa was a totally different experience. We really enjoyed the people that we got to meet and the sheer beauty of the country is breathtaking. David’s enthusiasm and pride of his homeland was inspiring and infectious. We can’t thank him enough for making it come alive for us. And thanks to all who had a part in setting it all up. We’d happily recommend Rockjumper to anyone thinking about a trip led by you.

Gregory de Klerk
MM, Eastern South Africa X 2016

Having been a guide myself in Australia from time to time, I genuinely appreciated the time and effort Greg dedicated to preparing for each day of the tour; where possible, there was an alternative site or activity if ever bird sightings or weather did not go exactly to plan. Greg acted with great professionalism throughout the tour and looked after himself well so he could look after us while on the road and in the bush... For me, the bottom line is: Greg is an excellent birder and a bloody good guide, and, an absolute gem of a bloke. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my time on the tour.

Glen Valentine
CA - South Africa 2021

I am still absorbing the wonderful trip that I took to South Africa. It was amazing. the guides, Glen Valentine and Riaan Botha were absolutely wonderful. They not only knew their birds and mammals, but they both had wonderful people skills. from the moment they showed up until they departed, I felt safe. They took good care of us, seeing to our basic needs, preparing us for the day's birds and itinerary.

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