Some landscapes simply cannot be appreciated in a single day. MS Touring’s expeditions have been developed to explore Southern Africa’s most remarkable regions through carefully planned, fully guided multi-day journeys that allow the landscapes, wildlife and natural history to be experienced in greater depth.
Each expedition has been refined through extensive field experience and follows a proven itinerary designed to showcase habitats, scenery and places that are seldom combined within a single journey. While every expedition has a primary focus—whether birding, geology or another aspect of natural history—they are deliberately designed to provide a broader understanding of the environments through which they travel, combining wildlife, landscapes, geology, botany, history and culture into a richer and more rewarding experience.
Travelling in small private groups, our expeditions combine comfortable accommodation, thoughtful logistics and a flexible approach that allows opportunities presented by weather, wildlife and local conditions to be incorporated whenever possible. The result is an immersive experience that goes beyond simply visiting a destination, creating a journey that is both educational and memorable.
The Highlands Birding Expedition is a twelve-day, small-group birding expedition through the mountain regions of South Africa and Lesotho, designed to locate many of Southern Africa’s most sought-after high-altitude bird species while exploring some of the country’s most spectacular and least-visited landscapes.
Following a carefully planned circular route, the expedition links together birding localities that are seldom combined within a single itinerary. From the Highveld, the journey climbs into the remote Thaba Putsoa Range of Lesotho before crossing the Eastern Cape Highlands, traversing the southern and eastern Drakensberg, and concluding in the mist-belt forests, wetlands and rolling countryside of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Along the way, guests experience alpine grasslands, mountain passes, forests and high-altitude wetlands, with opportunities to observe more than 300 bird species, including numerous endemic, near-endemic and range-restricted specialities.
Designed for enthusiastic birders, wildlife photographers and natural history travellers, the expedition combines exceptional birding with comfortable accommodation and meticulous logistical planning. From the moment you arrive in Johannesburg until your return, every aspect of the journey is taken care of, allowing you to concentrate on the birds, the landscapes and the experience.
