Birding Tours up Sani Pass and surrounding area, Bushman Rock Art Hikes and Botanical Tours
Explore with Stuart McLean of Birds and Beyond
With over 30 years of guiding experience, Stuart McLean offers an unforgettable journey up the spectacular Sani Pass in search of endemic birds and other species on your personal wishlist. These tailor-made tours are designed around seasonal conditions, ensuring the best possible sightings. Stuart’s deep knowledge and passion for natural history make every tour engaging, educational, and truly memorable.
As a qualified rock art guide, Stuart also leads hikes to the renowned “Marching Men” and “Bottoms Up” Bushman paintings. The trails wind through grasslands, alongside sparkling streams, and past seasonal wildflowers, with chances to spot mammals en route to the overhangs, featuring the striking Bushman art panel.
Full-day tours depart from Himeville and offer a rich day of discovery, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery.
Our Tours
Endemic Birding Tour – Sani Pass
A full-day, high-altitude birding tour for serious birders.
Mistbelt Forest & Grassland Birding Tour
Join us for a full-day birding adventure through the richly biodiverse mistbelt forests and highland grasslands of the Southern Drakensberg region.
Relaxed Birding Tour – Sani Pass
A gentler alternative to the Endemic Birding Tour, the Relaxed Birding Tour follows the same scenic route up the iconic Sani Pass.
Sani Pass Day Tour – A Journey Through History, Culture & Altitude
Join us for a full-day Sani Pass adventure, a scenic and cultural journey through one of Southern Africa’s most iconic and dramatic mountain passes.
Rock Art & Nature Hikes
Embark on a full-day guided hike with a qualified guide, who brings with extensive naturalist knowledge and specialist training in Bushman rock art of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg region.
Trip Blogs
The Tale of the Fluff
Our Buffspotted Flufftail has caused us delight, heartache, improved our social life and gave me sleepless nights since 6 January. The sleepless nights actually started long before that, it makes the most haunting hoot nonstop all night, whoooop whooooop whoooop …. and it is loud! Lets start at the very
Drakensberg Malachite (Chlorolestes draconicus)
After many years of hoping to see the elusive Drakensberg Malachite damselfly, we finally set off on a proper search. Our journey began at Garden Castle, following a stream upwards until we reached the right altitude—above 1700m—where this special species is known to occur. And there it was! We were
The Remarkable Maluti River Frog
While hiking through the high grasslands on the eastern side of Lesotho, I came across a large Maluti River Frog (Amietia vertebralis). These frogs live in cool mountain streams—and they’re perfectly built for it. They can stay submerged underwater for hours, and unlike most amphibians, they’re real cold-weather champs. The
Our Reviews
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Most Knowledagable guide I have met - Stuart is the most knowledgeable guide I have met, from birds, flowers and history of this region you cannot find someone better. Gareth M
July 24, 2019Stunning Sani Scenery (landscape and birds) with Great Guiding - Stuart and Elder of Birds and Beyond are amazing guides for this region. Their driving skills on Sani Pass are superb and their spotting skills for flora and fauna... read more wwglobetrotr
December 5, 2017Amazing day on the Sani Pass and Attention all birders! - Hats off to Stu McLean for his adroit handling of the pass when the road had been badly chewed by pouring rain and construction work. Stu was our bird guide... read more Al_from_Canada
March 16, 2017
