Flock to Marion Birding Tours
In January 2028, BirdLife South Africa will once again host the hugely popular Flock to Marion voyage, taking birders into the incredible seabird-rich waters of the Southern Ocean. Departing Cape Town on January 31, 2028, aboard MSC Sinfonia, the seven-night voyage will head south to the waters around Marion and Prince Edward Islands before arriving in Durban on February 7, 2028.
For birders, this is an incredible opportunity to experience some of the most exciting seabird and marine mammal watching in the Southern Hemisphere. It also provides the perfect reason to spend a little more time birding South Africa before or after the cruise. You can see a full list of species recorded on previous Flock to Marion cruises in this article.
We have scheduled four of our South African budget birding tours around Flock to Marion 2028, giving you the chance to target some of South Africa’s most exciting endemic and range-restricted birds on the same trip. Join a single tour, combine several of them, or speak to us about putting together a longer South African birding itinerary around Flock to Marion.
Read More About Flock to Marion
Experience Flock to Marion 2028
Flock to Marion is much more than just a birding cruise. The voyage heads into the sub-Antarctic waters around Marion and Prince Edward Islands, where birders can search for some of the world’s most sought-after seabirds. Possible species include Snowy (Wandering), Grey-headed, Sooty, Light-mantled, and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, along with Blue and Kerguelen Petrels, prions, diving petrels, penguins, and many other Southern Ocean specials. Whales, dolphins, and seals add even more excitement to the voyage.
Approximately 70 seabird and marine mammal experts will be positioned around the ship during daylight hours, helping passengers get the most from the birding and wildlife watching. A program of onboard talks from leading experts will add another dimension to the experience.
Flock to Marion also has an important conservation purpose. The voyage raises awareness and funding for BirdLife South Africa’s conservation work, including the Mouse-Free Marion Project, which aims to protect the globally important seabird populations breeding on Marion Island.
General bookings open on November 30, 2026. Full information about the cruise, including details on how to book, is available on the BirdLife South Africa website.
Make the most of your time birding South Africa
If you are traveling all the way to South Africa for Flock to Marion, why not make the most of your time here? South Africa is one of Africa’s great birding destinations, with a remarkable concentration of endemic and near-endemic birds and an extraordinary variety of habitats.
Four of our budget birding tours have been scheduled specifically around Flock to Marion 2028. Each can be booked individually, or several can be combined to create a longer South African birding itinerary.
Birding before Flock to Marion 2028
Before boarding MSC Sinfonia in Cape Town, you can explore two very different endemic-rich regions of South Africa.
Our Northern Cape’s Desert Endemics tour takes you into the arid northwest in search of highly localized birds such as Red Lark, Sclater’s Lark, Karoo Eremomela, and a range of other desert specials.
From there, our Cape Town’s Fynbos Endemics tour explores the unique Cape Floristic Region, where targets include Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, and many other Cape endemics. This Cape Town tour finishes in Cape Town in time for Flock to Marion embarkation, making it an easy transition from birding on land to birding the Southern Ocean.
Birding after Flock to Marion 2028
When Flock to Marion arrives in Durban on February 7, 2028, the birding does not have to end. Our Zululand Specials tour is timed to begin after the cruise and explores one of South Africa’s richest birding regions. This subtropical corner of the country offers the chance to search for Pink-throated Twinspot, Neergaard’s Sunbird, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, and many other sought-after species.
Those wanting to continue can then join our South Africa: The North tour through Mpumalanga and Limpopo, adding a completely different selection of habitats and birds.
Combine the tours and you can target an extraordinary range of South African endemics and specials, from the desert birds of the Northern Cape and fynbos endemics around Cape Town to the subtropical species of Zululand and the rich birdlife of northern South Africa.
Build your Flock to Marion birding trip with us
You do not need to join all four tours and can choose one pre-cruise or post-cruise tour, combine several departures, or speak to us about creating a private birding itinerary around Flock to Marion 2028.
We can also assist with private birding tours, day trips, accommodation, domestic travel, and onward arrangements before and after the cruise. Our aim is simple: to make it as easy as possible for you to enjoy the birds, wildlife, and landscapes of South Africa while you are here for one of the world’s great birding voyages.
Scroll through the Flock to Marion 2028 birding tours below and start planning your South African birding trip. If you have any questions or would like help working out the best combination of tours for your trip, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].