2 0 1 Worldwide Birding Adventures 3

T o u r X Worldwide Photographic Expeditions B r o c h

u Our th r 15 e year! Front cover: White-necked Rockfowl photographed at Bonkro community forest, Ghana by Adam Riley King Penguin on South Georgia by Marius Coetzee

We offer professional tour leaders, small groups, solid value for money and a long-established reputation

Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures X Worldwide Photographic Expeditions

PO Box 13972, Cascades, 3202, 4 Sunbird Circle, Kommetjie, Cape Town, 7975, PO Box 13972, Cascades, 3202, PO Box 13972, Cascades, 3202, South Africa • Telephone: +27 333 940 225 South Africa • Telephone: +27 217 834 380 South Africa • Telephone: +27 333 940 225 South Africa • Telephone: +27 33 394 0225 • USA & Canada toll free: 1-888-990-5552 • Fax: +27 880 • USA & Canada toll free: 1-888-990-5552 • Fax: +27 • USA & Canada toll free: 1-888-990-5552 • Fax: • USA & Canada toll free: 1-888-990-5552 333 0940 225 • Skype: Rockjumperbt 21 783 4380 • Facebook: Indri Ultimate Wildlife Tours • +27 880 333 0940 225 • Facebook: Oryx Worldwide • Fax : +27 88 033 394 0225 • Facebook: • Facebook: Rockjumper – Worldwide Birding Adventures Email: [email protected] Photographic Expeditions • Email: Tau Anthropological Safaris • Email: • Blog: www.rockjumperbirding.blogspot.com • Email: • Website: www.indritours.com [email protected] • Website: [email protected] • Website: www. [email protected] • Website: www.oryxphotography.com tauanthropologicalsafaris.com www.rockjumperbirding.com Welcome to our 2013brochure.We arethrilledto be inour15 Dear Friendsof of themarket. Rockjumper’s include These introduced avarietyof exciting newtours, many of them at the forefront for ourclients. our tourstoensurethebestexperience This yearwehave discovered, and we areconstantly on the alert to improve every aspect of destinations. However, others havebeenalteredasnewsites the yearsastheyhaveprovento deliver theverybestoftheirrespective over unchanged remained Many ofourstandardtourshave highlights. and cultural natural for theiroutstanding all chosen across theglobe, nations tours. and anthropological wildlife, photographic These toursspan70 offersOur 2013brochure birding, set-departure you200carefullydesigned one ofthemosthighlyregardedecotourismcompaniesinworld. to wherewearenow,from verymodestbeginnings us aswehavegrown discovery andwewouldliketo thank ourloyalsupporterswhohavebacked their lives. of journey The past15years havecertainlybeenasensational for therestof with ourparticipants remain that will fantastic memories and experience many alife-changing sightings,including countless thrilling most productivewildlifedestinations.In the process,wehaveshared to theworld’s enthusiasts andphotographers thousands ofbirders,wildlife introduced a halfwehave and Overthepastdecade planet. our glorious tours throughout wildlife and birding professional leading and arranging and internationallycertified sources. chlorine-free. All wood fiber used in production is sourced from sustainable primarily from sugar cane fiber, using a bleaching process that is elemental brochure has been printed on Triple Green paper. This paper is made As partofourcommitment to reducingourenvironmentalimpact,this The Rockjumper, Indri,Oryx&Tau Team our family, weguaranteeyoutheultimatetourexperience! to join you decide with us,wedohope of traveling not yethadthepleasure Wehave If you 2013. in you with further adventures lookforwardtosharing details of Tau’s uniquetoursarepresentedinthisbrochure. sister company,newest specialist Tau Safaris. Anthropological Additional Christopher DoddsandGregdu Toit. We arealsoexcitedto introduce our leaders, top photographic expertly tutoredbytwooftheworld’s adventure, and Oryx’sZambia–UltimatePredators&Fruit Bat Migration chain ofislands sites acrossthisunder-explored and mostdiversewildlife month; Indri’sBestofIndonesian Wildlife less thana in species 1,000 can expectover tour whereourparticipants R ockjumper, Indri, O ryx & Tau tour,the veryrichest visiting Colombia 1,000 Birds Mega Colombia 1,000 th year of photo W E L COME 1

Lion in Ngorongoro Crater by Elliott Neep CONTENTS

Rockjumper in a Nutshell 04 Indri Ultimate Wildlife Tours 05 Oryx Worldwide Photographic Expeditions 06 Tau Anthropological Safaris 07 2013 Tour Calendar 08 Our Team 10 Custom Tours Canada 12 Pg 56, 62 AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST South Africa & Zimbabwe 14 Namibia, Botswana & Zambia 17 Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda 19 Ethiopia & Uganda 22 United States Angola, São Tomé & Príncipe, Gabon & Central African Republic 24 of America Cameroon & Ghana 26 Pg 56 Madagascar 28 Morocco, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Jordan & Turkey 30 EUROPE & ASIA Dominican Republic Bulgaria, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Spitsbergen & Spain 32 Mexico Cuba Pg 54 Pg 56 Pg 54 China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Russia 36 India & Sri Lanka 38 Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam & Cambodia 40 Thailand & Malaysia 42 Guatemala Jamaica Pg 52 Indonesia, The Philippines & Japan 44 Pg 54 Guyana THE AMERICAS Pg 48 Costa Rica Argentina, Chile, Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica 46 Pg 52 Brazil & Guyana Panama Colombia 48 Pg 52 Pg 50 Ecuador, Peru & Colombia 50 Panama, Costa Rica & Guatemala 52 Ecuador Cuba, Dominican Republic & Jamaica Pg 50 Peru 54 Pg 50 United States of America, Canada & Mexico 56 AUSTRALASIA Brazil Pg 48 Papua New Guinea & the Western Pacific Odyssey 58 Australia, New Zealand & SubAntarctic Islands 60 GLOBAL CRUISES Cruises 62 Rockjumper Birding Tours Chile Pg 46

Indri Ultimate Wildlife Tours

Argentina Pg 46 Oryx Worldwide Photographic Expeditions

Falkland Islands Pg 46, 62 Tau Anthropological Safaris

South Georgia Pg 46, 62

Antarctica 2 Pg 46, 62 Spitsbergen Pg 32, 62

Sweden Pg 32 Russia Finland Pg 36, 62 Denmark Pg 32 Pg 32

Bulgaria Ukraine Kazakhstan Pg 32 Pg 32 Pg 36

Spain Turkey Pg 32 Morocco Pg 30 Pg 30 Bhutan Japan Jordan Pg 40 Pg 44 Pg 30 Uzbekistan Pg 36 China Pg 36

India Pg 38 United Arab Emirates Central Cambodia Pg 30 Myanmar Pg 40 African Pg 40 Republic Oman The Philippines Pg 24 Pg 30 Pg 44 Thailand Vietnam Pg 40 Ethiopia Pg 42 Pg 22 Uganda Pg 22 Malaysia Pg 42 Sri Lanka Papua New Guinea Ghana Kenya Pg 38 Pg 58 Pg 26 Cameroon Pg 19 Pg 26 Solomon Islands Pg 58, 62 Tanzania Indonesia Pg 19 Raw nda Pg 44 Pg 19 São Tomé & Príncipe Gabon Pg 24 Pg 24 Angola Pg 24 Zambia Pg 17 Madagascar Pg 28 Namibia Pg 17 Australia Pg 60 Zimbabwe New Caledonia Botswana South Africa Pg 14 Pg 58, 62 Pg 17 Pg 14

New Zealand Pg 60, 62

3 ROCKJUMPER IN A NUTSHELL

Our tour leaders are all passionate birders and accomplished tour coordinators who derive (ss) have been converted to US$ for the purpose of this brochure but are also subject to great pleasure from sharing their birding experiences with others. Most of our tours are exchange rate movements. Please note that even though domestic flight costs have been guided by full time Rockjumper leaders, often with the backup of the most experienced local quoted separately, the Rockjumper office will still book these flights for you at no extra birders across the globe. Whilst we guarantee that our leaders have superb birding skills, charge. We accept payment by credit card, wire transfer, PayPal and check in all major we also appreciate that they need to be personable, professional, friendly, attentive and currencies. dedicated to delivering a rewarding, educational, safe and enjoyable birding experience! Please note that although we will adhere to the tour dates, leaders and prices listed in this Our office team is based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and is highly skilled brochure as closely as possible, they are subject to change. at orchestrating the complex Our scheduled tours are generally arrangements that efficient and designed for the keen birder, although organized traveling requires. the pace varies from tour to tour. Questions are gladly answered in a For example, our Cape Wildflowers, friendly and comprehensive manner, Birding & Big Game tour is a relaxed and you will find that booking with birding journey with time dedicated to us is nothing but a pleasure. We do exploring the tapestry of spectacular our utmost to ensure that all your wildflowers that grace the Cape requests and requirements are met; region of South Africa. On the other whether before, during or after your hand, our Kenya Mega Birding tour with us. tour is a more intense adventure Our leader to guest ratio is one of the suited to hardcore birders looking to best in the birding tour industry and increase their life lists. Between these most of our tours have a maximum of extremes fall the balance of our tours, eight participants, giving our guests which are designed to maximize the a very personalized tour experience. birding experience without feeling For some destinations we provide two rushed. We also include the salient leaders with an absolute maximum of highlights of every region we visit, be 12 participants. The only exception it the Taj Mahal and Tigers in India or to this is cruises where larger groups Jaguars and Giant Otters in Brazil. are unavoidable. Our loyalty program offers a 10% Our tour costs and booking discount (limited to US$600) on every conditions represent excellent value 5th full (14-day or longer) tour booked for money and are very reasonable. directly with Rockjumper. We also Although we are not always the give a $300 discount to anyone who least expensive in the market, it is signs up for two back-to-back full important to compare exactly what Bluethroat by Ignacio Yufera Rockjumper tours. This is designed you are getting when dealing with to assist guests who wish to travel for low cost or local operators. In particular, the services of a professional tour leader can make longer periods and make the most of expensive flights to distant parts of the world. We also or break your vacation, especially in remote countries where traveling provides additional offer a US$400 referral discount to any of our loyal guests who refer someone who has not challenges. yet traveled with us before, provided the referred person signs up for one of our scheduled departures. (For full terms and conditions, please see our website.) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other Our conservation initiative includes activities undertaken by the Rockjumper Birding currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of Conservation Fund. A proportion of the fees from each tour sign-up are used solely to final invoicing. Approximate domestic flight (where applicable) and single supplement rates conserve the birds that give our lives so much fulfillment and joy. 4 “Our tours aim to deliver the holiday of your dreams while visiting some of the planet’s most remote, beautiful and wildlife rich destinations.”

The idea for a wildlife focused tour company first came to mind seven years ago whilst trekking for Giant Panda in the remote Tien Shan Mountains of China. Indri - Ultimate Wildlife Tours has since blossomed into a highly successful tour company with a suite of tours that showcase much of the iconic wildlife gracing our planet. With Indri you can be enthralled by authentic wildlife experiences, including being serenaded by Indris in Madagascar, tracking Black Rhino on foot in Africa, searching for Tigers, Snow Leopards and One-horned Rhinoceros in the thriving parks of India, or enjoying a bounty of cetaceans and Polar Bears in the icy reaches of Spitsbergen. Great White Shark by Chris Fallows

Our tours aim to deliver the holiday of your dreams while visiting some of the planet’s most remote, beautiful and wildlife rich destinations. Our passion for nature, strong commitment to conservation, wealth of knowledge and service excellence has led to our proven track record in both scheduled departures and privately customized tours.

East Africa’s Great Wildebeest migration by Elliott Neep Gelada by Adam Riley

www.indritours.com 5 X Worldwide Photographic Expeditions

“We offer a variety of photographic safaris, suitable for both amateur and professional photographers, either as set departure expeditions, or as customized tours to fit your particular photographic needs or travel desires.”

Founded in 2010 in response to the rapidly growing passion for photography amongst naturalists, Oryx prides itself on crafting unique and specialized wildlife photographic expeditions to some of the world’s wildest and most photogenic destinations.

We offer a variety of photographic safaris, suitable for both amateur and professional photographers, Peringuey’s Adder by Dale Morris either as set departure expeditions, or as customized tours to fit your particular photographic needs or travel desires. In order to offer you a more personal experience and one-on-one tutoring, our maximum group size is usually limited to 6 participants per Oryx leader.

Our expedition leaders are not only award-winning photographers who have been published worldwide, but are also extremely knowledgeable naturalists and experienced tour leaders, dedicating their lives to capturing truly breath-taking, inspiring and evocative images. Nothing gives them greater pleasure than sharing their passion and skills during unforgettable expeditions to destinations handpicked for the phenomenal photographic opportunities that they provide.

Great White Pelicans by Greg du Toit South African Ground Squirrels by Greg du Toit

6 www.oryxphotography.com “Adventures with Tau Anthropological Safaris are without doubt life-changing, intelligent travel experiences.”

Tau Anthropological Safaris is the latest addition to our company portfolio. Our goal with Tau is to weave together and explore four diverse and fascinating fields; namely anthropology, archaeology, traditional and modern interactions between man and wildlife (including game tracking), and the story of human evolution. In the process we will visit some of the world’s most important prehistoric sites and more modern architectural marvels, discover areas of pristine wilderness, spend time observing primate behavior and interact with tribes who proudly maintain their traditional cultures.

Led by Lee Gutteridge, a professional guide and tracker with over twenty years safari experience and author of four books on various wildlife and anthropological subjects, our tours aim to deliver a unique and fascinating insight into our past. Adventures with Tau Anthropological Safaris are without doubt life-changing, intelligent travel experiences; together we will experience the world’s wildlife as man has done since time immemorial, meet with some of the world’s last unchanged traditional cultures, explore our human history and study fascinating primate species - including some of our closest relatives, in whose eyes we may hope to see ourselves reflected. San rock art by Tim Forssman

Hamar girls in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley by Adam Riley

www.tauanthropologicalsafaris.com 7 2013 TOUR CALENDAR

ROCKJUMPER BIRDING TOURS Birding Spain: 24 Apr - 10 May South Africa - Cape Wildflowers, Birding & Big Game: 18 - 31 Aug JANUARY Ukraine - Birding the Black Sea & Crimea: 24 Aug - 1 Sep Myanmar - Endemics of Remote Asia I: 5 - 17 Jan MAY Budget Eastern South Africa: 30 Jul - 10 Aug Guatemala - Central American Specialties: 11 - 19 Jan; Tikal Ext: Rwanda Ext - Gorillas & Albertine Rift Endemics: 1 - 9 May 19 - 23 Jan Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game II: 1 - 17 May SEPTEMBER Ethiopian Endemics Birding I: 11 - 29 Jan; Lalibela Historical Ext I: Kazakhstan - The Best of Central Asia: 4 - 17 May Brazil - Birds & Wildlife of the Pantanal & Cerrado: 5 - 14 Sep, Iguaçu Ext: 29 Jan - 1 Feb Uzbekistan - Deserts & Mountains Ext: 17 - 23 May 1 - 5 Sep; Amazon Rainforest Birding Ext: 14 - 19 Sep Costa Rica - Cloud Forest & Quetzals: 24 Jan - 6 Feb The Philippines - Endangered Endemics: 8 - 25 May; Visayan Islands Ext: South Africa - Cape to Windhoek - The Best of the West: 1 - 16 Sep 25 - 31 May Tanzania Mega Birding: 1 - 26 Sep FEBRUARY Tanzania - Lake Victoria to Pemba Endemics: 9 - 25 May Angola - Endemics Overland Adventure: 7 - 25 Sep Ethiopian Endemics Birding II: 1 - 19 Feb Birding Denmark & Sweden: 17 - 29 May; Birding Finland Ext: 11 - 16 May Indonesia - Lesser Sunda Endemics: 9 - 26 Sep; Ethiopian Endemics Birding III: 1 - 19 Feb; Omo Valley Ext: 19 - 26 Feb Russia’s Ring of Fire: 24 May - 5 Jun Bali Birding Ext: 3 - 9 Sep Budget Morocco Birding: 8 - 15 Feb Eastern South Africa IV: 11 - 24 Sep; Cape Ext IV: 6 - 11 Sep Bulgaria Winter Birding Tour: 9 - 16 Feb JUNE Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls Overland III: 16 Sep - 3 Oct Eastern South Africa I: 9 - 22 Feb; Cape Ext I: 22 - 27 Feb Borneo - Island of Pittas, Broadbills & Orangutan: 2 - 18 Jun Argentina Northwest - Yungus Cloud Forest & Puna: 25 Sep - 9 Oct; Oman & UAE - Arabian Birding Adventure: 10 - 23 Feb; Alaska - Nome & the Seward Peninsula: 3 - 7 Jun; Barrow: the High Arctic: Iguazú Ext: 21 - 24 Sep; Hooded Grebe & Andes Ext: 9 - 13 Oct Jordan - Petra Ext: 24 - 26 Feb 8 - 10 Jun; Denali & Kenai: 11 - 19 Jun Australia - Eastern Top to Bottom: 26 Sep - 15 Oct; Southwestern Dominican Republic - Endemics of Hispaniola: 15 - 22 Feb Birding Eastern Turkey: 15 - 25 Jun Endemics Ext: 21 - 26 Sep; Tasmania Birds & Wildlife Ext: 15 - 19 Oct Morocco - Atlas to Sahara: 16 - 26 Feb Malaysia & Borneo - Rainforest Birds & Mammals: 19 Jun - 7 Jul Northern & Central Thailand - Asian Birding at its Best I: Russia - In the Wake of Bering: 21 Jun - 4 Jul OCTOBER 20 Feb - 9 Mar; Southern Thailand Ext I: 9 - 15 Mar Eastern South Africa III: 29 Jun - 12 Jul; Cape Ext III: 12 - 17 Jul Guyana - Birds & Wildlife: 1 - 12 Oct; Sun Parakeet & Red Siskin Ext: Texas: Whooping Cranes & the Lower Rio Grande Valley: 22 Feb - 2 Mar Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise I: 30 Jun - 17 Jul; New Britain 12 - 18 Oct Jamaica - Island Endemics: 23 Feb - 1 Mar Endemics Ext I: 17 - 21 Jul Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls Overland IV: 4 - 21 Oct Madagascar Comprehensive III: 5 - 26 Oct MARCH JULY South Africa - Mega Birding Tour I: 6 - 29 Oct Cuba - Caribbean Endemic Birding I: 3 - 12 Mar São Tomé & Príncipe Endemics Ext: 6 - 12 Jul Best of Panama: 10 - 23 Oct; Chiriquí Highlands Ext: 23 - 26 Oct Antarctic Peninsula Adventure I: 16 - 26 Mar Budget Madagascar Birding: 8 - 19 Jul Madagascar Comprehensive II: 11 Oct - 1 Nov Mexico - Yucatan Ext: 13 - 19 Mar Gabon - Rainforest Birds & Mammals: 12 - 25 Jul; Ivindo River Martin Ext: Budget Borneo Birding 13 - 22 Oct; Budget Malaysia Birding Ext: Eastern South Africa II: 11 - 24 Mar; Cape Ext II: 6 - 11 Mar 26 - 29 Jul 22 - 26 Oct Cameroon - Rainforest, Rockfowl & Sahel I: 12 Mar - 2 Apr Budget Uganda Birding: 16 - 27 Jul Colombia - Andean Endemics: 17 Oct - 4 Nov; Santa Marta Ext: 4 - 9 Nov Cuba - Caribbean Endemic Birding II: 20 - 29 Mar Budget Western South Africa: 19 - 30 Jul Madagascar’s Remote North - Pochard & Endangered Endemics: Assam - Kaziranga & Nameri Birding & Big Game Ext I: 20 - 24 Mar Madagascar Highlights I: 20 Jul - 3 Aug 19 Oct - 5 Nov Bhutan - Birding the Buddhist Kingdom I: 24 Mar - 12 Apr Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise II: 21 Jul - 7 Aug; New Britain Eastern South Africa V: 19 Oct - 1 Nov; Cape Ext V: 1 - 6 Nov Western Pacific Odyssey: 25 Mar - 13 Apr Endemics Ext II: 7 - 11 Aug Brazil - Northeastern Endemics Part I - Alagoas & Beyond: 20 Oct - 3 Nov South Ecuador Endemics: 26 Mar - 10 Apr; Shiripuno Amazon Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls Overland I: 23 Jul - 9 Aug Comprehensive New Zealand: 20 Oct - 6 Nov Adventure Ext: 11-15 Apr Uganda - Birds & Gorillas: 28 Jul - 15 Aug Madagascar Comprehensive IV: 26 Oct - 16 Nov Madagascar Highlights II: 27 Oct - 10 Nov APRIL AUGUST Cameroon - Rainforest, Rockfowl & Sahel II: 3 - 24 Apr Madagascar Comprehensive I: 4 - 25 Aug NOVEMBER Kenya - Mega Birding Tour: 6 Apr - 1 May Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams I: 6 - 16 Aug Brazil - Northeastern Endemics Part II - Bahia & Beyond: 3 - 16 Nov Colorado - The Prairie Chicken Tour: 11 - 20 Apr Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls Overland II: 10 - 27 Aug Madagascar Comprehensive V: 2 - 23 Nov North Eastern India - Eagle’s Nest & Beyond: 14 Apr - 1 May Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III: 11 - 28 Aug Southern India - Birding & Wildlife of the Western Ghats: 9 - 20 Nov Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game I: 14 - 30 Apr Classic Peru - Machu Picchu to Manu: 13 Aug - 1 Sep Colombia Highlights: 10 - 24 Nov Northern Ecuador - Birding the Andes to the Amazon: 16 Apr - 1 May Canadian Arctic - Northwest Passage: 14 - 25 Aug Myanmar - Endemics of Remote Asia II: 12- 24 Nov Assam - Kaziranga & Nameri Birding & Big Game Ext II: 15 - 19 Apr Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams II: 16 - 24 Aug Ethiopian Endemics Birding IV: 12 - 30 Nov; Lalibela Historical Ext IV: Bhutan - Birding the Buddhist Kingdom II: 19 Apr - 8 May Indonesia Sulawesi & Halmahera - Wallacean Endemics: 17 Aug - 3 Sep 30 Nov - 3 Dec 8 2013 TOUR CALENDAR

Ghana Highlights: 13 - 26 Nov AUGUST Alaska - Saint Paul Island Photo Tour: 16 - 23 Jun China Winter Birding: 18 - 29 Nov, Giant Panda & Crested Ibis Expedition: Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams I: 6 - 16 Aug 7 - 17 Nov Namibia - Wildlife of the Deserts & Wilderness: 14 - 25 Aug JULY Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game: 20 - 30 Nov Canadian Arctic - Northwest Passage: 14 - 25 Aug Central African Republic - Lowland Gorilla, Forest Elephant & Pygmies: Classic Antarctica - The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica I: Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams II: 16 - 24 Aug 20 - 31 Jul 20 Nov - 8 Dec Best of Indonesian Wildlife: 18 - 29 Aug Colombia 1,000 Birds Mega Tour: 22 Nov - 20 Dec South Africa - Sabi Sands & Cape Wildlife Safari: 29 Aug - 6 Sep AUGUST South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II: 24 Nov - 15 Dec Brazil - Neotropical Mammals of the Amazon & Pantanal 29 Aug - 9 Sep; Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams I: 6 - 16 Aug Japan - Dancing Cranes & Winter Birding: 23 Nov - 10 Dec; Southern Iguaçu Falls Ext: 9 - 13 Sep Botswana - Duba Plains & Selinda 12 - 23 Aug Islands Ext: 17 - 23 Nov Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams II: 16 - 24 Aug Ghana Mega Birding: 27 Nov - 19 Dec OCTOBER Kenya - Wildebeest Migration: 20 - 27 Aug Eastern South Africa VI: 30 Nov -13 Dec; Cape Ext VI: 13 - 18 Dec India - Snow Leopard Expedition 21 Oct - 1 Nov Brazil - Wildlife of the Pantanal: 12 - 22 Aug Northern & Central Thailand - Asian Birding at its Best II: 30 Nov - 17 Dec; Southern Thailand Ext II: 17 - 23 Dec NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER India - Tigers of Kanha & Bandhavgarh 1 - 10 Nov; One-horned South Africa - Africa’s Big 5: 23 - 30 Sep DECEMBER Rhinoceros Ext: 10 - 15 Nov Best of Cambodia & Vietnam: 1 - 18 Dec; Cambodia - Angkor Watt & China - Giant Panda & Crested Ibis Expedition: 7 - 17 Nov OCTOBER Remote Birding Ext: 25 Nov - 1 Dec Madagascar - Mammals of a Magical Island: 8 - 19 Nov; Ranomafana Ext: Madagascar - Endemic Wildlife: 14 - 23 Oct; Morondava & Kirindy Ext: Chile - Birds, Wildlife & Andean Landscapes: 1 - 13 Dec; Arica Ext: 19 - 23 Nov 24 - 28 Oct 13 - 18 Dec Classic Antarctica - The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica I: Zambia - Ultimate Predators & Fruit Bat Migration: 27 Oct - 9 Nov Northern India - Birds & Tigers: 1 - 18 Dec 20 Nov - 8 Dec Brazil - Serra dos Tucanos: 3 - 10 Dec NOVEMBER Ethiopian Birding in Style: 4 - 15 Dec; Northern Ext: 15 - 22 Dec DECEMBER Classic Antarctica - The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica I: Budget Namibia Birding: 9 - 18 Dec Ethiopia - Endemic Mammals & Ancient Cultures: 2 - 17 Dec; Omo Valley 20 Nov - 8 Dec Antarctic Peninsula Adventure II: 20 - 28 Dec Tribal Ext: 17 - 22 Dec Ethiopia - Endemic Mammals & Ethnic Diversity: 28 Nov - 10 Dec; Classic Antarctica - The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica II: Tanzania - Serengeti Migration & Ngorongoro Crater: 8 - 19 Dec Vanishing Cultures of Omo Valley Ext: 10 - 16 Dec 28 Dec - 15 Jan 2014 Antarctic Peninsula Adventure II: 20 - 28 Dec Galápagos of the Southern Ocean: 30 Dec - 11 Jan 2014 Classic Antarctica - The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica II: DECEMBER 28 Dec - 15 Jan 2014 Antarctic Peninsula Adventure II: 20 - 28 Dec Classic Antarctica - The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica II: INDRI WILDLIFE TOURS ORYX PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS 28 Dec - 15 Jan 2014 MARCH FEBRUARY Antarctic Peninsula Adventure I: 6 - 16 Mar Tanzania - Migration & Wildebeest Calving: 12 - 22 Feb TAU ANTHROPOLOGICAL SAFARIS India - Tigers & Taj Mahal: 1 - 12 Feb MAY APRIL Canada - Winter Snowy Owls of Quebec & Ontario: 11 - 15 Feb Tanzania - Cultural & Wildlife Extravaganza: 12 - 21 May Southern Spain - Mammal Adventure: 15 - 22 Apr Rwanda Ext - Apes & Man: 21 - 27 May Tanzania & Kenya - Mega Mammal Safari: 27 Apr - 13 May MARCH Antarctic Peninsula Adventure I: 6 - 16 Mar SEPTEMBER MAY Alaska - Bald Eagles of Homer - Eagles Galore: 18 - 22 Mar South Africa - Tracking Mankind’s Past: 15 - 25 Sep Uganda - Primates & Big Game: 20 - 31 May Zimbabwe - Sango Ext: 25 - 29 Sep APRIL JUNE Finland Photographic Expedition: 14 - 25 Apr NOVEMBER Botswana - Okavango Delta & Beyond: 8 - 17 Jun Best of Texas Photo safari workshop: 22 - 26 Apr Ethiopia’s Omo Valley Tribes: 13 - 25 Nov; Northern Cultural Ext: Malaysian Borneo - Rainforest Mammals of Tropical Asia: 10 - 18 Jun; 25 Nov - 3 Dec Peninsular Malaysia Ext: 4 - 10 Jun JUNE South Africa & Botswana - Big Cats & Giants: 5 - 13 Jun Plains Zebra by Elliott Neep 9 OUR TEAM

Our team consists of a diverse group of Dale Morris has spent over 20 Forrest Rowland took his first Lawrence Weitz’s in-depth un- years travelling the world photograph- trip to the Neotropics at the tender derstanding of animal behavior dedicated people who, from the ever-busy ing wildlife and wilderness. He has age of 9 and this has blossomed and his love of wildlife, coupled admin department to our local ground been involved with several award- into a lifelong love affair with the with his personable character agents throughout the world, have one thing winning wildlife documentary projects, region’s birds and wildlife. Forrest and fun-loving nature, ensure an and his feature articles and photo sto- has spent many years in the field, unforgettable wildlife journey. He in common: a commitment to delivering ries have appeared in over 40 maga- honing his birding skills throughout has over 13 years experience as a the ultimate birding, wildlife, cultural and zine titles, ranging from BBC Wildlife to the Americas. Forrest heads up wildlife guide and tour leader, and National Geographic. Rockjumper’s New World division is fluent in German. photographic experience! This space is and is our primary tour leader in this dedicated to introducing you to some of the David Hoddinott is one of the exciting region. Lee Gutteridge is a profess- core members of the team who make your world’s most talented birders and ional tour leader, guide trainer and has extensive experience leading Glen Valentine’s unquestionable tracker with over 20 years of bush travel dreams come true. birding tours throughout the globe. passion for birds developed at an experience. He has published His zeal for birds has earned him extremely tender age. Glen has trav- 4 books on various wildlife and the position of Rockjumper’s eled extensively in Africa and is fast anthropological subjects and his ROCKJUMPER, INDRI, ORYX & TAU senior leader, and he is well known becoming Rockjumper’s lead Asia/ interest and infectious passion in birding circles for his endless New Guinea birding tour leader. He for paleao-anthropology and TOUR LEADERS energy and legendary spotting possesses exceptional birding skills traditional cultures has led him ability. He is one of only 4 birders and a personable nature, coupled to co-found Tau Anthropological Adam Riley qualified to have seen over 2,000 birds in with hearty levels of enthusiasm. Safaris in partnership with Adam as a chartered accountant, but his Africa. Riley. Greg du Toit, our senior Oryx lifelong passion for birding, wildlife David Lloyd is a talented tour leader, is a professional wildlife and travel led to him co-founding Marius Coetzee co-founded wildlife and travel photographer, photographer who has lived and Rockjumper Birding Tours in 1998. Oryx Photography with Adam photographic guide and part time worked throughout Africa. His Adam has traveled extensively Riley. Marius has many years ex- leader for Oryx. Imbued with a photographic works-of-art convey throughout the world, leading birding perience as a professional safari strong conservation ethic, David intimate interactions with the natural tours to more than 60 countries and leader and is an award-winning hopes to make a real difference world and have rightfully brought in the process racking up a bird list wildlife photographer whose imag- to conservation through his him international acclaim. Greg is of over 2,000 species on the African es have graced numerous signifi- photography. David’s giraffe image a highly sought-after photographic continent and 7,000 worldwide. cant publications. His knowledge is on the cover of the latest Veolia expedition leader with many years Adam is the Managing Director of of and enthusiasm for both wildlife Wildlife Photographer of the Year experience in the tourism industry. Rockjumper and co-founder of Indri, and photography are immense, Portfolio. and traveling with Marius cannot Oryx and Tau. Jan Pienaar spent many years be more highly recommended. as a lodge based guide near Christopher Dodds is a Elliott Neep has successfully Kruger National Park. Since professional nature photographer, established himself as one of the Mark Beevers hails from the UK joining Rockjumper, Jan has nature photography workshop and “best professional photographers in and has been a passionate birder birded extensively throughout safari leader, blogger and lecturer Europe” (Dentsu London), while also for most of his life. Mark has en- Africa and Asia. His wealth of specializing in birds. Chris travels holding true to a strong ethical and viable people skills and an incred- bush experience, wide general the world to capture breath-taking moral code. Elliott produces feature ible knowledge of Palearctic birds, knowledge and great sense of images, many of which have been articles and has his own column in much to the advantage of our humor will certainly be a bonus to featured in world-class publications, Practical Photography magazine, European, Middle East and North participants on his tours. including National Geographic. one of Britain’s leading photography African tours. publications. Cuan Rush first earned a conser- Keith Valentine plays an Markus Lilje’s incredible vation diploma before launching his Erik Forsyth is a superb birder, essential role in the management knowledge of the natural world career in bird related work, including raconteur and has a wonderful of Rockjumper, Indri and Tau, makes him an invaluable asset spending several years developing gift for sharing his enthusiasm and as well as guiding throughout to both Rockjumper and Indri, birding multi-media products. Cuan knowledge in the field. Erik, who has Africa, Asia and Madagascar. for which he leads birding and divides his time between heading been a full time Rockjumper tour His calm demeanor and in-depth wildlife tours throughout Africa, Rockjumper’s custom tour depart- leader for more than 10 years, is now knowledge of each region’s birds Asia and the Americas. He is also ment and leading tours throughout based in New Zealand and guides and wildlife make him one of our fluent in German and an accom- Africa and Asia. tours throughout Asia and Australasia. most popular leaders. plished photographer. 10 OUR TEAM

Rich Lindie has ROCKJUMPER, ORYX & TAU HEADQUARTERS STAFF traveled, birded and photo- graphed on every continent, Alison Wakelin is one of those rare individu- amassing an incredible knowl- als who is 100% committed to service excel- edge of the world’s birds and lence. She excels at communicating in a clear, wildlife in the process. Atten- friendly and efficient manner the often compli- tive and enthusiastic, Rich cated travel logistics to a mind-boggling diver- enjoys showing others the sity of countries. natural world as much as he loves discovering its wonders Anthea Pillay is the latest addition to our for himself. ever-growing Rockjumper family. She assists in our busy admin department and is presently Simon Bellingham deve- studying towards a degree in business admin- loped a love for wildlife whilst istration. growing up in Zimbabwe and later guiding at Richard Branson’s pri- Crystal Brook is responsible for our sales vate reserve near the Kruger Park. and bookings department, and also plays an Simon is both an experienced big important role in the operations side of Rock- game tracker and enthusiastic jumper. Crystal’s dedication to her work is birder, and his infectious enthu- exceptional, and she handles all queries in a siasm makes traveling with him a cheerful and efficient manner. delight. Simon is a co-founder of Indri. David Kaplan has been in love with birds since his earliest childhood memories. Wayne Jones worked as a Having joined Rockjumper in 2009, David now research assistant at South manages our website, blog, Facebook page, Africa’s University of Cape Town’s itineraries, photos and trip reports, amongst Avian Demography Unit and is a other tasks. passionate birder with a thorough knowledge of the region’s birds. Kirsty Horne has over 12 years experi- His amiable and enthusiastic nature ence in the travel industry. She strives to pro- make him a superb birding tour vide the best possible service at all times, and leader. her friendly and hardworking nature ensures Architecture and ran her own design and renovation Sue Anderson worked at KwaZulu-Natal that our guests enjoy an easy and hassle free business. Since the birth of her sons, Rose has been Wildlife for 14 years, followed by 7 years for BirdLife booking process. involved in website content management, marketing South Africa before joining our team, where she Local birding, wildlife, photographic and communication, which she now performs brilliantly heads our travel division. Sue ensures that our guests and cultural leaders and experts from Rose Hall holds a degree in for Rockjumper, Indri, Oryx and Tau. enjoy a completely hassle-free tour by arranging all throughout the world have also been carefully the necessary bookings. chosen to lead or co-lead some of our tours, and you can rest assured that we have selected INDRI HEADQUARTERS STAFF them for their superior knowledge, engaging Jenifer Goldberg is a founding valuable member of the team. She is personalities and guiding abilities. Many of partner of Indri and uses her im- also an avid diver and volunteers for pressive administrative capacities to ocean conservation and awareness our local leaders are among the top birders or head our Indri office. Jen’s knowl- projects. wildlife experts in their regions, while others edge on marine life and diving has are young and upcoming guides, passionate led to the publication of a very popu- Shelly Weatherall uses her de- lar dive guide. She is also a qualified gree in Commerce to assist Indri with and eager to make their mark in the guiding Chiropractor. all financial and tour related matters, world. Regardless, all can be counted on to while her calm and level-headed do their utmost to ensure your vacation with Lisa Dematteis has a diploma nature ensures that she deals with in IT but her passion for nature and all tour requests in an efficient and Rockjumper, Indri, Oryx or Tau exceeds your wildlife led her to Indri, where she is a friendly manner. expectations. 11 CUSTOM TOURS

Since our establishment in 1998 we have specialized in both customized along the way his expertise, passion and knowledge, whether for birds, tours and scheduled departures. The spirit of our customized private wildlife, photography, culture or a combination of these. If you decide on tours is rooted in assisting you to realize your dream wildlife vacation, an unguided tour instead, then you can relax in the knowledge that our whatever your special interests or budget. Our team of specialist office team is always only a phone call away (day or night) to smooth out consultants and tour leaders are highly experienced and meticulously any unexpected hiccups or to make any last minute changes you may design each expedition, resulting in a creatively crafted tour to fit your require. specific requirements. Here’s what some of our guests had to say about their custom Whether it be a relaxed family wildlife vacation, a hardcore expedition travel experiences with us: to find rare birds, a photographic tutoring tour to an exotic destination or Rockjumper Birding Tours a romantic honeymoon to a luxury game lodge, our customized private tour departments within Rockjumper, Indri, Oryx and Tau can arrange “Our trip has become even more exciting and memorable in retrospect, customized tours for single travelers through to large groups. We offer the and we can’t thank you enough. It was planned particularly well, giving flexibility of comfortable 3-star through to luxury 5-star lodgings, ensuring us a great idea of the varied terrain and landscape across eastern South that you enjoy your adventure at whatever comfort level suits your budget. Africa, and it would be hard to choose the best of the places we stayed in - they were all so good and yet so varied. The birds were tremendous, and Photographing Mountain Gorilla in Rwanda by Elliott Neep How we go about planning a custom tour: the animals scarcely behind; I don’t think we shall ever forget the elephants 1) You contact us in the mudbath. Nor shall we forget the Sani Pass and the rockjumpers! It really was a magnificent trip, and we enjoyed it enormously.” Let us know your desires and special interests – you can either be very specific, or if you are uncertain, allow our travel planning experts to make Evelyn and Rose Ebsworth, United Kingdom suggestions on your behalf. Indri Ultimate Wildlife Tours 2) We design your itinerary “Where do I begin? Our Tanzanian safari had unbelievable sightings daily Taking into account your requirements, we will draft a suggested itinerary, – from four lion cubs coming to within 10 feet of our vehicle, to a leopard which we can discuss and adjust until you are perfectly satisfied with the stalking, catching and climbing a tree with his prey, to witnessing the locations, timings, travel arrangements, focus and budget. wildebeest migration. The animal interaction exceeded anything I could have imagined. Markus - thank you for willingly sharing your knowledge, 3) You secure your booking whether it be about birds, animals or photography. I look forward to You secure your trip by simply filling out a booking form and sending us a traveling with you again.” deposit (we accept checks in US Dollars, Pound Sterling or Rand, bank Mary Anne Hershberger, USA Viewing Indian One-horned Rhinoceros in India’s Kaziranga NP by David Shackelford transfers to our US or South African accounts, PayPal and credit cards through PayPal.) Oryx Worldwide Photographic Expeditions 4) We provide you with all necessary pre-departure information “Having travelled with Oryx on two previous occasions, when I decided to visit India again they was the first choice company to arrange it for A pre-departure information pack to prepare you for your upcoming travel me .I wanted some culture to sit alongside an Indian wildlife experience. will be sent to you. Our knowledgeable team will also be on standby to The trip was perfect - great hotels, great sightseeing and best of all answer all your questions on visas, flights, vaccinations, recommended wonderful wildlife. Our tiger sightings were phenomenal and I we really reference books, photographic and other equipment, and anything else could not have asked for more. The local guides were excellent and that crosses your mind. Marius Coetzee could not do enough for us and improved everyone’s 5) We whisk you away for a wildlife vacation of a lifetime photography over the course of the trip. We have all decided to travel with Oryx in India again next year and look forward to another great trip.” You depart on your trip along with one of our specialized tour leaders who will take care of all the logistical details of your travels, sharing Alan Sturrock, United Kingdom

Birding Ethiopia’s Liben Plains by Matthew Matthiessen 12 13 South Africa & Zimbabwe

ur home country of South Africa is in our opinion quite simply one of the most pleasurable destinations in which to travel on earth, offering great value for money along with world-class infrastructure. In addition, South Africa boasts the most endemic birdO species of any African country, as well as a rich seabird assemblage and vast numbers of more widespread, yet no less spectacular African birds and large mammals. Add to this the rich botanical heritage, fine food and wines, friendly people, intriguing anthropological history and the scenic splendor of Africa’s most varied country, and it’s not hard to see why South Africa is our most popular destination!

The combination of Rockjumper’s two-week Eastern South Africa tour and six-day Cape Extension is one of our top sellers. Eastern South Africa offers the classic African savannas of the world-renowned Kruger National Park along with the teeming Zululand game reserves. Besides the exhilarating array of colorful bushveld birds, we spend time seeking big game and other wildlife. We also explore endemic-rich mist-belt forests and highveld grasslands, as well as scaling the lofty peaks of the Drakensberg into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Target birds include Drakensberg Rockjumper, Ground Woodpecker, Blue Crane, Southern Bald Orange-breasted Sunbird by Adam Riley Ibis, Taita Falcon and the lovely Pink-throated Twinspot. On our Cape Extension we spend unforgettable days exploring the breath-taking Cape Peninsula and its offshore pelagic waters, before searching the succulent Tanqua-Karoo and flower-laden West Coast for endemics. Cape targets include African Penguin, Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, the glittering Orange- breasted Sunbird, gaudy Cape Sugarbird and Cape Rockjumper. These tours typically produce up to 500 bird and 50 mammal species.

Our Cape Wildflowers, Birding & Big Game tour, co-guided by one of South Africa’s most knowledgeable botanists, is scheduled to take in the very best of the fairest Cape at a time when the Cape Fynbos and Namaqualand spring flowers are at their peak. This wildflower display is one of Mother Nature’s most colorful spectacles and a once-in-a-lifetime event that no nature-lover should miss! In addition we spend time searching for endemic birds on the plains of Bushmanland and also big game in the famous Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Our Cape to Windhoek - The Best of the West tour is a two-week adventure that can be taken in conjunction with our Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls Overland tour. Besides covering much of the same ground as our Wildflowers tour, we also include a pelagic birding trip off the Cape and visit the Great Fish River Canyon.

Our South Africa - Mega Birding Tour is the ultimate South African birding adventure. We visit every far-flung corner of our beautiful land and target almost all 143 regionally endemic bird species! From Barlow’s Lark in Port Nolloth to Knysna Woodpecker at Agulhas and Short-clawed Lark near Polokwane, we traverse deserts, Fynbos, high mountain passes, rolling grasslands, tropical dune forests and prime Acacia savanna in our quest. In the course of this 24-day tour we can expect to amass a very impressive bird list, observe scores of mammal Cheetah by Marius Coetzee 14 Southern Africa

species and intimately get to know one of the world’s most spectacular countries. Indri’s Sabi Sands & Cape Wildlife Safari explores the savanna of one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious private reserves, world famous for its exceptional leopard Rockjumper’s Budget Eastern South Africa and Budget Western South Africa tours showcase sightings. We will explore the Sabi Sands by vehicle and on foot as we attempt to locate the most important birding and wildlife sites in the country. With fewer frills than our classic tours, the “Big 5”, as well as a myriad of other no less spectacular wildlife. Some nights we will these tours will appeal to the avid birder looking for an inexpensive but thorough exploration of head out in open 4x4 vehicles in search of nocturnal mammals, and we may be fortunate this vast and biodiverse nation. to observe a thrilling hunt! While in Cape Town we will cruise on the deep waters of the icy Atlantic seeking Southern Right Whales and Great White Sharks, walk the flower- laden slopes of the Cape Mountains in the company of Chacma Baboons and enjoy what is widely considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Oryx’s Africa’s Big 5 photographic expedition is an 8-day wildlife and nature photographic expedition into the heart of one of Africa’s premier private game reserves, the fabulous Timbavati. This is a game viewing and wildlife photographic haven, with the main photographic targets being Africa’s legendary “Big 5”. Numerous territorial Leopards have made Kings Camp their home, as well as several prides of magnificent Lion. Buffalo and Elephant also congregate here in large numbers, and we can expect to see and photograph them at very close range. We also have the opportunity to view and photograph the increasingly endangered White Rhinoceros and, if we are extremely fortunate, even a roaming pack of African Wild Dog. Our lodging is the 4-bedroomed Cape Sugarbird by Hugh Chittenden Southern Bald Ibis by Adam Riley Waterbuck Private Villa, boasting a personal butler and chef to take care of our every need. Our Big Cats & Giants photographic expedition traverses two of Southern Africa’s most celebrated private reserves: South Africa’s MalaMala and Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve. World-famous MalaMala Game Reserve lies strategically sandwiched between Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. This special wilderness is home to startling numbers of big cats and other charismatic African wildlife. At Mashatu, in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, our photography will take place from hides offering unbeatable low-angle shots of this area’s big game, especially its famous giants, the mighty African Elephant.

Tau’s Tracking Mankind’s Past is a fascinating anthropological and cultural adventure through northern South Africa. We will visit the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, the dramatic Waterberg and Blouberg Mountains, the remote Makgabeng Plateau and Mapungubwe National Park. In the process, we will explore a range of unique rock art shelters, archaeological digs and Stone and Iron Age sites, whilst enjoying our time in incredibly scenic savanna filled with the big game that influenced the evolution of our species. Our lead guide Lee Gutteridge is a Senior tracker and will graphically demonstrate how early man interacted and survived in this environment. Our Sango Extension to south-eastern Zimbabwe will take us via the enigmatic Great Zimbabwe Ruins to the vast and wild Savé Valley Conservancy. Here we will explore beautiful panels of rock art and even relive ancient memories by spending a night in the wilderness at a San rock shelter. Drakensberg Rockjumper by Adam Riley 15 South Africa & Zimbabwe

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Cape to Windhoek - The Best of the US$4,350 • £2,790 • €3,490 • ZAR35,500 6 with Jan Pienaar West: 1 - 16 Sep (16 days) ss: US$480

Eastern South Africa I: 9 - 22 Feb (14 US$4,010 • £2,580 • €3,230 • ZAR32,800 6 with Wayne Jones days) ss: US$290

Cape Extension I: 22 - 27 Feb (6 days) US$1,840 • £1,180 • €1,480 • ZAR15,000 6 with Wayne Jones Flights approx US$100 ss: US$100

Eastern South Africa II: 11 - 24 Mar (14 US$4,010 • £2,580 • €3,230 • ZAR32,800 6 with Wayne Jones days) ss: US$290 Leopard by Marius Coetzee Cape Extension II: 6 - 11 Mar (6 days) US$1,840 • £1,180 • €1,480 • ZAR15,000 6 with Wayne Jones Flights approx US$100 ss: US$100

Eastern South Africa III: 29 Jun - 12 Jul US$4,010 • £2,580 • €3,230 • ZAR32,800 6 with Wayne Jones (14 days) ss: US$290

Cape Extension III: 12 - 17 Jul (6 days) US$1,840 • £1,180 • €1,480 • ZAR15,000 6 with Wayne Jones Flights approx US$100 ss: US$100

Eastern South Africa IV: 11 - 24 Sep US$4,010 • £2,580 • €3,230 • ZAR32,800 6 with Wayne Jones (14 days) ss: US$290

Cape Extension IV: 6 - 11 Sep (6 days) US$1,840 • £1,180 • €1,480 • ZAR15,000 6 with Wayne Jones Flights approx US$100 ss: US$100

Eastern South Africa V: 19 Oct - 1 Nov US$4,010 • £2,580 • €3,230 • ZAR32,800 6 with Athol Marchant (14 days) ss: US$290

Cape Extension V: 1 - 6 Nov (6 days) US$1,840 • £1,180 • €1,480 • ZAR15,000 6 with Athol Marchant Flights approx US$100 ss: US$100

Eastern South Africa VI: 30 Nov - 13 Dec US$4,010 • £2,580 • €3,230 • ZAR32,800 6 with Wayne Jones (14 days) ss: US$290

Cape Extension VI: 13 - 18 Dec (6 days) US$1,840 • £1,180 • €1,480 • ZAR15,000 6 with Wayne Jones Flights approx US$100 ss: US$100

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour I: 6 - 29 US$6,580 • £4,230 • €5,290 • ZAR53,750 6 with Markus Lilje Oct (24 days) Flights approx US$120 ss: US$640

South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II: 24 US$6,580 • £4,230 • €5,290 • ZAR53,750 6 with Glen Valentine Nov - 15 Dec (24 days) Flights approx US$120 ss: US$640

Cape Wildflowers, Birding & Big Game: US$3,790 • £2,440 • €3,050 • ZAR31,000 12 with Cliff Dorse & Wayne 18 - 31 Aug (13 days) ss: US$450 Jones

Budget Western South Africa: US$2,200 • £1,420 • €1,770 • ZAR18,000 12 with Wayne Jones 19 - 30 Jul (12 days) ss: US$130

Budget Eastern South Africa: 30 Jul - 10 US$2,200 • £1,420 • €1,770 • ZAR18,000 12 with Wayne Jones Aug (12 days) ss: US$290

South Africa - Sabi Sands & Cape US$5,190 • £3,340 • €4,170 • ZAR42,385 8 with Lawrence Weitz Wildlife Safari: 29 Aug - 6 Sep (9 days) Flights approx US$860 ss: US$490

South Africa & Botswana - Big Cats & US$9,850 • £6,330 • €7,920 • ZAR80,500 8 with Roger & Pat de la Giants: 5 - 13 Jun (9 days) ss: US$1,975 Harpe

South Africa - Africa’s Big 5: 23 - 30 Sep US$6,120 • £3,940 • €4,920 • ZAR50,000 8 with Marius Coetzee (8 days) ss: US$2,450

South Africa - Tracking Mankind’s Past: US$3,640 • £2,340 • €2,930 • ZAR29,800 12 with Lee Gutteridge & 15 - 25 Sep (11 days) ss: US$560 Adam Riley

Zimbabwe - Sango Extension: 25 - 29 To be announced 12 with Lee Gutteridge & Sep (5 days) Adam Riley 16 Namibia, Botswana & Zambia

ockjumper’s popular Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls Overland safari visits the major highlights of three of Africa’s most remarkable countries. This comprehensive tour combines the endemic birds of the Namib Desert with spectacular tropical savanna and wetland species. Spending time observing mammalsR will also be a major feature as we seek creatures ranging from elephant-shrews to elephants, as well as the fabled “Big 5”. We explore the rugged Khomas highlands around Windhoek, the desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft, Walvis Bay where thousands of flamingos and other waterbirds feast on the riches of the cold Atlantic Ocean, unrivalled game-viewing in Etosha National Park, the world famous Okavango Delta in Botswana, the floodplains of the Okavango and Zambezi River systems, ending in Livingstone where we marvel at one of the natural wonders of the world, the mighty Victoria Falls. Birding targets on this fabulous adventure include Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane, Ludwig’s Bustard, Rüppell’s Korhaan, Pel’s Fishing Owl (one of ten possible owls!), Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike and an incredible diversity of larks. Our Budget Namibia Birding tour is a comfortable camping circuit around Namibia’s prime birding and wildlife sites. We will seek Namibia’s endemic and near-endemic birds whilst visiting the dramatic red Sossusvlei dunes, Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, big-game rich Etosha and Waterberg National Park. This tour offers a comprehensive cross-section of the very best that arid Namibia has to offer, at an extremely reasonable price.

Indri’s Namibia - Wildlife of the Deserts & Wilderness adventure begins in the desolately beautiful Sossusvlei, where Gemsbok and Springbok are seen against towering red dunes. At the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund, we seek out the endemic Heaviside’s Dolphin, before journeying inland to the ancient Erongo

Mountains where unique Dassie Rats and Damara Dik-diks abound. Our adventure culminates in Etosha with African Elephants by Marius Coetzee elephants slaking their thirst at crowded waterholes, Lions snoozing in the shade of thorn scrub, endangered Black Rhinoceros staring us down and, if we are lucky, hunting Cheetah. Our Botswana - Okavango Delta & Beyond tour takes us into the heart of the Delta, made up of a checkerboard of islands and waterways brimming with wildlife. Journeying onwards to the Savuti, wildlife is best viewed as it congregates around a series of isolated waterholes, the lifeblood of this arid savanna. Our final destination is the Chobe River where an astonishing 30,000+ Elephant thrive, and we can be assured of incredible encounters with these magnificent giants.

Oryx’s Duba Plains & Selinda photographic expedition in Botswana explores Duba Plains, an island world famous for its daytime Lion and Buffalo interactions. We then depart for the savanna riches of Selinda where we will focus our lenses on its most celebrated residents, the vast herds of Elephant. You can expect world class bird and game photographic opportunities at these two remarkable sites.

Our Ultimate Predators & Fruit Bat Migration photo adventure offers a two week nature and wildlife photographic expedition into the heart of Zambia’s most famous national parks; South Luangwa and Kasanka. Our expedition is timed for the end of the dry season, perfect for the mind-blowing photography that this beautiful country has to offer. Temperatures and light conditions are near perfect, allowing you to explore your inner creativity, and with the assistance of our professional photographic leaders (Christopher Dodds and Greg du Toit), to produce some of your finest images yet! This photo adventure features roomy, low angle view blinds and one person per row jeep safaris. Rosy-faced Lovebird by Adam Riley 17 Southern Africa

Black Rhinoceros by Adam Riley

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls US$5,875 • £3,780 • €4,720 • ZAR48,000 8 with tba Overland I: 23 Jul - 9 Aug (18 days) ss: US$460

Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls US$5,875 • £3,780 • €4,720 • ZAR48,000 8 with tba Overland II: 10 - 27 Aug (18 days) ss: US$460

Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls US$5,875 • £3,780 • €4,720 • ZAR48,000 8 with Jan Pienaar Overland III: 16 Sep - 3 Oct (18 days) ss: US$460

Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls US$5,875 • £3,780 • €4,720 • ZAR48,000 8 with Jan Pienaar Overland IV: 4 - 21 Oct (18 days) ss: US$460

Budget Namibia Birding: 9 - 18 Dec US$2,390 • £1,530 • €1,920 • ZAR19,500 12 with tba (10 days) ss: US$20

Botswana - Okavango Delta & US$5,220 • £3,360 • €4,200 • ZAR42,600 8 with Lawrence Weitz Beyond: 8 - 17 Jun 2013 (10 days)

Namibia - Wildlife of the Deserts & US$4,770 • £3,070 • €3,840 • ZAR39,000 8 with Lawrence Weitz Wilderness: 14 - 25 Aug (12 days) ss: US$230

Botswana - Duba Plains & Selinda: US$19,750 • £12,700 • €15,880 • 6 with Chris Dodds 12 - 23 Aug (12 days) ZAR161,360 ss: US$5,250

Zambia - Ultimate Predators & Fruit US$16,950 • £10,900 • €13,630 • 8 with Greg du Toit & Chris Bat Migration: 27 Oct - 9 Nov (14 days) ZAR138,500 ss: US$2,900 Dodds

Ludwig’s Bustard by Hugh Chittenden Rockrunner by Hugh Chittenden 18 Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda

enya and Tanzania, each boasting a bird list in excess of a thousand species, Our Kenya Mega Birding tour provides 26 days of non-stop birding! This tour typically epitomize Africa’s reputation as ‘the birding continent’, hosting a profusion of produces an astounding total of over 800 bird species, as well as an amazing diversity of large outrageously colorful and easily observable birds! Augmenting this incredible mammals. Not only do we obtain a huge list of mouth-watering species, but also Kenya’s most Kbirding, you are guaranteed front row seats to the finest mammal show on the planet. Over sought-after rarities and endemics. We explore areas that include Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, our many years of operation in this region we have tailored an exciting portfolio of tours to Tsavo West and East, the isolated Taita Hills, Lake Baringo, Kakamega and the plains of the satisfy every visitor, from hardcore birders and photographers to travelers seeking a more Masai Mara. This is simply the finest tour available for those wanting a complete Kenyan diverse vacation blending birding, wildlife, photography and cultural activities with luxury birding experience. Our Tanzania Mega Birding tour has been specifically designed to target game lodges. almost all the Tanzanian endemic bird species, including such megas as Udzungwa Forest Partridge, Dapplethroat and the endangered Uluguru Bushshrike. This 26-day adventure Rockjumper’s Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game safaris are designed to maximize begins on the idyllic island of Pemba, before launching our assault on the numerous Eastern both big game and birding experiences by selecting the very best and most accessible Arc Mountain endemics, which takes us into the remote reaches of the Udzungwa, Uluguru, destinations of these two fantastic African nations. In Tanzania we explore the floor of the Ukaguru and Usambara Mountains where a number of exceedingly range restricted species legendary Ngorongoro Crater, literally teeming with mammals and birdlife, the endless occur. Our exploration continues with a visit to the Kilombero Swamps for three newly plains of the Serengeti, and the verdant riverbeds of Tarangire. In Kenya we visit key reserves discovered species, before making our way into the dry Acacia woodlands and game-filled offering a variety of habitats, from Amboseli in the shadows of Mt. Kilimanjaro, to the plains of northern Tanzania. montane forests of Mt. Kenya, fantastic Shaba in the dry Samburu region, as well as Lake Nakuru, regularly glowing pink with up to two million Lesser Flamingos! Offering over 450 Indri’s Tanzania & Kenya - Mega Mammal Safari visits the prime big game sanctuaries bird species and unparalleled African mammal experiences, it’s no surprise that this remains of East Africa, from Samburu in the north to the fabulous Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti one of our most popular tours. Furthermore, a small group size of just six guests makes for in the south. Our visit is timed to coincide with the great Wildebeest migration winding a very personalized and enjoyable experience. Our Tanzania - Lake Victoria to Pemba through the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, and this tour offers the ultimate East African Endemics tour combines the famous big game parks of Tanzania with the spice island of mammal experience. The Tanzania - Serengeti Migration & Ngorongoro Crater tour is Pemba, the verdant Usambara Mountains and other special sites for Tanzania’s endemics. This is the definitive northern Tanzania birding and wildlife tour.

Rwanda is a fascinating add-on to either of the above tours. We thoroughly explore this tiny nation, tracking the Virunga race of Mountain Gorilla and seeking out a plethora of Albertine Rift endemics in the vast, beautiful Nyungwe Forest are just a few of the highlights. In addition, we visit Akagera National Park where we bird mixed broad-leaved and Acacia woodlands and papyrus swamps for Papyrus Gonolek, Shoebill and one of Africa’s toughest birds, the rare Ring-necked Francolin. Other potential specials include Ruwenzori Turaco, Red-collared Babbler, Kungwe Apalis, Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird and the enigmatic Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Cheetah by Elliott Neep

19 Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda

the premier northern Tanzania big game safari. This includes an unforgettable encounter with Tau’s specially crafted Tanzania - Cultural & Wildlife Extravaganza is an East African the wildebeest migration as they calve on the Ndutu Plains as well as intimate encounters safari with a difference! We spend quality time visiting the Meru, nomadic Maasai, Iraqw with an abundance of African megafauna, including the highest concentrations of big cats and hunter-gatherer Hadza tribes, offering us an opportunity of intimately getting to know and other predators in the world. the customs and lifestyles of these traditional cultures. We also explore the endless Serengeti Plains, which at this time of year is home to the great wildebeest migration, the Ngorongoro Oryx’s Kenya - Wildebeest Migration and Tanzania - Migration & Wildebeest Calving Crater and Olduvai Gorge, site of incomparable fossil finds, in the process discussing the photographic tours are guided by professional wildlife photographers, ensuring that you return story of humankind and our species’ interaction with the African environment. Our Rwanda with an outstanding portfolio of images, ranging from mind-boggling herds of wildebeest and - Apes & Man Extension includes opportunities for spending time with our closest living the incomparable ‘Big Five’ to striking birds, such as Kori Bustard and Superb Starling. These relatives, the mighty Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee. Further highlights include visiting tours are the ultimate African wildlife photographic expeditions, and besides experiencing Royal Palaces and sobering genocide sites, experiencing exciting traditional dances and the phenomenal wildlife of the “greatest show on Earth,” you can also expect some of the familiarizing ourselves with the people of this nation, including the marginalized BaTwa most breathtaking landscapes in all of Africa! pygmies. Lion by Elliott Neep

20 East Africa

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Kenya Mega Birding Tour: 6 Apr - 1 May US$8,950 • £5,760 • €7,200 • ZAR73,100 12 with David Hoddinott & (26 days) Flights approx US$140 ss: US$595 Brian Finch

Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game I: US$6,550 • £4,210 • €5,270 • ZAR53,500 6 with Wayne Jones 14 - 30 Apr (17 days) ss: US$350

Kenya & Tanzania - Birds & Big Game II: US$6,550 • £4,210 • €5,270 • ZAR53,500 6 with Wayne Jones 1 - 17 May (17 days) ss: US$350

Tanzania Mega Birding Tour: 1 - 26 Sep US$11,450 • £7,360 • €9,210 • ZAR93,500 8 with Glen Valentine Mountain Gorilla by Jonathan Rossouw (26 days) Flights approx US$280 ss: US$925

Tanzania - Lake Victoria to Pemba En- US$6,975 • £4,490 • €5,610 • ZAR57,000 6 with Jan Pienaar demics: 9 - 25 May (17 days) Flights approx US$310 ss: US$725

Rwanda Extension - Gorillas & Albertine US$3,975 • £2,560 • €3.200 • ZAR32,500 6 with Jan Pienaar Rift Endemics: 1 - 9 May (9 days) ss: US$675

Tanzania - Serengeti Migration & US$6,475 • £4,160 • €5,210 • ZAR52,900 6 with Lawrence Weitz Ngorongoro Crater: 8 - 19 Dec (12 days) ss: US$390

Tanzania & Kenya - Mega Mammal US$6,975 • £4,490 • €5,610 • ZAR57,000 6 with Lawrence Weitz Safari: 27 Apr - 13 May (17 days) ss: US$375

Tanzania - Migration & Wildebeest US$8,150 • £5,240 • €6,550 • ZAR66,600 6 with Elliott Neep Calving: 12 - 22 Feb (11 days) Flights approx US$300 ss: US$500

Kenya - Wildebeest Migration: 20 - 27 US$6,975 • £4,490 • €5,610 • ZAR57,000 6 with David Lloyd Aug (8 days) ss: US$600

Tanzania - Cultural & Wildlife US$4,750 • £3,050 • €3,820 • ZAR38,800 12 with Lee Gutteridge & tba Extravaganza: 12 - 21 May (10 days) ss: US$275

Rwanda Extension - Apes & Man: US$2,575 • £1,660 • €2,070 • ZAR21,000 12 with Lee Gutteridge & tba 21 - 27 May (7 days) ss: US$585

Lesser Flamingos by Adam Riley 21 Ethiopia & Uganda

thiopia’s highlights include the second highest endemic bird list on the African continent, Oryx’s Endemic Mammals & Ethnic Diversity photographic safari concentrates on some of the a remarkable mammalian assemblage, an ancient Christian culture and remote tribes little world’s most spectacular and photogenic animals, including the Ethiopian Wolf, Mountain Nyala, influenced by the modern world. This combination of unique features makes for a thoroughly Gelada and Walia Ibex. We will also spend time photographing the “Camelot of Africa” - the famous enjoyableE and fascinating journey to one of the world’s most remarkable countries. castles of Gondar, as well as the incredible rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Our Vanishing Cultures of Omo Valley Extension allows us opportunity to photograph several tribal communities including Rockjumper’s comprehensive Ethiopian Endemics Birding tour loops through the central and the famous plate-lipped Mursi tribe and colorfully adorned Hamar tribe. southern regions as we seek out the very best birding that Ethiopia has to offer, including targeting every possible endemic and near-endemic bird on this route. Participants can expect to see over 500 Tau’s Omo Valley Tribes tour gives an even more in-depth experience of the diverse tribes of this species, including the fabled Ruspoli’s Turaco, strange Stresemann’s Bush Crow, Rouget’s Rail, Spot- UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. Besides the aforementioned Mursi and Hamar, we will breasted Lapwing, remarkable Thick-billed Raven, the extremely localized Salvadori’s Seedeater, visit and get to know the Karo, Konso, Dorze, Dassenech and other tribes. Our Northern Cultural rare Red-billed Pytilia and even Ethiopian Wolf! Our Lalibela Historical Extension explores the Extension takes in Gondar, the intriguing Geladas of the Simien Mountains, Lalibela as well as astounding series of 12th century monolithic churches Ethiopia’s holiest city, Axum in the far north. hewn out of solid rock. The Omo Valley Extension is Our visit to Axum is timed to witness the joyous a cultural and birding experience that will take us to festival of Tsion, when tens of thousands of one of the wildest and most ethnically diverse places on pilgrims gather to pay homage to the Ark of the Earth - the South Omo Valley, home to more than ten Covenant. distinct tribes each with their own language, clothing, hairstyles and body ornamentation. Our tour takes us We are extremely proud of our vast wealth through the very heart of this vast and varied cultural of experience in Uganda, where we have melting pot, and promises to make an exciting and successfully arranged and guided more than 30 memorable end to our Ethiopia birding experience! tours over the past twelve years. Our fantastic For our Ethiopian Birding in Style tour we have Mursi tribeswoman by Marius Coetzee Uganda - Birds & Gorillas tour visits Kibale, handpicked the prime birding locations in central famed for its primates, ranging from minuscule Ethiopia and chosen only premier lodges for a more galagos to Chimpanzees, as well as being the upmarket package. Our In Style Northern Extension best site for the mythical Green-breasted Pitta. visits Lalibela, Gondar (famed for its medieval castles) We also marvel at the towering trees of the fabled as well as the fantastic Simien Mountains, where Royal Mile, and five days are enjoyed in Bwindi we will have up close and personal encounters with Impenetrable Forest, home to more than half the massive troops of Geladas and the magnificent but world’s surviving Mountain Gorillas. Although highly endangered Walia Ibex. the Gorilla trek can be strenuous, staring into the eyes of one of these magnificent beasts from Indri’s Endemic Mammals & Ancient Cultures only a few feet away is nothing short of a life- tour commences with an exploration of the high Bale Mountains, home of the critically endangered changing experience and is rated by many as the greatest wildlife encounter on the planet! In the Ethiopian Wolf, the world’s rarest canid. We also visit Awash National Park, rich in plains game that drier country we visit the mighty Murchison Falls where the Nile is forced through a tiny gap forming include the rare Soemmerring’s Gazelle, as well as Lion, Striped Hyena, Aardwolf and Aardvark. the most powerful water surge on Earth. A boat cruise allows us to watch the birds and animals that The grand finale of our travels is the spectacular Simien Mountains where we will spend time closely throng the river’s banks, and here we expect to find one of the world’s most wanted birds, the bizarre observing Geladas and their fascinating social lives, second in complexity only to humans! A further Shoebill. Straddling the Equator is the vast Queen Elizabeth NP, boasting impressive crater-lake highlight includes Gondar’s medieval castles and ornate Debre Birhan Selassie church. In the remote scenery, grasslands and forests, huge herds of Elephant and Buffalo and predators including Lion south our Omo Valley Tribal Extension allows us to meet fascinating traditional tribes people, and Leopard. Over 530 species of birds and a diverse array of mammals can be expected on this colorfully adorned with fantastic accouterments and tattoos. unbeatable tour. Further potential avian highlights include Nahan’s Francolin, Grauer’s Broadbill,

22 East Africa

Papyrus Gonolek, Red-throated Alethe, Neumann’s Warbler and Jameson’s Antpecker. Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Our Budget Uganda Birding tour covers the highlights of this diverse country, from opportunities Ethiopian Endemics Birding I: 11 - 29 Jan US$5,450 • £3,510 • €4,380 • ZAR44,500 10 with Markus Lilje & Jan to track wild Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees, to seeking out rare Albertine Rift endemics and (19 days) ss: US$415 Pienaar other forest specialties. This 12-day tour offers an excellent overview at a much-reduced price. Lalibela Historical Extension I: 29 Jan - 1 US$1,275 • £820 • €1,030 • ZAR10,400 8 with Markus Lilje Feb (4 days) Flights approx US$430 ss: US$100

Indri’s Uganda Primates & Big Game tour focuses on the highlight mammals of Uganda, the Lalibela Historical Extension II: 29 Jan - US$1,275 • £820 • €1,030 • ZAR10,400 8 with Jan Pienaar stars being Mountain Gorilla (we can expect an incredibly intimate and close encounter with these 1 Feb (4 days) Flights approx US$430 ss: US$100 amazing creatures in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest), Chimpanzee and 10 other primate species. Ethiopian Endemics Birding II: 1 - 19 Feb US$5,450 • £3,510 • €4,380 • ZAR44,500 8 with Markus Lilje Further highlights include an impressive range of other readily-viewed big game, including Lion, (19 days) ss: US$415

Leopard, Elephant, Hippopotamus and Giant Forest Hog, to name but a few! Spotlighting excursions Ethiopian Endemics Birding III: 1 - 19 US$5,450 • £3,510 • €4,380 • ZAR44,500 8 with Jan Pienaar may reveal rarely seen species, from African Palm Civet to Lord Derby’s Anomalure and the curious Feb (19 days) ss: US$415

Potto. Omo Valley Extension: 19 - 26 Feb US$2,575 • £1,660 • €2,070 • ZAR21,000 8 with Markus Lilje (8 days) Flights approx US$120 ss: US$215

Ethiopian Endemics Birding: IV 12 - 30 US$5,450 • £3,510 • €4,380 • ZAR44,500 8 with tba Nov (19 days) ss: US$415

Lalibela Historical Ext: IV 30 Nov - 3 Dec US$1,275 • £820 • €1,030 • ZAR10,400 8 with tba (4 days) Flights approx US$430 ss: US$100

Ethiopian Birding in Style: 4 - 15 Dec US$4,950 • £3,180 • €3,980 • ZAR40,400 8 with tba (12 days) ss: US$550

Northern Extension: 15 - 22 Dec (8 days) US$2,950 • £1,900 • €2,370 • ZAR24,100 8 with tba Flights approx US$540 ss: US$400

Shoebill by Jonathan Rossouw Ethiopia - Endemic Mammals & Ancient US$4,950 • £3,180 • €3,980 • ZAR40,400 8 with Simon Bellingham Cultures: 2 - 17 Dec (16 days) Flights approx US$400 ss: US$700

Ethiopia - Omo Valley Tribal Extension: US$1,950 • £1,250 • €1,570 • ZAR15,900 8 with Simon Bellingham Ethiopian Wolves by Rich Lindie 17 - 22 Dec (6 days) Flights approx US$180 ss: US$150

Ethiopia - Endemic Mammals & Ethnic To be announced 6 with Dale Morris Diversity 28 Nov - 10 Dec (13 days)

Ethiopia - Vanishing Cultures of Omo To be announced 6 with Dale Morris Valley Extension 10 - 16 Dec (7 days)

Ethiopia - Omo Valley Tribes: 13 - 25 US$3,850 • £2,480 • €3,100 • ZAR31,500 12 with Lee Gutteridge & tba Nov (13 days) Flights approx US$150 ss: US$380

Northern Cultural Extension: US$2,675 • £1,720 • €2,150 • ZAR21,900 12 with Lee Gutteridge & tba 25 Nov - 3 Dec (9 days) Flights approx US$520 ss: US$435

Uganda - Birds & Gorillas: 28 Jul - 15 US$7,475 • £4,810 • €6,010 • ZAR61,100 10 with Cuan Rush & local Aug (19 days) ss: US$775 birding leader

Budget Uganda Birding: 16 - 27 Jul (12 US$3,975 • £2,560 • €3,200 • ZAR32,500 12 with Cuan Rush & local days) ss: US$440 birding leader

Uganda - Primates & Big Game: 20 - 31 US$7,775 • £5,000 • €6,250 • ZAR63,500 8 with Lawrence Weitz May (12 days) ss: US$1,070

Chimpanzee by Jonathan Rossouw 23 Angola, São Tomé & Príncipe, Gabon & CAR

n 2004 Rockjumper successfully operated Angola’s first birding tour and we are proud to conserve the incredible faunal wealth of this, the largest intact forest bloc on the entire to be one of the few companies still offering this productive birding country. Our tour is African continent. Due to its small population and vast rainforest resources, Gabon is unique in an “off-the-beaten-track” camping expedition for those with a sense of adventure and the harboring significant numbers of African rainforest mammals that have either disappeared or willingnessI to journey where few birders have previously ventured! Our overland safari begins are very difficult to see elsewhere. Our tour takes us to Lope and Loango National Parks where in Lubango in southern Angola, from where our convoy of safari-kitted 4x4 vehicles will head we will seek herds of Forest Elephant and Forest Buffalo, sounders of Red River Hogs and a to the Tundavala Escarpment, offering some of the most dramatic scenery in Africa. Concluding plethora of monkeys. Chances exist for Chimpanzee, Mandrills and West African Manatee. 19 days later in Luanda, we will have covered all the major habitats and birding sites of Angola The birding is also exceptional, including such mythical African megas as White-crested Tiger - from the parched Namib Desert to misty Afro-montane scarp forests, rainforest and Miombo Heron, Congo Serpent Eagle, Hartlaub’s Duck, Vermiculated Fishing Owl, Plumed Guineafowl, woodlands. Bates’s Nightjar, White-bellied Kingfisher, Black-headed and Rosy Bee-eater, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, African River Martin and Black-collared Bulbul. As we seek out all of Angola’s endemic and range-restricted birds our intrepid group can expect to find many species seen by just a handful of birders. Our 2011 Rockjumper tour to Angola Our São Tomé & Príncipe extension will take us to these tropical, endemic rich islands, where recorded well over 500 bird species, while at the same time making a valuable contribution to we will seek out São Tomé Ibis, São Tomé Fiscal, Giant Sunbird, Giant Weaver, São Tomé the known distribution ranges of some of the rarest and least known birds in the world. In fact Grosbeak and many other endemics. our tour leaders were the first to photograph and announce a potential new species of Oliveback discovered during this tour. Target species will include the unique Angola Cave Chat, Cinderella If the primordial forests of central Africa fascinate you, then Oryx’s Lowland Gorilla, Forest Waxbill, the mythical Swierstra’s and Grey-striped Francolin, arguably Angola’s most beautiful Elephant & Pygmies photographic expedition to the Central African Republic is simply an endemic - the Red-crested Turaco, Gabela Akalat, Pulitzer’s Longbill, Monteiro’s, Braun’s and expedition you have to make! This unbroken forest, spanning three countries and only sparsely Gabela Bushshrikes, Gabela Helmetshrike, Red-backed Mousebird and the remarkable White- populated with Bantu tribes and nomadic groups of traditional Pygmies, will not disappoint the headed Robin-Chat. adventurer and wildlife photographer. On this journey into deepest, darkest Africa we will be travelling in 4x4 vehicles, motorized boats, small pirogues, as well as on foot to remote baïs The West African nation of Gabon made headlines in 2002 when its national parks rose where Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo and Bongo gather. We will enjoy close experiences with from zero to thirteen, as more than 10,000 square miles of pristine rainforest was protected Lowland Gorilla, and a range of other rainforest wildlife will also be sought.

Angola Cave Chat by Markus Lilje São Tomé Prinia by Adam Riley Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye by Markus Lilje 24 C entral & West Africa Lowland Gorilla by David Shackelford

Bongo, Forest Elephant and Forrest Buffalo at a baï by Rod Cassidy

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Angola - Endemics Overland Adventure: US$7,070 • £4,550 • €5,680 • 10 with Keith Valentine & 7 - 25 Sep (19 days) ZAR57,750 ss: US$340 local birding leader

São Tomé & Príncipe Endemics Extension: To be announced 8 with David Hoddinott 6 - 12 Jul (7 days)

Gabon - Rainforest Birds & Mammals: US$7,400 • £4,760 • €5,950 • ZAR60,500 8 with David Hoddinott 12 - 25 Jul (14 days) Flights approx US$420 ss: US$850

Ivindo River Martin Extension: US$1,150 • £740 • €930 • ZAR9,400 8 with David Hoddinott 26 - 29 Jul (4 days) Flights approx US$250 ss: US$30

Central African Republic - Lowland Gorilla, US$8,640 • £5,560 • €6,950 • 6 with Dale Morris Forest Elephant & Pygmies: 20 - 31 Jul (12 days) ZAR70,600 ss: US$710

25 Cameroon & Ghana

ue largely to the poorly-developed infrastructure of the region, Central and West Africa are amongst the world’s least-visited tourism destinations. However, at Rockjumper we pride ourselves in having operated numerous highly successful tours to this biodiverse region.D If you are game for an adventure and want to experience first-class birding and tropical Africa at its best, then we thoroughly recommend our Cameroon and Ghana tours.

Cameroon harbors a wide range of habitats, ranging from vast lowland and montane forests, the latter on some of Africa’s highest peaks, to extensive Sahelian semi-desert. In the moist south we visit prime sites that include Mount Cameroon, Korup National Park, Mount Kupe, Bakossi Mountains and the Bamenda Highlands, where we will seek out numerous endemics and both lowland and montane forest specials. Korup is famous for its colonies of Grey-necked Rockfowl, and our chance of viewing these strange birds is excellent! In central Cameroon we visit the Adamawa Plateau and Benoue National Park, with areas of mixed broad-leaved woodlands. This region teems with incredible birds and here the spectacular Pennant-winged and Standard- winged Nightjars may even be found side by side! To the far north the fabulous Waza National Park is renowned as a superb arid-zone birding and mammal-watching destination.

Golden Nightjar by Markus Lilje

Names such as Bare-cheeked Trogon, Vermiculated Fishing Owl, Mount Kupe Bushshrike, Arabian Bustard, Quail-plover, White-throated Mountain Babbler, Mount Cameroon Spierops, Shelley’s Oliveback, Grey-headed Broadbill and Cricket Longtail should whet any birder’s appetite. Our Cameroon tour will provide some of the most memorable birding possible on the African continent and, as we thoroughly cover this vast country, we hope to observe up to 600 bird species along with a wealth of exciting African wildlife.

Ghana offers core West African rainforest and savanna birding, which with the recent discovery of easily accessible White-necked Rockfowl colonies has firmly established this as a ‘must-visit’ birding destination. Our Ghana Mega Birding tour is specifically designed to cover the most crucial sites in the country, offering a fully comprehensive overview of Ghana’s spectacular avifauna. Some of the sites visited on this exceptional adventure include the wonderful Kakum National Park, home to Africa’s only rainforest canopy walkway and a variety of Upper Guinea endemics; the fantastic Kumasi and Atewa forests, where we will carefully work through the lower-storey bird waves that are typically filled with greenbuls, flycatchers, warblers and many more; plus the remote Kalakpa forest, where the rare Capuchin Babbler and stunning Red- cheeked Wattle-eye may be found. We will of course also take time to enjoy the primary target of our tour, the White-necked Rockfowl, and watching these bizarre birds coming in to their roost is likely to be one of the highlights of any birder’s career! Further north, Mole National Park lies in a belt of broad-leaved Guinea woodlands where we will seek the beautiful Oriole Scissor-tailed Kite by Markus Lilje 26 C entral & West Africa

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Cameroon - Rainforest, Rockfowl & US$6,030 • £3,880 • €4,850 • ZAR49,300 10 with David Hoddinott & Sahel I: 12 Mar - 2 Apr (22 days) Flights approx US$360 ss: US$340 Glen Valentine

Cameroon - Rainforest, Rockfowl & US$6,030 • £3,880 • €4,850 • ZAR49,300 8 with Glen Valentine Sahel II: 3 - 24 Apr (22 days) Flights approx US$360 ss: US$340

Ghana Highlights: 13 - 26 Nov (14 US$4,160 • £2,675 • €3,340 • ZAR34,000 ss: 12 with Jan Pienaar & local days) US$430 birding leader

Grey-necked Rockfowl by Markus Lilje Ghana Mega Birding: 27 Nov - 19 Dec US$6,410 • £4,125 • €5,160 • ZAR52,400 ss: 8 with Jan Pienaar & local (23 days) US$580 birding leader

Warbler, stunning Violet Turaco and numerous kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers, sunbirds and starlings; while in the dry Sahelian savanna of the seldom-visited far north of the country we will look for some really special species, including the splendid Egyptian Plover and the Standard-winged Nightjar, one of the world’s most uniquely adorned birds!

For our Ghana Highlights tour we have chosen only the very best birding sites of this fantastic country. Our days will be spent ambling along forested trails, scanning for canopy species from the fabulous Kakum canopy walkway and exploring vast tracts of deciduous woodland. Typical African families such as turacos, sunbirds and greenbuls are well represented, yielding a colorful and interesting bounty of species; and, to boot, we have the opportunity to see one of Africa’s most sought-after species - the fabled White-necked Rockfowl! Further highlights of this fantastic African adventure include a visit to Ghana’s most notorious edifice, the Cape Coast Castle, which once served as a major base for shipping slaves to the ‘New World’. We will also enjoy various rainforest and savanna mammals, including Mole National Park’s healthy population of particularly well-habituated African Elephants.

Blue Cuckooshrike by Adam Riley Tree Pangolin by Adam Riley 27 Madagascar

adagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island and often referred to as the “Eighth Continent”. Its exceptional fauna and flora have evolved during millions of years of isolation and of the 200 bird species regularly recorded on the island, no fewer than 140 are endemicM or near endemic, including 5 endemic bird families! However, the wonder of Madagascar extends well beyond its avifauna, this “laboratory of evolution” teems with unique wildlife including over 100 species of amazing lemurs, colorful chameleons, outlandish insects and fascinating flora. Coquerel’s Sifaka by Marius Coetzee Rockjumper’s 3-week Madagascar Comprehensive birding tour offers an all-encompassing overview of this remarkable island. We visit key habitats, ranging from the deciduous woodlands of the northwest, to the Tolkienesque spiny forests of the south and the rainforests blanketing the island’s eastern spine. Highlights include the spectacular Schlegel’s Asity, Scaly Ground Roller, Subdesert Mesite and Sickle-billed Vanga. We also stand a chance of encountering up to 27 lemur species, including dancing sifakas and the unforgettable song of the Indri. Other highlights range from strange tenrecs to cryptic leaf-tailed geckos and the bizarre Giraffe-necked Weevil.

Madagascar’s Remote North - Pochard & Endangered Endemics tour is an ‘off-the-beaten track’ birding adventure in search of some of the world’s rarest birds. We will visit isolated lakes holding the last population of the recently rediscovered Madagascar Pochard and the lowland rainforests of the Masoala Peninsula where the outrageous Helmet Vanga occurs. Other targets include Sakalava Rail, Madagascar Serpent Eagle, Red Owl and Slender-billed Flufftail. For our Madagascar Highlights tour we have cherry-picked the very best of Madagascar and are offering it as a shorter package. This tour still produces all 5 endemic bird families, plus an exciting selection of lemurs and other representative wildlife. Our Budget Madagascar Birding tour provides the birder with a fantastic opportunity for observing the highlights of the island’s birds and wildlife at a much reduced cost.

Indri’s Mammals of a Magical Island tour, combined with our Ranomafana Extension, are unbeatable wildlife focused adventures providing our participants the opportunity of in-depth and fascinating studies of the bizarre mammals and other wildlife that occupy this fascinating island. We will enjoy quality time with numerous charismatic lemur species and also seek out lesser known creatures, including spiny tenrecs, primitive carnivores, multi-hued frogs and much more besides.

One of the most amazing aspects of Madagascar’s fauna is its relative lack of fear in the presence of humans, making this the perfect location for wildlife photography. Oryx’s Madagascar - Endemic Wildlife photographic expedition will visit three sites, all handpicked for offering unrivalled photographic opportunities of a wide range of utterly unique photographic subjects, with a special emphasis on lemurs. We will cover the eastern rainforests of Perinet, the northwestern deciduous forests of Ampijoroa and the famous riparian forests of Berenty. Our Morondava & Kirindy Extension will take us to the remarkable Avenue of the Baobabs and also provide opportunities for photographing Madagascar’s largest predator, the Fosa.

28 Indian Ocean Islands

Subdesert Mesite by Rich Lindie

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Madagascar Highlights I: 20 Jul - 3 Aug US$5,250 • £3,380 • €4,220 • ZAR42,900 8 with Jan Pienaar (15 days) Flights approx US$745 ss: US$785

Madagascar Highlights II: 27 Oct - 10 US$5,250 • £3,380 • €4,220 • ZAR42,900 8 with tba Nov (15 days) Flights approx US$745 ss: US$785

Madagascar Comprehensive I: 4 - 25 US$7,275 • £4,680 • €5,850 • ZAR59,400 8 with Jan Pienaar August (22 days) Flights approx US$980 ss: US$1,025

Madagascar Comprehensive II: 11 Oct - US$7,275 • £4,680 • €5,850 • ZAR59,400 8 with Wayne Jones 1 Nov (22 days) Flights approx US$980 ss: US$1,025

Madagascar Comprehensive III: 5 - 26 US$7,275 • £4,680 • €5,850 • ZAR59,400 8 with tba Oct (22 Days) Flights approx US$980 ss: US$1,025 Scaly Ground Roller by Rich Lindie Panther Chameleon by Adam Riley Madagascar Comprehensive IV: 26 Oct - US$7,275 • £4,680 • €5,850 • ZAR59,400 8 with Glen Valentine 16 Nov (22 days) Flights approx US$980 ss: US$1,025 Giant Coua by Rich Lindie Madagascar Comprehensive V: 2 - 23 US$7,275 • £4,680 • €5,850 • ZAR59,400 8 with Wayne Jones Nov (22 days) Flights approx US$980 ss: US$1,025

Madagascar’s Remote North - Pochard & US$6,475 • £4,160 • €5,210 • ZAR52,900 8 with David Hoddinott Endangered Endemics: 19 Oct - 5 Nov (18 days) Flights approx US$1,040 ss: US$420

Budget Madagascar Birding: 8 - 19 Jul US$2,975 • £1,910 • €2,390 • ZAR24,300 10 with Jan Pienaar (12 days) Flights approx US$540 ss: US$290

Madagascar - Mammals of a Magical US$4,975 • £3,200 • €4,000 • ZAR40,600 8 with Lawrence Weitz Island: 8 - 19 November (12 days) Flights approx US$1,150 ss: US$750

Madagascar - Ranomafana Extension: US$1,650 • £1,060 • €1,330 • ZAR13,500 8 with Lawrence Weitz 19 - 23 November (5 days) ss: US$300

Madagascar - Endemic Wildlife: 14 - 23 US$4,825 • £3,100 • €3,880 • ZAR39,400 6 with Dale Morris Oct (10 days) Flights approx US$600 ss: US$650

Madgascar - Morondava & Kirindy US$2,150 • £1,380 • €1,730 • ZAR17,600 6 with Dale Morris Extension: 24 - 28 Oct (5 days) Flights approx US$600 ss: US$320

29 Morocco, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Jordan & Turkey

ascinating Morocco, with its breathtaking scenery, sumptuous food, complex history including Moussier’s Redstart, African Crimson-winged Finch and Levaillant’s Woodpecker. and fabulous birding, has become a vital destination for serious and casual birders alike. After dropping down dizzying mountain passes, we reach the coast at Agadir and bird nearby Walled Medieval medinas bustle with activity, colorful tribespeople, snake charmers lagoons and estuaries teeming with waterfowl, waders and gulls; however, our main target is andF leather craftsmen throng the markets, and souks are filled with bazaars selling carpets one of the world’s most endangered birds, the Northern Bald Ibis or Waldrapp, now restricted to and laden with exotic spices. Our Morocco - Atlas to Sahara adventure begins in fabulous only two colonies in Morocco and three birds in Syria. A new addition to our tour is a productive Marrakech, but we will soon find ourselves winding through the snow-capped High Atlas pelagic birding trip off Agadir and an exciting array of oceanic birds may be expected. Moving Mountains. Woodland-cloaked slopes and alpine areas support North African endemics, inland, the countryside gradually becomes drier until we reach the spectacular red Erg Chebbi sand dunes, near the Algerian border. Along the way we search for specials that include the rare Houbara Bustard, dainty Cream-colored Courser, Desert Sparrow, African Desert Warbler and numerous larks, including Temminck’s, Maghreb, Thick-billed and Dupont’s. Our Budget Morocco Birding tour is designed around the birding highlights of southern Morocco and is an economical option for finding Morocco’s most sought-after birds. A visit to Morocco is a thoroughly enjoyable experience and comes highly recommended!

Few places are more exemplary of advancement and hospitality in the Arab World than the mountainous Sultanate of Oman and neighboring United Arab Emirates. Our tour begins at the coastal, otherworldly hub of Dubai, from where we will work our way inland across red sands to the Indian Ocean coast of Oman. We then head south to the wintering grounds of millions of shorebirds at Barr al Hikkman, before turning inland traversing the “Empty Quarter” and finally ending our adventure in the Dhofar Mountains and the humid coastal plains of Salalah. This tour seeks many of the finest birds of Arabia, and some of the expected tour highlights include Persian Shearwater, Jouanin Petrel, Saunder’s and White-cheeked Tern, Crab-plover, Caspian Plover, White-tailed and Sociable Lapwing, Great Knot, Sand and Arabian Partridge, 20 plus species of raptors (always with a few surprises!), Pallid Scops Owl, Hume’s Tawny Owl, South Arabian, Variable, Red-tailed and Hume’s Wheatears, Grey Hypocolius, Dunn’s Lark, along with the likelihood of several country records and other amazing discoveries. This tour is conducted at a relaxed pace, granting us plenty of time to familiarize ourselves with the birds and, of course, to enjoy the hospitable culture of this unique and unforgettable setting. Pharaoh Eagle-Owl by Ignacio Yufera

30 North Africa & the Middle East

Our 3-day extension to the Kingdom of Jordan includes a full day exploration of Petra, the most astounding ancient city left to the modern world. This capital of the Nabataeans’ housed an estimated 30,000 people, and many impressive state buildings were manually hewn from the rose-red cliffs of the Sharrah Mountains. This is without doubt the most ‘must-see’ site in the entire Middle East, while also providing excellent birding, including chances for Sand Partridge, Scrub Warbler, Palestine Sunbird, Sinai Rosefinch, Syrian Serin and House Bunting.

Turkey, a country the size of Texas, is a spectacular avian and cultural crossroads. This fascinating nation boasts an ancient history, from before the centuries of Greek, Roman and Byzantine domination, through the 500-year Ottoman Empire and into the modern era. Needless to say, with such a pedigree the country holds some very impressive archaeological and cultural sites. Our Birding Eastern Turkey tour starts in the city of Van, formerly known as Tuspa and 3,000 years ago the capital city of the Urartians. However, it is the birds that are of primary interest to us as here, at the eastern limits of the Western Palearctic. We will explore the shores of Lake Van, traverse steppes and semi deserts, ascent snow-clad mountains and bird woodlands and farmlands. Targets are numerous and varied and include such sought-after species as the threatened White-headed Duck, Dalmatian Pelican, Lammergeier, Caucasian Grouse, Caspian Snowcock, Great Bustard, Demoiselle Crane, Terek Sandpiper, Wallcreeper, Krueper’s Nuthatch, Radde’s Accentor, White-throated Robin, Mongolian and Eurasian Crimson-winged Finch and White-winged Snowfinch. This adventure through fascinating, historic Eastern Turkey offers great birding in often stunning scenery, all at a fairly relaxed pace. The tour is complimented by welcoming people, delicious local cuisine and comfortable accommodation, and is sure to be a thoroughly enjoyable birding and cultural extravaganza!

Petra’s Monastery by Adam Riley

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Budget Morocco Birding: 8 - 15 Feb US$1,370 • £880 • €1,100 • ZAR11,200 10 with Mark Beevers (8 days) ss: US$120

Northern Bald Ibis by Adam Riley Morocco - Atlas to Sahara: 16 - 26 Feb US$2,210 • £1,420 • €1,775 • ZAR18,000 12 with David Hoddinott & (11 days) ss: US$210 Mark Beevers

Oman & UAE - Arabian Birding To be announced 12 with Forrest Rowland Adventure: 10 - 23 Feb (14 days) & tba

Jordan - Petra Extension: 24 - 26 Feb US$1,225 • £790 • €980 • ZAR10,000 12 with Forrest Rowland (3 days) ss: US$135 & tba

Birding Eastern Turkey: 15 - 25 Jun US$2,580 • £1,660 • €2,075 • ZAR21,100 12 with Mark Beevers & (11 days) Flights approx US$210 ss: US$470 local birding leader

31 Bulgaria, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Spitsbergen & Spain

ew countries in Europe can rival Bulgaria’s splendid scenery and natural diversity. In addition this country is also blessed with an amazing cultural heritage. However, the main attraction of our Bulgaria Winter Birding tour are the approximately 50,000 Red-breasted Geese, inF fact almost the entire world population, that over-winter on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. We will be assured of superb views of great flocks of these beautiful but threatened birds and fantastic photographic opportunities. Other targets include Dalmatian Pelican, the rare Lesser White-fronted Goose and White-headed Duck amongst thousands of other waterfowl species, Eastern Imperial and Greater Spotted Eagle, Great Bittern, Pallas’s and Slender-billed Gull, Syrian, Black, White-backed and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Bearded Reedling and Wallcreeper.

Ukraine is a young, little explored country where the Black Sea coast and Crimean Peninsula form one of the most important migration stopovers for many water birds and waders. Huge steppes, extensive marshes and coastal lagoons, forests and rolling limestone hills provide wonderful landscapes and rich habitats for migrants and resident species alike. Breeding birds include Eastern specialities such as Demoiselle Crane, Saker and Red-footed Falcons, Pied Wheatear, Paddyfield Warbler, Rose- coloured Starling and Black-headed Bunting, while large flocks of Broad-billed Sandpiper, Pallas’s and Slender-billed Gulls are regularly sighted. Time in the mountains offers spectacular raptor viewing and may include good numbers of Griffon and Cinereous Vulture, Eastern Imperial and Black Grouse by Jari Peltomäki Short-toed Eagle and Lesser Kestrel. Other tour targets include Great and Little Bustard, Chukar others. We travel to the island of Öland in the Baltic Sea, a migrant hotspot where thousands of birds Partridge, Yelkouan Shearwater, White-tailed Eagle, Black Woodpecker and Eurasian Treecreeper. stop over to feed and rest on their long migrations. Amongst the birds we will search for here are the smart Black Guillemot, Velvet Scoter, breeding plumaged Red-necked Phalarope, frilled Ruff, Corn The Scandinavian countries of Denmark and Sweden offer unbeatable temperate zone birding, Crake, beautiful Bluethroat, European Green Woodpecker, Eurasian Golden Oriole and Red-breasted spectacular scenery, cities and villages steeped in history, and welcoming people. Our Birding Flycatcher. We will also visit Sweden’s vast forest and mountain areas in search of some highly Denmark & Sweden tour is timed for the prime spring period and encompasses a wide variety of sought-after birds, including Great Grey, Ural, Eurasian Eagle- and Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Hazel and habitats, so we can expect to notch up most of the region’s important species. We visit the lowlands for Black Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan and Western Capercaillie, Gyrfalcon, Eurasian Dotterel, Eurasian the magnificent White-tailedE agle, elegant Red Kite and tiny Eurasian Penduline Tit, amongst many Woodcock, Black and Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Ring Ouzel and Lapland Longspur.

In Finland we explore the areas of Oulu and Kuusamo where we stand superb chances for a host of grouse, including Hazel and Black Grouse, Willow Ptarmigan and the giant Western Capercaillie. Owls are of high priority and we will search for Great Grey, Ural, Northern Hawk-, Tawny and Eurasian Pygmy Owl. Some of the numerous other specials we will look for are Siberian Jay, Grey-headed Chickadee, Red-flanked Bluetail and the stunning Smew. In addition photographic opportunities are excellent.

Oryx’s Finland Photographic Expedition is perfectly timed to photograph a full array of Finnish wildlife and birds. Black Grouse are actively lekking, huge Golden Eagles are in residence, while the Oulu and Kuusamo areas are ideal for photographing a spectacular variety of magnificent owls, including Great Grey, Northern Hawk-, Eurasian Pygmy, Boreal and Ural. In eastern Finland we will focus our lenses on Finland Brown Bears, just awakened from their winter sleep. Finally, in Lieksa, our primary photographic target will be the highly sought-after Wolverine. Great Bustard by Ignacio Yúfera Northern Hawk-Owl by Jari Peltomäki 32 Europe

We offer two spectacular cruises to Norwegian administered Spitsbergen. This dramatic high Arctic wonderland offers fantastic wildlife, including whales, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Reindeer and the fabulous Polar Bear. Ivory Gull, King Eider and vast colonies of breeding alcids make up some of the birding highlights. More information on these tours can be found on our Cruises page, pg 62.

Spain has long been an extremely popular birdwatching destination, offering a wide range of Mediterranean habitats along with safe, easy and excellent birding. Many sites are found in beautifully scenic settings, featuring Romanesque architecture and ancient, fortified hilltop villages; whilst much of the interior of Spain that we visit is rural and way off the tourist trail. Our comprehensive itinerary is specially designed for a great diversity of birds and concentrates on three major and distinct habitats: the semi-arid steppes and cork-oak dehesas (wooded pastureland) of the central and northern interior, the scenic Sierras and high, alpine Pyrenees, and the Ebro River Delta wetlands and marshes on the Mediterranean coast. During spring the area’s many resident and breeding birds are joined by migrants en route from Africa to their northern nesting areas, and some of the fabulous species we hope to see include Lammergeier, Spanish Imperial Eagle (up to 23 raptor species are possible!), Great and Little Bustard, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Spectacled Warbler, Alpine Accentor, White-throated Dipper and the fabulous Wallcreeper. We travel in spacious and comfortable vehicles, the cuisine is delicious and our accommodations are mostly family-run establishments in pleasant and beautifully renovated ancient stone farmhouses, nestled in charming villages.

The Spanish wilderness continues to refuge magnificent predators such as Iberian Lynx, Iberian Wolf and Eurasian Brown Bear. Indri’s Southern Spain - Mammal Adventure will visit two of the strongholds for Iberian Lynx and some of the richest marshlands in southern Europe. Beginning in the Sierras south of Madrid we make our way to Parque Nacional de Doñana on the coast, where we stand a good chance of observing the highly sought-after Iberian Lynx, amongst other wildlife and birds. This tour, perfectly timed for the northern spring, offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities in the scenic Spanish countryside and is a European experience not to be missed!

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Bulgaria Winter Birding Tour: 9 - 16 Feb US$1,835 • £1,180 • €1,475 • ZAR15,000 12 with Adam Riley & local (8 days) ss: US$155 birding leader

Ukraine - Birding the Black Sea & US$2,530 • £1,625 • €2,030 • ZAR20,600 12 with Mark Beevers & Crimea: 24 Aug - 1 Sep (9 days) ss: US$220 local birding leader

Birding Denmark & Sweden: 17 - 29 May US$5,560 • £3,570 • €4,470 • SEK38,500 12 with Mark Beevers & (13 days) Flights approx US$120 ss: US$840 local birding leader

Birding Finland Extension: 11 - 16 May US$2,180 • £1,400 • €1,750 • ZAR17,800 12 with Mark Beevers & (6 days) ss: US$220 local birding leader

Birding Spain: 24 Apr - 10 May (17 days) US$4,775 • £3,070 • €3,840 • ZAR39,000 12 with Peter Roberts & ss: US$375 Alberto Bueno

Southern Spain - Mammal Adventure: 15 US$2,550 • £1,640 • €2,050 • ZAR20,800 8 with Gerald Broddelez - 22 Apr (8 days) ss: US$370

Finland Photographic Expedition: 14 - 25 US$7,310 • £4,700 • €5,875 • ZAR59,700 6 with Jari Peltomäki Apr (12 days) ss: US$450 Red-breasted Geese by Mladen Vasilev 33 African Wild Dog pack by Dale Morris

34 Banded Pitta by Boonchuay Promjiam

35 China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Russia

oncentrating on the south east of this vast nation, our China Winter Birding tour offers a rich kaleidoscope of impressive and localized bird specialties, including Cseveral of the world’s most spectacular cranes. Foremost among these, poetically referred to as ‘the birds of heaven’, will be the elegant Siberian Crane, one of the rarest cranes on Earth. In addition, we will be exploring the mountainous region of Fujian for one of the most sought-after pheasants in Asia - Cabot’s Tragopan. During this tour we will also be looking for Demoiselle Crane by Machiel Valkenburg an impressive supporting cast of other exciting birds, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper which has recently been found to winter in this area, the rare Scaly-sided Merganser, thousands of Swan Geese, Falcated Duck, Baikal Teal, Oriental Stork, Saunders’s Gull, Reed Parrotbill, Pied Falconet, Elliot’s Pheasant and possibly even the rare Swinhoe’s Crake!

Our very special Giant Panda & Crested Ibis tour will take us on an epic journey into one of the world’s most spectacular natural areas - the Qinling Mountains in the heart of the central Chinese countryside, an area supporting the highest density of wild Giant Panda in the world. Until very recently seeing one of these iconic animals in the wild was just a fantasy, however it’s now become possible with the use of specialist panda trackers. Other exciting targets include the strange and endangered Golden Takin (a giant caprid, or ‘goat-antelope’) and Chinese Snub-nosed Monkey, the critically endangered Crested Ibis, Temminck’s Tragopan, Golden Pheasant and Ibisbill. An exploration of the famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum also forms part of this highly recommended adventure.

Kazakhstan extends from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Tien Shan Mountains in the east, an area larger than Western Europe and of immense interest to the serious birder as it forms the transition zone between the Western and Eastern Palearctic bird species. Our comprehensive tour commences in Almaty where we will search for Black Grouse, Meadow Bunting, Red-fronted Serin and the striking Azure Tit. In the Taukum Desert, artesian wells attract Pin-tailed, Black-bellied and the

36 Central Asia

Siberian Rubythroat by Adam Riley

Scaly-sided Merganser by Laolin Imperial Eagle, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, White-throated Robin, Asian Desert Warbler and Pine Bunting. Our adventure concludes with a cultural tour of Samarkand’s traditional highlights.

We offer two unique cruises of the Russian Far East. Our Russia’s Ring of Fire cruise

Black Lark by Machiel Valkenburg Spoon-billed Sandpiper by Laolin explores three distinct and unique geographical regions: the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander and Kuril Islands, while the In the Wake of Bering expedition takes us to one much desired Pallas’s Sandgrouse. Other specialities include Saker Falcon, Saxaul Sparrow of the remotest coastlines on earth in search of some very special birds and wildlife. Targets and Desert and Mongolian Finches. Flying onwards to the capital Astana, we will bird the include the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper in breeding plumage, 13 species of surrounding steppe in search of the enigmatic Demoiselle Crane and the endangered Sociable alcids, Steller’s Sea Eagle, Brown Bear and much more besides. Further information is available Lapwing at their favored breeding grounds. Here we will also enjoy sightings of Pallid Harrier on our Cruises page, pg 62. and both White-winged and the mythical Black Lark doing their displays over the steppe Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: grasslands. Our final destination is the Tien Shan Mountain range, home to the highly sought after Ibisbill. Other specialties in this area include Güldenstädt’s and Eversmann’s Redstarts, Kazakhstan - Best of Central Asia: 4 - 17 US$4,525 • £2,910 • €3,640 • ZAR37,000 12 with Cuan Rush and local May (14 days) Flights approx US$100 ss: US$300 birding leader White-browed Tit-warbler and the stunning White-tailed Rubythroat, to name just a selection! Uzbekistan - Deserts & Mountains Exten- US$1,975 • £1,270 • €1,590 • ZAR16,100 12 with Cuan Rush and local sion: 17 - 23 May (7 days) ss: US$200 birding leader Nearby Uzbekistan has a more arid climate and desert flatlands cover almost 80% of the territory, but to the east lie the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains with peaks reaching 14,850ft. Our China Winter Birding: 18 - 29 Nov (12 US$3,800 • £2,440 • €3,060 • CNY23,950 12 with Keith Valentine and days) Flights approx US$280 ss: US$310 local birding leader tour starts in Bukhara, from where we will drive out into the Kyzyl-Kum Desert in search of the desert loving and highly desirable Pander’s Ground Jay. Other special birds that we will target China - Giant Panda & Crested Ibis US$5,350 • £3,440 • €4,300 • ZAR43,700 8 with Keith Valentine & Expedition: 7 - 17 Nov (11 days) ss: US$430 panda trackers during our Uzbekistan - Deserts & Mountains Extension include Pygmy Cormorant, Eastern 37 India & Sri Lanka

ome to over 1.2 billion people and reflecting the world’s richest cultural kaleidoscope, India is also justifiably famous for its rich avifauna and charismatic mammalian megafauna. Rockjumper’s Northern India - Birds & Tigers circuit is doubtlessly Hone of the world’s classic ‘must-do’ tours. We begin with astonishingly productive birding on the outskirts of bustling Delhi, before relocating to Ranthambore where we seek unforgettable encounters with the majestic Bengal Tiger, as well as numerous dry woodland birds and mammals. Next we head to the world-famous waterbird sanctuary of Bharatpur, taking rickshaw rides around wetlands teeming with waterfowl, storks, cranes, raptors and migrant passerines. After marveling at the incomparable Taj Mahal we take in a boat trip on the Chambal River, one of the last strongholds of the Gangetic Dolphin, Gharial and Indian Skimmer. Moving northwards we head to the Himalayas to explore Corbett Tiger Reserve and the quaint hill stations of Nainital and Sattal, before returning once again to Delhi. Birding highlights include Sarus Crane, Koklass and Cheer Pheasant, Ibisbill and Wallcreeper.

Our exciting North Eastern India - Eagle’s Nest & Beyond tour explores the plains and montane forests of this remote but rewarding corner of India. We bird from boat on the Brahmaputra, searching for Gangetic Dolphins and grassland specialties including Black- throated Parrotbill and Marsh Babbler; from elephant-back and jeep in Kaziranga for such gems as Bengal Florican, Greater Adjutant, Swamp Francolin and significant populations

Tiger and cub by Elliott Neep

of Greater One-horned Rhinoceros and Asiatic Elephant, plus a chance for Bengal Tiger. Khonoma in Nagaland is a montane region rich in birds yet seldom visited by birders, here we will seek the much-desired Blyth’s Tragopan, Cachar Wedge-billed and Naga Wren-Babblers, Red-faced Liocichla and the stunning Fire-tailed Sunbird. In Nameri National Park, targets include Ibisbill and the rare White-winged Duck. After birding the Sangti Valley, we spend thrilling days exploring the fabulous Eagle’s Nest area. From lush lowland evergreen forests to breathtaking passes at 14,500ft we will seek out Himalayan Monal, Temminck’s Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Ward’s Trogon, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Beautiful Nuthatch and the recently discovered Bugun Liocichla.

Southern India is widely recognized as one of the most important endemic bird areas in Asia, and our tour to this productive birding region produces not only an amazing number of endemics but also spectacular scenery as we wind our way through the Western Ghats mountain range. Birding highlights include Malabar Whistling Thrush, Indian Pitta, Black- and-orange Flycatcher, Malabar Trogon and White-bellied Treepie. Furthermore, excellent mammal opportunities exist for Dhole and Gaur, amongst many others. This tour is offered in conjunction with our Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game tour. This small, friendly island nation provides one of the most enjoyable and rewarding birding tours imaginable. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie by Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne With plenty of endemics, most of which are extremely easy to locate, comfortable lodges and 38 South Asia

an abundance of wildlife, it makes perfect sense that Sri Lanka has become such a popular birding destination. Our tour targets all 34 endemics and other wildlife highlights of the island, including the vibrant Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the lovely Kashmir Flycatcher, the recently described Serendib Scops Owl, Leopard, Asian Elephant and Sloth Bear.

Indri’s India tours are aimed at those keen for in-depth encounters with India’s iconic mammalian fauna. Our India - Tigers of Kanha & Bandhavgarh tour is focused on spending quality time with the magnificent Bengal Tiger, certainly one of the greatest wildlife experiences on Earth! We will of course not ignore the other wildlife of these bountiful reserves and chances exist for Striped Hyena, Leopard and Sloth Bear, to mention but a few. En route we will marvel at the world-famous erotic sculptures of the Khajuraho temples. The One-horned Rhinoceros Extension takes us on an East Indian adventure, visiting Kaziranga to view the armor-plated Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, heavily muscled Gaur and parades of Asian Elephant. Our Snow Leopard Expedition concentrates on one of the most sought-after animals in the world. Hemis National Park is the Snow Leopard’s domain, and with the expertise of local trackers, luck and perseverance, we stand a good chance for the sighting of a lifetime! Our quest for Ibisbill by Rich Lindie this enigmatic feline involves camping and trekking within one of the world’s most pristine Oryx’s India - Tigers & Taj Mahal photographic tour provides unbeatable opportunities mountain landscapes. to photograph Tigers in their natural habitat. We will spend several incredible days in open- top jeeps and on elephant-back, exploring two of India’s finest Tiger parks, Bandhavgarh and Kanha. This tour also takes in the wonders of Bharatpur, Chambal and Agra, where a myriad of photographic opportunities beckon.

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Northern India - Birds & Tigers: 1 - 18 US$4,975 • £3,200 • €4,000 • ZAR40,600 12 with Markus Lilje & local Dec (18 days) ss: US$1,100 birding leader

Southern India - Birding & Wildlife of the US$3,500 • £2,250 • €2,810 • ZAR28,600 12 with Markus Lilje & local Western Ghats: 9 - 20 Nov (12 days) ss: US$825 birding leader

Red-billed Blue Magpie by Rich Lindie North Eastern India - Eagle’s Nest & US$4,750 • £3,050 • €3,820 • ZAR38,800 10 with Keith Valentine & Beyond: 14 Apr - 1 May (18 days) ss: US$985 local birding leader

India - Snow Leopard Expedition: 21 Oct US$2,975 • £1,910 • €2,390 • ZAR24,300 8 with Simon Bellingham - 1 Nov (12 days) ss: US$475

India - Tigers of Kanha & Bandhavgarh: US$4,975 • £3,200 • €4,000 • ZAR40,600 8 with Simon Bellingham 1 - 10 Nov (10 days) Flights approx US$585 ss: US$1,560

India - One-horned Rhinoceros Exten- US$2,075 • £1,330 • €1,670 • ZAR17,000 8 with Simon Bellingham sion: 10 - 15 Nov (6 days) Flights approx US$930 ss: US$430

India - Tigers & Taj Mahal: 1 - 12 Feb (12 US$5,950 • £3,830 • €4,780 • ZAR48,600 6 with Marius Coetzee days) Flights approx US$300 ss: US$720

Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game: US$3,325 • £2,140 • €2,670 • ZAR27,200 12 with Markus Lilje & local 20 - 30 Nov (11 days) ss: US$450 birding leader

39 Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam & Cambodia

hanks to a small population embracing their Buddhist traditions, Bhutan has avoided the environmental ravages that have left most neighboring Himalayan forests sadly degraded. Here majestic mountain passes littered with prayer flags give way to pristine forests,T often dominated by massive dzongs (temple-fortresses), and we will have an opportunity to view up close the impressive artwork that adorns these structures as well as interact with the devout Bhutanese people. Traveling across the breadth of this remarkable country we will pass through lush broad-leaved forests dripping with orchids, blazes of spring rhododendrons and magnolias, and seemingly endless coniferous forests. Our tour includes comfortable camping,

Hodgson’s Frogmouth by Glen Valentine often at breathtakingly beautiful sites, where our needs are catered to by a team of helpful camp assistants. Much of our birding is done whilst walking the most productive sections of the only road winding its way across the Kingdom. Targets include the stunning Satyr Tragopan, incredible Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Ibisbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Beautiful Nuthatch and an astounding selection of wren-babblers and parrotbills. Join us on an adventure through a paradise of culture, birds and scenic vistas, as we explore the heavenly riches of Bhutan!

Our Assam - Kaziranga & Nameri Birding & Big Game Extension showcases these two productive Indian parks. Vast swathes of swamp, grassland and forest support an abundance of large mammals, unrivaled anywhere else in Eurasia. The prehistoric Greater One-horned Rhinoceros will be encountered in astounding numbers, while large numbers of Water Buffalo, Asian Elephant, Swamp and Hog Deer can also be viewed, along with a chance for the mighty Tiger. Our birding targets include the rare White-winged Duck, Bengal Florican, Greater Adjutant, Swamp Francolin and Blue-naped Pitta.

Myanmar (Burma), sandwiched between Thailand and India, remains a poorly-known birding destination, due in part to the difficulty in obtaining permits for visiting the prime birding localities. However our Myanmar - Endemics of Remote Asia tour explores these seldom- visited birding hotspots! Starting from Yangon we journey to the Irrawaddy plains, holding not only important populations of declining waterbirds but also four endemic species, including the striking Hooded Treepie. Whilst birding the dry woodlands and rice paddies of this area

Golden Langur by Markus Lilje Trashigang Dzong by Markus Lilje 40 South & South-east

we will marvel at the more than 2,000 temples and pagodas around Bagan. Moving onwards to our prime destination, we spend quality time in the mixed Oak, Rhododendron and bamboo forests of Mount Victoria in the Chin Hills. This section of the Eastern Himalayas is an endemic-rich bird region sustaining several species only seen by a handful of intrepid birders, including White-browed Nuthatch, Mount Victoria Babax, Burmese Bushtit and Chin Hills Wren-Babbler. A plethora of other high quality and seldom encountered Asian forest birds make Mount Victoria one of the continent’s most rewarding birding sites. Next we move to the mountains of central Burma in southern Shan State to explore the broad-leaved forests around Kalaw for Burmese Yuhina, and a mouth-watering selection of other hill forest birds. Lastly we will visit Inle Lake to search for the highly localized Jerdon’s Bush Chat and endemic Collared Myna, amongst a wealth of interesting wetland species. Our Myanmar birding tours offer a Grey-crowned Crocias by Luyen Nguyen thorough coverage of the core birds of this fascinating country.

After being isolated from the birding and traveling circuit for so long, Cambodia and Vietnam are now open and safe to explore, fast becoming key destinations for the world birder. Our Best of Cambodia & Vietnam tour commences in Cambodia at the famous Prek Toal waterbird colony where we search for Greater Adjutant, Masked Finfoot and both Milky and Painted Storks amongst thousands of waterbirds. We then seek out the globally threatened Bengal Florican before visiting a community reserve that protects Giant and White-shouldered Ibis (both Critically Endangered) as well as several other highly sought-after species such as White- rumped Falcon and Pale-capped Pigeon. At our final site in Cambodia we will visit a vulture restaurant where several species can be expected, including the Critically Endangered Red- Black-throated Parrotbill by Glen Valentine Himalayan Cutia by Paul Ellis headed, White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures. Moving on to Vietnam we concentrate on the endemic bird areas in the south, and will visit Nam Cat Tien National Park and Dalat. A long Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: list of potential avian highlights includes Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, the resplendent Green Bhutan - Birding the Buddhist Kingdom I: US$7,500 • £4,820 • €6,030 • ZAR61,300 12 with Markus Lilje & Keith 24 Mar - 12 Apr (20 days) ss: US$500 Valentine Peafowl - surely the most impressive bird in the world, Orange-necked Partridge, the beautiful Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pittas, Black-headed Parrotbill, Grey-crowned Crocias, Green Assam - Kaziranga & Nameri Birding & US$1,500 • £965 • €1,210 • INR79,500 12 with Markus Lilje & Keith Cochoa, Vietnamese Cutia, localized Black-hooded, White-cheeked and Orange-breasted Big Game Extension I: 20 - 24 Mar (5 days) ss: US$280 Valentine Laughingthrushes and Vietnamese Greenfinch, to mention but a few of the mouth-watering Bhutan - Birding the Buddhist Kingdom US$7,500 • £4,820 • €6,030 • ZAR61,300 10 with Markus Lilje & local prospects here. Amongst the mammalian species that we seek are two endangered primates; II: 19 Apr - 8 May (20 days) ss: US$500 birding leader Black-shanked Douc Langur and Buff-cheeked Gibbon. Assam - Kaziranga & Nameri Birding & US$1,500 • £965 • €1,210 • INR79,500 10 with Markus Lilje & local Big Game Extension II: 15 - 19 Apr (5 days) ss: US$280 birding leader Cambodia - Angkor Watt & Remote Birding Extension kicks off with a combined birding Myanmar - Endemics of Remote Asia I: US$4,450 • £2,860 • €3,580 • ZAR36,400 8 with Glen Valentine and historical tour of the fabled Angkor Watt temples, before we continue birding forests and 5 - 17 Jan (13 days) Flights approx US$300 ss: US$195 grasslands en route to our main destination, Seima Protected Forest. Targets on this extension Myanmar - Endemics of Remote Asia II: To be announced 8 with Erik Forsyth include Sarus Crane, Black-necked Stork, Orange-necked Partridge, numerous woodpeckers, 12 - 24 Nov (13 days) including the huge Great Slaty and Heart-spotted, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pitta and Best of Cambodia & Vietnam: 1 - 18 Dec US$5,450 • £3,510 • €4,380 • ZAR44,500 8 with Erik Forsyth Mekong Wagtail. On the mammal front we will seek Irrawaddy Dolphin, Black-shanked Douc, (18 days) Flights approx US$285 ss: US$275 Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon and the nocturnal Pygmy Loris. Our Cambodia and Vietnam Cambodia - Angkor Watt & Remote US$2,025 • £1,300 • €1,630 • ZAR16,500 8 with Erik Forsyth tours offer exceptional Asian birding for the adventurous traveler! Birding Extension: 25 Nov - 1 Dec (7 days) ss: US$65

41 Thailand & Malaysia

Rhinoceros Hornbill by Markus Lilje

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Northern & Central Thailand - Asian Bird- US$4,950 • £3,180 • €3,980 • ZAR40,400 12 with Erik Forsyth & local ing at its Best I: 20 Feb - 9 Mar (18 days) Flights approx US$190 ss: US$615 birding leader

Southern Thailand Extension I: 9 - 15 Mar US$1,850 • £1,190 • €1,490 • ZAR15,100 10 with Erik Forsyth & local (7 days) Flights approx US$220 ss: US$180 birding leader

Northern & Central Thailand - Asian Bird- US$4,950 • £3,180 • €3,980 • ZAR40,400 12 with Keith Valentine & ing at its Best II: 30 Nov - 17 Dec (18 days) Flights approx US$190 ss: US$615 local birding leader

Southern Thailand Extension II: 17 - 23 US$1,850 • £1,190 • €1,490 • ZAR15,100 10 with Keith Valentine & Dec (7 days) Flights approx US$220 ss: US$180 local birding leader

Borneo - Island of Pittas, Broadbills & US$6,060 • £3,900 • €4,880 • MYR18,800 10 with Erik Forsyth & local Orangutan: 2 - 18 Jun (17 days) Flights approx US$150 ss: US$910 birding leader

Malaysia & Borneo - Rainforest Birds & US$5,900 • £3,800 • €4,750 • MYR18,300 10 with Erik Forsyth & local Mammals: 19 Jun - 7 Jul (19 days) Flights approx US$600 ss: US$1,160 birding leader

Budget Borneo Birding: 13 - 22 Oct US$2,790 • £1,790 • €2,240 • MYR8,650 8 with local birding leader (10 days) Flights approx US$150 ss: US$450

Budget Malaysia Birding Extension: 22 - US$840 • £540 • €670 • MYR2,600 ss: 8 with local birding leader 26 Oct (5 days) US$130

Borneo - Rainforest Mammals of Tropical US$4,770 • £3,070 • €3,830 • MYR14,785 8 with Markus Lilje & local Asia: 10 - 18 Jun ( 9 days) Flights approx US$160 ss: US$900 wildlife leader

Peninsular Malaysia Extension: 4 - 10 Jun US$2,260 • £1,450 • €1,820 • MYR7000 8 with Markus Lilje & local (7 days) ss: US$390 wildlife leader

42 43 Indonesia, the Philippines & Japan

ndonesia, spread across 17,508 islands, boasting over 1,600 bird species and nearly 400 endemics (more than any other nation in the world), cannot be ignored by the international birder. Rockjumper Iis proud to be offering birders the opportunity to explore this mind bogglingly biodiverse region. Nestled in the tropical waters of Wallacea, the remarkable islands of Sulawesi and Halmahera are seldom-visited parts of the Indonesian archipelago. These two strangely shaped islands lie just to the east of Borneo, yet their Australasian-influenced fauna could not contrast more sharply with Borneo’s. Our carefully-crafted tour will provide the intrepid birder with a mouth-watering array of exceptional endemics. The most extraordinary of these must surely be the outrageous Standardwing, an otherworldly bird-of-paradise observed at a noisy display lek. The luxuriant rainforests are also home to a wonderful assortment of parrots, fruit doves and endemic kingfishers, while other targets include Hylocitrea (previously known as Olive-flanked Whistler but now placed in its own family), the stellar Ivory-breasted Pitta, strange Maleo, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Knobbed Hornbill and Purple- winged Roller. Unique mammals also abound, including the bizarrely tusked Babirusa, cute Spectral Tarsier and aberrant Crested Black Macaque. This tour offers some of the finest endemic island birding in the world!

The Lesser Sundas, a diverse and rugged chain of islands stretching across the Java Sea between Bali and New Guinea, support over 80 endemics. Our birding tour visits four of these islands (Sumba, Timor, Flores and Komodo) and targets over 60 of these localized and highly sought-after birds. Starting and ending in Bali, we explore montane rainforests, lowland monsoon forests and dry scrub. Key targets include Sumba Hornbill, the beautiful Red-naped Fruit Dove, Black-banded Flycatcher, Orange-sided Thrush, Timor Sparrow, the difficult Flores Scops Owl, Elegant Pitta, unusual Bare- throated Whistler, stunning Glittering Kingfisher, Yellow-crested Cockatoo and the truly impressive 10ft Komodo Dragon! Internationally renowned as a holiday mecca, a lesser known fact is that Bali Standardwing by Ignacio Yúfera also offers exceptional birding. Our Bali Birding Extension visits the drier north-west at Bali Barat National Park, home to the last few wild Bali Starlings as well as a range of specials shared only with Java, such as Javan Banded Pitta and Green Junglefowl. We will stay at a fantastic lodge set inside the national park, offering great mammal and bird viewing as well as world-class snorkeling opportunities. We will also bird the montane forests of Bedugul and the coastal and wetland areas around Nusa Dua.

Indri’s exciting Best of Indonesian Wildlife tour is a unique opportunity to discover the most famous wildlife reserves of Indonesia. National Parks to which we will journey include Sumatra’s vast Way Kambas, Borneo’s Tanjung Puting, Komodo and Bali Barat. Exploring by boat, elephant-back and on foot (including nocturnal spot-lighting sessions), we will seek out the spectacular denizens of the rainforests and savannas. We can expect to see Bornean Orangutan, Siamang and Bornean Gibbon, Proboscis and Javan Leaf Monkey, Sumatran Elephant, Leopard Cat, Komodo Dragon, White-winged Duck, spectacular hornbills and much more besides. Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malaysian Tapir, Clouded Leopard and Sumatran Tiger are possibilities… We will also have opportunities to snorkel vibrant coral reefs, and our tour ends off with an exploration of the fabulous Buddhist temples of Borobudur. Philippine Eagle by Rich Lindie White-naped and Hooded Crane congregations on Honshu by David Shakelford 44 Asian Islands

This tour truly offers the very best of wild Indonesia! The first port of call on our Southern Islands Extension will be a visit to the subtropical island of Amami, certainly a striking contrast to the frigid islands of the north with white-sand beaches and palm Composed of 7,107 islands strewn across a vast stretch of tropical sea, The Philippines occupy the trees and home to the beautiful Lidth’s Jay, Amami Thrush and the endangered Amami Woodcock. unenviable position of harboring the most birds facing imminent extinction. Many of these critically On Okinawa we will first seek Black-faced Spoonbill and a host of other over-wintering migrants endangered yet spectacular species survive only in increasingly shrinking remnants of habitat. During before turning our attention to the island’s specials, including the stunning and elusive Okinawa Rail our tour we can expect to encounter up to 150 endemic birds and many other spectacular migrants and Okinawa Woodpecker, as well as Ryukyu Robin, Ryukyu Minivet and Ryukyu Scops Owl. and residents. Our Endangered Endemics tour explores the The Philippines’ three largest islands. On Luzon we visit sites for Stripe-headed Rhabdornis, Scale-feathered Malkoha, the sensational Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove and recently discovered Chocolate Boobook. Palawan’s white sandy beaches, extensive coral reefs and an underground river make a spectacular backdrop for a number of the specials including the mound-building Philippine Megapode, Red-bellied Pitta, the incredibly beautiful Blue Paradise Flycatcher and glittering Palawan Peacock-Pheasant. Mindanao hosts the largest tracts of remaining lowland forest and here we search for the elusive Wattled Broadbill, Azure- breasted Pitta and Philippine Trogon. The forested slopes of Mt. Kitanglad are the most reliable site for the magnificent Philippine (Monkey-eating) Eagle, this giant raptor is often rated as the world’s single-most desirable bird! Here we will also search for another recently discovered bird, Bukidnon Woodcock, as well as Apo Myna and Giant Scops Owl. Our Visayan Islands Extension takes in the smaller islands of Cebu, Bohol and Negros, where we target some highly sought-after birds, including the Critically Endangered Cebu Flowerpecker, Flame-templed Babbler and Visayan Broadbill. This extension also provides chances for the strange Philippine Colugo and Philippine Tarsier, while the Chocolate Hills scenery is simply spell-binding!

Bali Starling by Adam Riley Komodo Dragon by Adam Riley Our Japan - Dancing Cranes & Winter Birding tour explores the main islands of Honshu, Hokkaido and Kyushu where some of the world’s most spectacular and sought-after birds can be found, whilst Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: simultaneously enjoying the wonderfully diverse scenery and fine local cuisine. Beginning on the Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera - Wal- US$5,130 • £3,300 • €4,120 • IDR48,250,000 8 with David Hoddinott & lacean Endemics: 17 Aug - 3 Sep (18 days) Flights approx US$740 ss: US$440 local birding leader central island of Honshu we will search for a fine array of specialties, including the stunning endemic Copper and Green Pheasants, Japanese Green and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker and dainty Japanese Bali Birding Extension: 3 - 9 Sep (7 days) US$1,975 • £1,270 • €1,590 • ZAR16,100 10 with David Hoddinott & Waxwing. We will spend time with endearing families of Japanese Macaques, better known as Snow ss: US$485 local birding leader Monkeys, at their hotspring hangouts. Hokkaido, to the far north of Japan’s long chain of islands, Indonesia - Lesser Sunda Endemics: US$4,975 • £3,200 • €4,000 • ZAR40,600 8 with David Hoddinott & will open the curtain to a wonderland of snow, frozen lakes and pine forests. This is the land of the 9 - 26 Sep (18 days) Flights approx US$530 ss: US$650 local birding leader Red-crowned Crane, which dances these snowfields with grace and elegance. White-tailedE agle and Best of Indonesian Wildlife: 18 - 29 Aug US$4,350 • £2,800 • €3,500 • ZAR35,500 8 with Erik Forsyth the world’s largest eagle, Steller’s Sea Eagle, cavort on the icy coastline, while vast numbers of sea- (12 days) Flights approx US$950 ss: US$700 dwelling ducks and gulls join loons and alcids in the frigid Pacific Ocean. Another star bird here is the The Philippines - Endangered Endemics: US$4,550 • £2,930 • €3,660 • ZAR37,200 10 with Erik Forsyth & local magnificent Blakiston’s Fish Owl, a stunning heavyweight of the owl world! Further south at Kyushu, 8 - 25 May (18 days) Flights approx US$400 ss: US$575 birding leader over 10,000 cranes congregate during these winter months to escape the blizzards of the Siberian The Philippines - Visayan Islands US$1,495 • £960 • €1,200 • ZAR12,200 10 with Erik Forsyth & local steppes. The majority consist of White-naped and Hooded Cranes, although a remarkable seven crane Extension: 25 - 31 May (7 days) Flights approx US$200 ss: US$215 birding leader species have been recorded! Large stands of temperate broad-leaved forests harbor Japanese Grosbeak Japan - Dancing Cranes & Winter Birding: US$7,340 • £4,720 • €5,900 • JPY572,500 12 with Adam Riley & local and Japanese Wood and Whistling Green Pigeon, whilst Baikal Teal is regular on small water-bodies 23 Nov - 10 Dec (18 days) Flights approx US$750 ss: US$990 birding leader and the highly desirable Japanese Murrelet will be sought offshore. Japan - Southern Islands Extension: 17 - US$2,540 • £1,640 • €2,050 • JPY198,500 12 with Adam Riley & local 23 Nov (7 days) Flights approx US$450 ss: US$195 birding leader

45 Argentina, Chile, Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica

he vast territory of Argentina spans 2,500 miles from north to south, encompassing biomes that range from lowland rainforests to alpine deserts. Our Argentina Northwest - Yungus Cloud Forest & Puna birding tour covers an incredible diversity ofT dramatically scenic sites and habitats. We will explore the Pampas grasslands and thorny woodlands north of Buenos Aires before flying to Argentina’s remote north west. Here we will seek out a plethora of range-restricted and highly sought-after birds in yungas cloudforests, high puna grasslands and chaco woodlands. Targets include Southern Screamer, Black-legged Seriema, the extraordinary Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Straight-billed Reedhaunter, White-tipped Plantcutter, Sandy Gallito, the localized Rufous-throated Dipper and Tucumán Mountain Finch, amongst many others.

Our pretour Iguazú Extension birds the Atlantic Forests of the mighty Iguazú Falls where we can expect to find Black-fronted Piping Guan, Toco Toucan, numerous hummingbirds, Blue Manakin, stunning Green-headed Tanager and Blue-naped Chlorophonia, to name but a few of this tropical region’s colorful birds. Finally our Hooded Grebe & Andes Extension takes us to the Andes of southern Argentina to seek the Critically Endangered Hooded Grebe, a beautiful and rather recently discovered species that is facing a very real risk of imminent extinction. Whilst in this stunning area we will visit the breathtaking Moreno Glacier and seek out a number of special birds, including the bizarre Magellanic Plover (sole member of its own family), Magellanic Woodpecker, Austral Rail and the regal Andean Condor. White-throated Treerunner by Markus Lilje

Chile occupies a 2,650 mile-long narrow ribbon of land between the Pacific Ocean and the prosperous nations and our tour covers the highlights of this fabulous country as we search Andes, and stretches from north of the Atacama Desert to Cape Horn, the southernmost for its numerous specialties and endemics. These range from the giant Andean Condor to the headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Chile is one of South America’s most stable and tiny Chilean Woodstar, and include the unique Chilean tapaculos called huet-huets and turcas. One of our primary targets will no doubt be the highly sought-after Diademed Plover, while

Hooded Grebe by Luis Segura other no less desirable species include James’s Flamingo, Puna Ibis, Chilean Tinamou, Rufous- bellied Seedsnipe, Andean Avocet, Rufous-legged Owl, Slender-billed Parakeet, Magellanic Woodpecker, White-throated Treerunner and the appropriately named Giant Hummingbird.

We will also undertake an exciting pelagic excursion in search of the region’s seabirds, including the rare Peruvian Diving Petrel and Chilean Skua, while mammal possibilities include herds of stately Vicunas, the range-restricted Southern Sea Otter and the bizarre Mountain Viscacha. Accommodations, meals and wines are excellent throughout the tour and the Chilean people offer warm hospitality. Combined with the outstanding scenery of high altitude Puna lakes and snow-capped volcanoes, excellent coastal desert and rich Patagonian forest, this is without doubt one of South America’s most memorable birding destinations.

Our post-tour Arica Extension takes us to the country’s far north, where we explore the scenic, varied habitats ranging from the Atacama Desert oasis valleys (thousands of feet deep!), and venture up the desolate west face of the Andes to the high Puna. Coastal birds such as Grey Gull

46 Southern South America

and beautiful Peruvian Tern grace the beaches, while Peruvian Martin, Tamarugo Conebill, Peruvian Sheartail and Oasis Hummingbird occur within the Oasis Valleys. Other highlights might include Puna Rhea, Puna Tinamou and thousands of flamingos of three species.

Departing from the southern tip of South America, our cruises to Antarctica are voyages of a lifetime that every serious birder, wildlife enthusiast and nature photographer should partake! Our Classic Antarctica cruise explores the remote Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Shetlands and finally the Antarctic continent itself, whereas our Antarctic Peninsula Adventure is a shorter excursion covering the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. More details of these expeditions can be found on our Cruise page, pg 62.

Diademed Plover by Dubi Shapiro

Magellanic Woodpecker by Luis Segura

Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Argentina Northwest - Yungus Cloud US$4,975 • £3,200 • €4,000 • ZAR40,600 12 with Adam Riley & local Forest & Puna: 25 Sep - 9 Oct (15 days) Flights approx US$580 ss: US$625 birding leader

Argentina - Iguazú Extension: 21 - 24 Sep US$1,325 • £850 • €1,070 • ZAR10,800 12 with Adam Riley & local (4 days) Flights approx US$545 ss: US$225 birding leader

Hooded Grebe & Andes Extension: 9 - 13 US$2,050 • £1,320 • €1,650 • ZAR16,700 12 with Adam Riley & local Oct (5 days) Flights approx US$600 ss: US$235 birding leader

Chile - Birds, Wildlife & Andean US$4,950 • £3,180 • €3,980 • ZAR40,400 12 with Rich Lindie & local Landscapes: 1 - 13 Dec (13 days) Flights approx US$775 ss: US$650 birding leader

Arica Extension: 13 - 18 Dec (6 days) US$1,975 • £1,270 • €1,590 • ZAR16,100 12 with Rich Lindie & local Flights approx US$300 ss: US$250 birding leader

Iguazú Falls by Adam Riley Yellow-fronted Woodpecker by Adam Riley 47 Brazil & Guyana

takes us to the famous Cristalino Lodge. Here we will explore the trails and waterways and scan from a productive canopy tower in search of Razor-billed Curassow, Zigzag Heron, Cryptic Forest Falcon, Curl-crested Aracari, Rufous-faced and Bare-eyed Antbird, and Fiery-capped, Flame-crested and Band-tailed Manakins, to name just a few of the special species we hope to see.

Our new Northeast Brazil itineraries take us from beaches and arid canyons to the lush rainforests of the Atlantic slopes - a vast area that holds some of the world’s most spectacular birds! These tours visit the prime birding sites in the region, at a pace that allows ample time to seek out the area’s of endemic and in many cases threatened birds. Targets of Northeastern Endemics Part I - Alagoas & Beyond include the spectacular yet recently discovered Araripe Manakin, Lear’s Macaw, White- collared Kite, Great Xenops and Banded Cotinga, among many other Northeast Brazil endemics and Atlantic Rainforest specialists. This exciting tour travels from the North Coast at Fortaleza, south through the Caatinga and Alagoas endemism locales, to the fabulous forested habitats near Salvador. Northeast Endemics Part II - Bahia & Beyond travels inland, after spending time in the Atlantic rainforests of Itacare, to the famed Chapada Diamantina. This dramatic, fascinating landscape holds a plethora of beautiful and endemics species, including Horned Sungem and Diamantina Tapaculo. We then head back southwards to the lush environs of Serra Bonita and Itubera, where we will search for numerous Bahia endemics, stunning cotingas, flocking tanagers and the unique and rare Pink- legged Graveteiro.

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock by Adam Riley Harpy Eagle by Adam Riley We base ourselves at a single comfortable lodge for our end-of-year Serra dos Tucanos tour. This razil is the most biodiverse country in the world and our birding, wildlife and photographic family-owned lodge is situated within the 46,000-hectare Tres Picos State Park and from here we tours offer a selection of Brazil’s highlights. will set out to explore both higher and lower elevations, covering extensive rainforest, wetlands and drier savanna. Approximately 250 species can be expected, including such mouth-watering Atlantic Rockjumper’sB Birds & Mammals of the Pantanal & Cerrado tour kicks off in the Pantanal, the Rainforest endemic specialties as Sharpbill, Three-toed Jacamar, Saffron Toucanet, Plovercrest, world’s largest wetland system, encompassing 80,000 square miles of emerald forests, savannas, Giant Antshrike, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Black-and-gold Cotinga and Black-cheeked Gnateater. rivers and lagoons and boasting over 650 bird and a staggering 200 mammal species! The nearby dry Cerrado habitat is home to an amazing diversity of birds, many of them highly localized species. Indri’s Neotropical Mammals of the Amazon & Pantanal tour explores both the verdant Amazon This combination provides us with the fantastic opportunity to seek out such specials as Bare-faced rainforest and the bountiful Pantanal, offering world class wildlife viewing. Our tour takes us in Curassow, Chestnut-bellied Guan, Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Screamer, the majestic Hyacinth Macaw, Sunbittern, Sungrebe, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Matto Grosso Antbird, Collared Crescentchest and Helmeted Manakin, amongst an incredibly diverse array of other avian delights. In addition, the abundance of mammals in the Pantanal includes fascinating creatures such as Giant River Otter, Brazilian Tapir, Giant Anteater and of course the mighty Jaguar, which we stand an excellent chance of observing from boats on the Cuiaba River! Our pretour extension to the incredible Iguaçu Falls, the most voluminous and arguably most scenic falls in the world, offers fantastic Atlantic Rainforest birding and targets include Surucua Trogon, Helmeted Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous Gnateater and many more. Our itinerary allows time to venture to higher-elevations birding sites in search of other regional specialties such as Saffron Toucanet, Spotted Bamboowren and Tufted Antshrike. Finally our Amazon Rainforest Birding Extension Hooded Visorbearer by Fred Tavares Jaguar by Markus Lilje 48 North-eastern South America

search of creatures such as Brazilian Tapir, Giant Anteater, herds of Capybaras, Marsh Deer, Giant River Otter, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Ocelot and numerous monkey species. A further target of our adventure is the spectacular Jaguar, and we stand superb chances for exciting encounters with these big cats. Our Iguaçu Falls Extension explores this rainforest-covered waterfall system that is made up of 275 falls along the Iguaçu River. The park protects the vast majority of one of the most important forests south of the Amazon, the Interior Atlantic Forest, which hosts dozens of unique orchid species, primates and other mammals and numerous birds.

Oryx’s Wildlife of the Pantanal photographic expedition is a focused wildlife photographic safari into the heart of the Pantanal. Here we will spend quality time on small boats in search of the ultimate Jaguar photograph. In the process we will no doubt capture the playful antics of Giant River Otters, brilliant Hyacinth Macaws and a realm of other tropical wildlife and scenery. Join award-winning photographer Greg du Toit on this photographic expedition of a lifetime!

Guyana, a small English-speaking South American country nestled on the Atlantic Coast between Venezuela and Suriname, has become recognized as one of South America’s top birding and wildlife Sun Parakeet by Adam Riley Giant Anteater by Adam Riley destinations. Guyana boasts one of the world’s most intact environments and some of the last Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: relatively unexplored wildernesses on Earth. The variety of pristine habitats, from untouched lowland Brazil - Iguaçu Extension: 1 - 5 Sep US$1,625 • £1,050 • €1,310 • ZAR13,300 10 with Forrest Rowland & rainforests that stretch to the horizon and the endless Rupununi savannas, to arguably the world’s (5 days) Flights approx US$500 ss: US$300 local birding leader most impressive waterfall, the mighty Kaieteur Falls, ensures a birding and wildlife tour that cannot be more highly recommended. Locations we visit include Iwokrama, Atta Canopy Walkway, Surama Brazil - Birds & Wildlife of the Pantanal & US$3,450 • £2.220 • €2,770 • BRL7000 12 with Forrest Rowland & Cerrado: 5 - 14 Sep (10 days) Flights approx US$300 ss: US$230 local birding leader Village and Karanambu Ranch. Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Scarlet Ibis, Guianan Red Cotinga, Crimson Fruitcrow, the aberrant Capuchinbird and Harpy Eagle are among Amazon Rainforest Birding Extension: 14 US$2,130 • £1,370 • €1,710 • ZAR17,400 8 with Forrest Rowland & - 19 Sep (6 days) Flights approx US$290 ss: US$275 local birding leader many birding highlights that can be anticipated. Mammals also form a major emphasis of this tour and we can expect species ranging from the amazing Giant Anteater to Giant River Otter, plus an Brazil - Northeastern Endemics Part I - US$5,375 • £3,460 • €4,320 • ZAR43,900 10 with Forrest Rowland & Alagoas & Beyond: 20 Oct - 3 Nov (15 days) ss: US$650 local birding leader excellent chance for Jaguar. Our Sun Parakeet & Red Siskin Extension takes us to remote savannas and forests in search of endangered birds, including the stunning Sun Parakeet and Red Siskin, both Brazil - Northeast Endemics Part II - US$4,875 • £3,140 • €3,920 • ZAR39,800 10 with Forrest Rowland & Bahia & Beyond: 3 - 16 Nov (14 days) ss: US$560 local birding leader decimated by the cage bird trade, as well as the highly localized Rio Branco Antbird and other little known species. Brazil - Serra dos Tucanos: 3 - 10 Dec US$1,675 • £1,075 • €1,340 • ZAR13,700 8 with local birding leader (8 days) ss: US$190

Brazil - Neotropical Mammals of the Amazon US$5,950 • £3,830 • €4,780 • ZAR48,600 8 with Lucas Marti & Pantanal: 29 Aug - 9 Sep (12 days) Flights approx US$750 ss: US$595

Brazil - Iguaçu Falls Extension: 9 - 13 Sep US$2,070 • £1,330 • €1,660 • ZAR16,900 8 with Lucas Marti (5 days) Flights approx US$480 ss: US$560

Brazil - Wildlife of the Pantanal: 12 - 22 US$4,910 • £3,160 • €3,950 • BRL9,975 6 with Greg du Toit Aug (11 days) ss: US$420

Guyana - Birds & Wildlife: 1 - 12 Oct (12 US$4,925 • £3,170 • €3,960 • ZAR40,200 8 with Forrest Rowland days) Flights tba ss: US$375

Sun Parakeet & Red Siskin Extension: To be announced 8 with Forrest Rowland

Hyacinth Macaw by Matthew Matthiessen 12 - 18 Oct (7 days)

49 Ecuador, Peru & Colombia

cuador, boasting a bird list of over 1,600 species, has entrenched itself as a premier birding nation. Furthermore, its small size, good infrastructure, spectacular scenery and friendly people make a tour to Ecuador one of the world’s most productive and enjoyable birding experiences.E Our Birding the Andes to the Amazon adventure begins on the west Andean slopes, as we bird the famous Tandayapa and Mindo Valleys situated in the exceptionally biodiverse cloud- forests. A highlight of this area is the now famous antpitta show, which usually produces incredibly close encounters with three species of this very tricky family! The Antisana Reserve could not be more different, and in tundra-like grasslands we stand chances for numerous high altitude species before we descend the entire east slope of the Andes from the highest mountain passes right down to the great Amazonian lowlands, sampling an incredible diversity of birds along the way. Our Chestnut-naped Antpitta by Adam Riley Sunbittern by Matthew Matthiessen final site, Sacha Lodge on the Napo River, boasts almost 600 species, and here we will bird from canoes, along forest trails, swamp boardwalks, and on Sacha’s brilliant canopy walkway! From the other specialties. Targets include El Oro and White-breasted Parakeet, El Oro Tapaculo, Watkins’s verdant Amazon to the endemic-rich Andes, this tour of Ecuador offers the very best birding that this and the fantastic Jocotoco Antpitta, White-headed Brush Finch, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, remarkable country has to offer. the fabulous Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rainbow Starfrontlet and the vociferous, colorful and extremely localized Orange-throated Tanager. Our Shiripuno Amazon Adventure Extension takes As a result of incredibly complex geology and topography, southern Ecuador supports one of the us to another very remote Ecuadorian location - the little-visited Shiripuno Lodge situated in hilly, most diverse ranges of habitat in the world. Within 200 miles of the Pacific Coast, one can travel upper Amazonia. Boasting a bird list of over 450 species within walking distance of the lodge, it’s from the arid xerophytic habitat, through semideciduous tropical forest, over the continental divide’s no wonder that this humble, research-orientated venture has caught our attention. This tour offers treeless paramos and down to lush, wet, foothill forests of the eastern Andes. Within these varied, prime Amazon birding with targets including Nocturnal Curassow, Rufous and Long-tailed Potoo, pristine habitats, the evolution of many fine endemic species has occurred; and on our new South Ringed Woodpecker, Black-necked Red Cotinga, Black Bushbird, Lunulated, Hairy-crested and Ecuador Endemics tour, we will sample seven distinct habitats in search of these endemics and Wing-banded Antbird, and Rio Suno and Yasuni Antwrens. To reach our destination we will travel down the mild-floing Shiripuno River, where Jaguar, Brazilian Tapir and anacondas are regularly encountered, along with Fiery Topaz, Brown Jacamar and other riverside specialists. We invite you to be amongst the first birders to explore this exceptional new location with us!

Peru, a land of stark contrast and astounding beauty, boasting one of the largest bird lists in the world. Our comprehensive Classic Peru tour includes the most important archaeological site in South America, the magical and mysterious Machu Picchu, where we will marvel at undoubtedly one of the finest architectural achievements of the New World. At the scenic Huacarpay Lakes, surrounded by Inca and pre-Inca ruins, we will seek a wide variety of Andean waterfowl and other high altitude birds, including the magnificent Andean Condor. Descending the Andean slopes, we Booted Rackettail by Dubi Shapiro then bird through temperate zones and montane cloud forest, offering chances for an incredible variety of exceptional and endemic birds, including Cerulean-capped and Yungas Manakin, White- rumped Hawk, Solitary Eagle, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Crested Quetzal, Blue-banded Toucanet, the outrageous Amazonian Umbrellabird, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Inca Flycatcher, Saffron- crowned Tanager and Peruvian Piedtail. We also visit an Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek site, where up to 20 males sometimes congregate, to watch the strange mating dance of these spectacular birds! With persistence, night birding in this area might yield the uncommon Roraiman and Rufescent Screech Owl, Rufous-banded Owl, Lyre-tailed Nightjar and possibly even Andean Potoo. Continuing into the depths of the Amazon, we will explore the overwhelming Manu Biosphere Reserve, one of

50 North-western South America

the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world, spending several fabulous days in this avian Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: wonderland. The number of star birds calling this their home is again mind boggling (over 1000 Northern Ecuador - Birding the Andes to US$4,425 • £2,850 • €3,560 • ZAR36,200 8 with Rich Lindie species have been recorded!), with stellar potentials including Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu the Amazon: 16 Apr - 1 May (16 days) Flights approx US$95 ss: US$775 Antbird, Elusive Antpitta, Razor-billed Curassow, Pale-winged Trumpeter, Pavonine Quetzal, Purus South Ecuador Endemics: 26 Mar - 10 Apr US$3,975 • £2,560 • €3,200 • ZAR32,500 8 with Forrest Rowland Jacamar, Sunbittern and Sungrebe, to name but a few. Other wildlife abounds, including 13 species (16 days) Flights approx US$85 ss: US$450 of monkey and chances for Brazilian Tapir, Collared and White-lipped Peccary, and even Jaguar. Shiripuno Amazon Adventure Extension: US$1,450 • £930 • €1,170 • ZAR11,800 8 with Forrest Rowland 11 - 15 Apr (5 days) Flights approx US$185 ss: US$350

Colombia has more bird species than any other country on Earth! A staggering 1,870 have been Classic Peru - Machu Picchu to Manu: US$6,350 • £4,080 • €5,100 • ZAR51,900 10 with Rich Lindie & local recorded, of which 62 are endemic. This massive diversity results from the equally diverse range 13 Aug - 1 Sep (20 days) Flights approx US$570 ss: US$950 birding leader of habitats; these include three Andean Cordilleras, two inter-Andean valleys, the lowland forests Colombia - Andean Endemics: 17 Oct - 4 US$5,250 • £3,380 • €4,220 • ZAR42,900 10 with Rich Lindie & local of the Amazon and Orinoco regions, the isolated snow-capped Santa Marta Mountains, as well as Nov (19 days) Flights approx US$110 ss: US$250 birding leader coastlines, deserts and lakes. Our exciting Colombia - Andean Endemics tour will focus on the Santa Marta Extension: 4 - 9 Nov (6 days) US$1,950 • £1,250 • €1,570 • ZAR15,900 10 with Rich Lindie & local endemic and special birds within these areas. While our main tour explores the bird-rich Andean Flights approx US$260 ss: US$120 birding leader regions, our extension visits the Guajira Desert and impressive Santa Marta Mountains on the Colombia Highlights: 10 - 24 Nov (15 US$5,040 • £3,240 • €4,050 • COP8,950,000 10 with Rich Lindie & local northern coast. Some of the target birds we will seek in Colombia include the localized Bogota Rail, days) Flights approx US$170 ss: US$460 birding leader

Northern Screamer, Yellow-eared Parrot, the fabulous Bearded Helmetcrest (one of the over 70 Colombia 1,000 Birds Mega: 22 Nov - 20 US$8,950 • £5,760 • €7,200 • ZAR73,100 10 with Forrest Rowland & hummingbird species that our tours usually observe!), over a dozen species of antpittas (many at close Dec (29 days) Flights approx US$860 ss: US$500 local birding leader quarters at antpitta feeding stations), Chestnut-capped Piha, Tanager Finch, Gold-ringed and Black- and-gold Tanager (over 60 tanager species can be expected), White-tipped Quetzal and a host of Santa Marta endemics. This is birding at its best, and this tour cannot be more highly recommended! Colombia Highlights is a shorter version of our Andean endemics tour, yet still covers all three Andean ranges and both inter-Andean valleys in search of Colombia’s numerous endemics and regional avian specialties. We have handpicked the choice sites of our longer Andean Endemics tour, resulting in proportionately less travel time and more birding time, culminating in an overall less intensive tour. We will be searching for a remarkable collection of birds, combined with spectacular scenery and pleasant lodges situated within prime birding areas.

For the more adventurous birder, we have developed an itinerary allowing access to more than 1,300 of Colombia’s birds! On our ground-breaking Colombia 1,000 Birds Mega tour, we plan to encounter 1,000+ plus species in less than a month! This fabulous avian adventure includes all sites covered by our Andean Endemics tour, as well as spending time in the nation’s exceptional lowland rainforests. We also explore the famed Choco rainforest, which harbors such spectacular species as Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Streak-chested Antpitta, Golden-chested and Blue-whiskered Tanager, to name just a handful of possibilities. The other major addition to this itinerary is the Mitu region of Amazonian Colombia, where we will spend three fabulous days searching for another 200 species not offered on our other Colombian tours. Red-fan Parrot, Fiery Topaz, Pompadour and Purple-breasted Cotinga, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Orinoco Piculet, Chestnut-crested Antbird and Brown-banded Puffbird are but some of the spectacular birds that await us! This tour promises to be a monumental New World birding experience, and we invite you to join us for the most comprehensive birding adventure of Colombia ever offered and to set a new record for most bird species seen on a tour! Sword-billed Hummingbird by Dubi Shapiro 51 Panama, Costa Rica & Guatemala

anama is the perfect introduction to tropical American birding. This friendly and easily accessible country offers a great diversity of typical Neotropical species, as well as several endemics and birds difficult to find elsewhere. Our Best of Panama tour is a joy,P as long travel days and arduous hikes are not necessary. We spend several days at and around the famous Panama Canopy Tower, allowing us an unrivalled opportunity to explore the rainforest canopy of Soberanía National Park from a bird’s eye view. Colorful tanagers, toucans and honeycreepers can be observed even from our beds or dining room! Surrounding forest and wetland sites provide superb birding and the mammal watching opportunities are surprisingly good. Further to the south, our next attraction is the Canopy Lodge, in the delightful hill country of El Valle de Antón. Here we expolore cloudforest and a whole range of new mouth-watering species! Moving further south, we enter the great rainforests of the little known Darien and its myriad of exciting birding opportunities. Key targets of this relaxed pace tour include Harpy Eagle, Sunbittern, Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, the endemic Veraguan Mango, stunning Blue Cotinga, Ocellated and Wing-banded Antbird, Rosy Thrush-Tanager and the bizarre Sapayoa. The Chiriquí Highlands Extension rounds off our very thorough exploration of Panama; these productive cloudforests are a birders’ delight. Your highlight might be the plethora of hyperactive hummers including Volcano Hummingbird, both Black- and-yellow and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatchers, Turquoise Cotinga, Three-wattled Bellbird, Collared Whitestart or Flame-throated Warbler; however the Resplendent Quetzal show would be hard to beat!

Canopy Tower birding by David Tipling Red-capped Manakin by Doug Weschler 52 Central America

Spotted Antbird by Adam Riley Violet-bellied Hummingbird by Adam Riley The small nation of Costa Rica has geared itself heavily towards avitourism and has developed a superb infrastructure to service the numerous visiting birders. With over 850 bird species in such a small country, it is easy to understand why Costa Rica is such a famous birding destination! The backbone of the country is formed by a scenic mountain range, and here the cloudforests are home to exotic species such as the unbelievable Resplendent Quetzal, Black Guan, Snowcap, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and Spangle- cheeked Tanager. A wide variety of habitats, including the Caribbean coastal plain and the northern Pacific lowlands will be explored on our tour, and we can look forward to many striking species of trogons, toucans, motmots, hummingbirds and migrant warblers. Thrilling birding, quality lodges and a relaxed pace make this destination perfect for anyone who has yet to experience the exciting avifauna of Central America! Resplendent Quetzal by Vivek Khanzode Spectacular volcanoes and fabulous highland lakes take centre stage in our Guatemala - Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: Central American Specialties tour. While this region is probably best known for its shade Best of Panama: 10 - 23 Oct (14 days) US$3,950 • £2,540 • €3,180 • 8 with Rich Lindie & local coffee productions, local people have over time developed a strong environmental bond and ZAR32,300 ss: US$0 birding leader an understanding of ecotourism that has resulted in much of the remaining highland forests Chiriquí Highlands Extension: 23 - 26 Oct To be announced 8 with Rich Lindie & local being protected. Even the coffee fincas offer superb birding, and the host of specials we will (4 days) birding leader search for include the gorgeous Pink-headed Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Rufous-collared Thrush and Azure-rumped Tanager. A day will also be devoted Costa Rica - Cloud Forest and Quetzals: 24 US$3,750 • £2,410 • €3,020 • 10 with Rich Lindie Jan - 6 Feb (14 days) ZAR30,600 ss: US$370 to hiking to the summit of the impressive San Pedro Volcano to search for one of the world’s most prized birds, the Horned Guan. Our Tikal Extension not only takes time to explore Guatemala - Central American Specialties: US$2,250 • £1,450 • €1,810 • 10 with Rich Lindie & local 11 - 19 Jan (9 days) ZAR18,400 ss: US$300 birding leader the remarkable Mayan ruins that dominate this region, but also to target such highly sought- after species as the regal Ocellated Turkey, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Grey-throated Chat, Tikal Extension: 19 - 23 Jan (5 days) US$1,425 • £920 • €1,150 • ZAR11,600 10 with Rich Lindie & local Flights approx US$300 ss: US$240 birding leader Rose-throated Tanager and the impressive Great Curassow. 53 Cuba, Dominican Republic & Jamaica Cuban Tody by Adam Riley he constellation of tropical islands across the Caribbean Sea boast a regional bird endemism rate of over 25% and are home to more than 560 bird species, many of which are in decline, threatened or endangered. Rockjumper offers three Caribbean tours that mayT be taken back to back, which thoroughly cover three of the four islands that make up the Greater Antilles: Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica. Our Mexico - Yucatan Extension (refer to pg 57) has been strategically placed between our two Cuban departures for those participants traveling to Cuba via Cancun who would like to explore this tropical region of Mexico.

Cuba, just 55 miles south of Florida, is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, and offers an impressive 28 endemics, numerous Caribbean specials and a rich assemblage of migrant North American warblers. Our comprehensive Caribbean Endemic Birding tour targets all Cuban endemic and near-endemic species, except the inaccessible Cuban Kite. Using the services of local bird specialists at each site, we guarantee an impressive success rate at observing the island’s amazing avian diversity and endemic wildlife. From the world’s smallest bird, the miniscule Bee Hummingbird, to such sought-after species as Giant Kingbird, we hope to observe almost all the avian gems of this beautiful island, including the cute Cuban Tody, unique lattice-tailed Cuban Trogon, incredibly localized Zapata Wren, Stygian Owl and no less than four species of stunning quail-doves. Given the relaxed pace and vibrant culture surrounding us, Cuba is an absolute pleasure to bird!

Cuban Trogon by Adam Riley 54 The Caribbean

Key West Quail-Dove by Luis Segura

The Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation, straddling the eastern half of arguably the most beautiful of all the large Caribbean islands, Hispaniola. Hispaniola boasts an impressive variety of endemic and range-restricted birds, including six endemic genera and the monotypic Palmchat, the sole representative of its own bird family! Our comprehensive tour is co-led by the the nation’s top birder and takes us through all the habitats necessary to target the island’s specialties, from dry thorn scrub to montane pine forest. Some of our numerous targets include a dedicated search for the rare Ridgway’s Hawk, as well as Ashy-faced Owl, Least Poorwill, White-fronted Quail-Dove, Hispaniolan Amazon, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Bay-breasted Cuckoo, beautiful Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies, Hispaniolan Trogon,

Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Hispaniolan Emerald, White-necked Crow, White-winged Warbler Red-billed Streamertail by David Shackelford Jamaican Woodpecker by Matthew Matthiessen and Hispaniolan Crossbill. Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Cuba - Caribbean Endemic Birding I: 3 - 12 US$3,030 • £1,950 • €2,440 • ZAR24,800 8 with Rich Lindie & local Best known as a tropical paradise with palm-fringed beaches, reggae music and a generally Mar (10 days) Flights approx US$80 ss: US$170 birding leaders relaxed style of life, Jamaica is also blessed with 30 mouth-watering endemics. Our tour across Cuba - Caribbean Endemic Birding II: 20 - US$3,030 • £1,950 • €2,440 • ZAR24,800 8 with Rich Lindie & local this rugged island explores habitats from evergreen mountain forests to beaches and ultramarine 29 Mar (10 days) Flights approx US$80 ss: US$170 birding leaders coastal waters. We target all of Jamaica’s endemic bird species while also allowing time to Dominican Republic - Endemics of Hispan- US$2,575 • £1,660 • €2,070 • 10 with Rich Lindie & local soak up the unique atmosphere of the island. Some of the special birds we specifically target iola: 15 - 22 Feb (8 days) ZAR21,000 ss: US$135 birding leader include the spectacular Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Tody, Jamaican Pewee, Jamaican Jamaica - Island Endemics: 23 Feb - 1 Mar US$2,775 • £1,780 • €2,230 • 10 with Rich Lindie & local Vireo, Arrowhead Warbler, charming Jamaican Mango, Orangequit, Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo, (7 days) ZAR22,700 ss: US$500 birding leader Jamaican Woodpecker and much besides. 55 United States of America , Canada & Mexico

outh Texas is a birder’s paradise at any time of the year. Green Jays, Altamira Orioles and Buff- bellied Hummingbirds are among the wide array of colorful tropical species that are resident. In addition to these, a winter visit adds an incredible array of waterfowl, shorebirds, an increased probabilityS of Mexican vagrants, and the spectacular Whooping Crane! Our Texas: Whooping Cranes & the Lower Rio Grande Valley tour visits a variety of habitats ranging from Chihuahan Desert scrub to sub- tropical woodlands, vast wetlands, beaches and even open ocean. Other targets include Roseate Spoonbill, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Tropical Parula, White-tailed Hawk, Red- crowned Parrot, Plain Chachalaca, Long-billed Thrasher and Olive Sparrow. Though Colorado is generally known as the Centennial or Colombine State, birders know it as “The Chicken State”! Our Colorado - The Snowy Owl copyright Christoper Dodds Prairie Chicken Tour takes us through topography ranging from the expansive grasslands of southeast Colorado, up onto the high plains and into the deep forests and alpine tundra of the Rocky Mountains in search of the state’s wildfowl. Expected highlights include Greater and Lesser Prairie Chicken, Greater and Gunnison’s Sage-Grouse, Sharp-tailed and Dusky Grouse, Mountain Plover, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Rough- legged Hawk, Pinyon Jay and McCown’s Longspur, among many others!

With thousands of miles of coastline, the highest mountains on the continent and distant wilderness locales only accessible by boat or plane, Alaska is a must for all adventurers in search of unforgettable birds and wildlife set within unrivalled beauty. The first of our suite of tours begins in the small town of Nome, set on the Seward Peninsula jutting into the Bering Sea. In June the tundra is in full bloom, the midnight sun at its brightest, and the birds and wildlife are at their most abundant. We can expect a host of fine Arctic and Asian birds, including Bristle-thighed Curlew, Gyrfalcon, Hoary Redpoll and Bluethroat, with chances for Emperor Goose, Terek Sandpiper, Siberian Rubythroat and other rarities. Mammal watching may produce Grizzly Bear, Arctic Fox, Moose and the remarkable Musk Ox. The next stop on our Alaskan Adventure is the High Arctic tundra and shoreline of Barrow. Our focus will be three-fold: Snowy Owls, High Arctic breeding waterfowl and waders, and if we are fortunate, the iconic Polar Bear! Spectacled and Steller’s Eiders will undoubtedly be highlights, and besides the regular breeding shorebirds we will also seek Asian vagrants during this unforgettable visit to the northernmost settlement of the USA. No Alaskan experience is complete without traveling through Denali & Kenai. This tour is by far the most diverse offering in this dramatically scenic region. Activities includes a boat ride through Kenai Fjords for auklets, puffins, murrelets, whales, Sea Otters and Orca, and exploring the Denali highway for Smith’s Longspur, Arctic Warbler, Rock and Willow Ptarmigan, with excellent chances of bears and wolves. We then search the lush forests around Anchorage and Seward for American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Varied Thrush, Pine Grosbeak and more; certainly a grand finale to our Alaskan adventures.

In Mexico, our Yucatan Extension is offered in conjunction with our Cuba tours. During this week-long exploration we expect to notch up an impressive 250 bird species, including 14 endemics and another 8 near-endemics. Habitats we cover include the scrub and forest of Tulum, coastal estuaries and mangroves of Rio Lagartos, the endemic-rich island of Cozumel and the deep forests that envelope the Coba ruins. Some of our targets include the remarkable Ocellated Turkey, Yucatan Bobwhite, Yucatan Amazon, Yucatan Poorwill, Yucatan Woodpecker, Orange Oriole, Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Wren, Black Catbird, Mexican

56 North America

Sheartail, Cozumel Emerald and Rose-throated Tanager. Aside from brilliant birds, our exploration also includes delicious food, fascinating Mayan architecture and beautiful, white sand beaches, all of which combine to create a very relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable birding experience.

Oryx is thrilled to announce four small group North American photographic workshop safaris, all expertly led and tutored by world-renowned master photographer Christopher Dodds. These workshops are suitable for both professional and amateur photographers alike. Winter Snowy Owls Harlequin Duck by Markus Lilje of Quebec & Ontario has target subjects including (but not limited to) the magnificent Snowy, Boreal, Great Grey, Northern Hawk-, Northern Barred, Long-eared, Short-eared and the cute Northern Saw-whet Owls. This workshop is limited to just 3 participants, allowing access to private sites where larger groups are not permitted. Bald Eagles of Homer, Alaska: Eagles Galore is aimed at providing our participants with a truly awesome portfolio of eagle images, including dramatic flight shots and dynamic portraits with snow-covered mountain backdrops. Best of Texas photo safari workshop includes two days in the dug-out blinds of the coveted Laguna Seca Ranch, two days in the predator blinds of the renowned Martin Refuge and a day out in the teeming wetlands of Estero Llano Grande State Park. We can expect numerous mind-blowing bird photographic opportunities of such delights as Greater Roadrunner, Green Jay, Harris’s Hawk and a variety of other Texan specialties. Red-headed Woodpecker copyright Christoper Dodds Sharp-tailed Grouse by Markus Lilje And finally, Saint Paul Island photo tour is a photographic adventure of a lifetime to this famous island in the Bering Sea. Here we will concentrate on alcids (especially Crested and Least Auklets, Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: and Tufted and Horned Puffins), as well as numerous other nesting seabirds, Grey-crowned Rosy Alaska - Nome & the Seward Peninsula: US$2,500 • £1,610 • €2,010 • 14 & 2 leaders Finches, Arctic Foxes and much more besides! 3 - 7 Jun (5 days) ZAR20,400 ss: US$400

Alaska - Barrow, the High Arctic: 8 - 10 Jun US$2,300 • £1,480 • €1,850 • 10 & 2 leaders (3 days) ZAR18,800 ss: US$200

Alaska - Denali & Kenai: 11 - 19 Jun (9 US$4,100 • £2,640 • €3,300 • 10 & 2 leaders days) ZAR33,500 ss: US$575

Texas - Whooping Cranes & the Lower Rio US$2,775 • £1,780 • €2,230 • 14 & 2 leaders Grande Valley: 22 Feb - 2 Mar (9 days) ZAR22,700 ss: US$450

Colorado - The Prairie Chicken Tour: 11 - US$2,575 • £1,660 • €2,070 • 14 & 2 leaders 20 Apr (10 days) ZAR21,000 ss: US$375

Mexico - Yucatan Extension: 13 - 19 Mar US$1,950 • £1,250 • €1,570 • 8 with Rich Lindie & local (7 days) ZAR15,900 ss: US$230 birding leader

Canada - Winter Snowy Owls of Quebec & US$3,450 • £2,220 • €2,770 • CAD3,500 3 with Christoper Dodds Ontario: 11 - 15 Feb (5 days) Cerulean Warbler copyright Christoper Dodds

Alaska - Bald Eagles of Homer: Eagles US$3,500 • £2,250 • €2,810 • 5 with Christoper Dodds Galore: 18 - 22 Mar (5 days) ZAR28,600

Texas - Best of Texas Photo tour safari US$2,295 • £1,480 • €1,850 • 6 with Christoper Dodds workshop: 22 - 26 April (5 days) ZAR18,800

Alaska - Saint Paul Island Photo Tour: 16 - US$4,995 • £3,210 • €4,020 • 6 with Christoper Dodds 23 Jun (8 days) ZAR40,800 ss: US$500

57 Papua New Guinea & the Western Pacific Odyssey

f all the world’s birding destinations, Papua New Guinea surely ranks as the most fascinating and exotic. New Guinea, the planet’s second largest island, was the last inhabited landmass to be explored by Europeans. Its virtually untouched forests come aliveO with the sights and sounds of fruit doves, fig parrots, fairywrens, whistlers, paradise kingfishers, jewel-babblers, honeyeaters, berrypeckers and bowerbirds, whilst more than 20 species of dazzling birds-of-paradise display their iridescent colors and elaborate plumes in one of the most astonishing exhibits of the natural world!

Traveling by air, road and boat, our Birding in Paradise tour explores the region’s diverse habitats, from winding lowland rivers and sprawling grasslands, to rich highland ecosystems and forested valleys. Here tribes dance mimicking the fabulous birds-of-paradise, adorned with elaborate head plumes of the exotic birds that grace this mystical island. Over the years Rockjumper has established an unbeatable reputation for leading highly successful birding tours to Papua New Guinea, and our tour totals of around 400 species include up to 24 different birds-of-paradise! The extravagant birds that we can expect to see range from the bizarre Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise to the strangely plumed King-of-Saxony, and from the brilliant Blue and King Birds-of-paradise to watching Raggiana and Greater Birds-of-paradise dance at their phenomenal leks. We also enjoy almost 20 kingfisher species, a feat impossible to match anywhere else in the world. Furthermore, most of our tours boast sightings of the

Greater Bird-of-paradise by Keith Valentine Tribal dance by David Shackelford

Brehm’s Tiger Parrot by Adam Riley 58 Northern Australasia

Kagu by Adam Riley

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise by Lee Hunter Southern Crowned Pigeon by Lee Hunter rarely seen Shovel-billed Kookaburra, remarkable Southern Crowned Pigeon, unbelievable Flame Bowerbird and Papuan (Harpy) Eagle. You can therefore expect a phenomenal array of remarkable birds amidst vast and pristine forests. Our New Britain Endemics Extension takes us to another beautiful and little-explored region of the world, the Bismarck Archipelago. Here Spotted Catbird by Lee Hunter we bird forests and tiny islets for several exciting species, including Melanesian Megapode, Nicobar Pigeon and a plethora of endemic doves, kingfishers and parrots. Our journey though Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: Papua New Guinea is rated by many as the world’s ultimate birding tour! Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise I: US$8,080 • £5,200 • €6,500 • KIN16,975 10 with Glen Valentine & 30 Jun - 17 July (18 days) Flights approx US$1,550 ss: US$1,475 Markus Lilje The Western Pacific Odyssey cruise beginning in New Zealand and ending in Papua New New Britain Endemics Extension I: 17 - 21 US$1,950 • £1,250 • €1,570 • ZAR15,900 10 with Glen Valentine & Jul (5 days) Flights approx US$360 ss: US$250 Markus Lilje Guinea, provides an unprecedented opportunity to see some of the world’s most rarely- observed seabirds and remote island endemics. We land at Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise II: US$8,080 • £5,200 • €6,500 • KIN16,975 10 with Glen Valentine & and four of the Solomon Islands, before disembarkation at New Ireland off Papua New Guinea. 21 Jul - 7 Aug (18 days) Flights approx US$1,550 ss: US$1,475 Markus Lilje Such mouth-watering species as Kagu, Beck’s Petrel, Heinroth’s Shearwater, Roviana Rail, New Britain Endemics Extension II: 7 - 11 US$1,950 • £1,250 • €1,570 • ZAR15,900 10 with Glen Valentine & Norfolk Island Parakeet, Rennell Shrikebill and Crow Honeyeater are possible, as well as a Aug (5 days) Flights approx US$360 ss: US$250 Markus Lilje potential new species of storm petrel off New Caledonia. More details can be found on our Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III: US$8,080 • £5,200 • €6,500 • KIN16,975 8 with Markus Lilje Cruise page, pg 62. 11 - 28 Aug (18 days) Flights approx US$1,550 ss: US$1,475 59 Australia, New Zealand & SubAntarctic Islands Splendid Fairywren by Dave Semler

60 Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders:

Australia - Southwestern Endemics Exten- US$2,140 • £1,370 • €1,720 • AUD2,050 12 with Erik Forsyth & local sion: 21 - 26 Sep (6 days) ss: US$390 birding leader

Australia - Eastern Top to Bottom: 26 Sep - US$9,350 • £6,010 • €7,520 • AUD8,975 12 with Erik Forsyth & local 15 Oct (20 days) Flights approx US$780 ss: US$1,740 birding leader

Australia - Tasmania Birds & Wildlife US$2,240 • £1,440 • €1,800 • AUD2,150 12 with Erik Forsyth & local Extension: 15 - 19 Oct (5 days) Flights approx US$410 ss: US$340 birding leader

Comprehensive New Zealand: 20 Oct - 6 to be announced 8 with Erik Forsyth Nov (18 days)

61 Cruises

ur Classic Antarctica cruise is a ‘must’ for every wildlife and nature enthusiast, and we unmatched backdrop of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. This tour takes us through guarantee that you will return not only enriched but totally blown-away by this experience the seabird-rich waters of the Southern Ocean to bustling penguin colonies on the shores of the Great of a lifetime! During this incredible journey we will explore the remote Falkland Islands, White Continent. Our first Antarctic Peninsula cruise in March is a cetacean themed departure with OSouth Georgia, South Shetlands and finally, the Antarctic continent. Along the way we will marvel special emphasis on finding and experiencing as many whales and dolphins as possible. Furthermore, at some of the world’s last truly pristine wildernesses and be treated to spectacular vistas, hauntingly we will have two Antarctic cetacean authorities on board to share their knowledge with us. beautiful icebergs and the planet’s greatest concentrations of marine wildlife. Walking amongst vast, crowded nesting colonies of over 200,000 displaying King Penguins and their fluffy young is an Our Galápagos of the Southern Ocean cruise sets off from New Zealand, from where we explore experience that defies description. We will also set foot on Antarctica at the aptly named Paradise four groups of sub-Antarctic islands: the Snares, Auckland, Macquarie and Campbell Islands. These Bay, while our return via the Drake Passage promises to produce some thrilling pelagic birding, as waters support the richest seabird assemblage on Earth, plus an impressive diversity of endemic land we search for species including Wandering and Light-mantled Albatross, Snow and Antarctic Petrel birds and waterfowl. Vast penguin and seabird colonies include the entire world population of Royal and South Georgia Diving Petrel. This cruise also offers unbeatable photographic opportunities, and Penguins on Macquarie! This cruise offers a unique opportunity to visit these remote and little known some of our departures may have on board specialist Rockjumper birding and Indri wildlife leaders islands and their teeming wildlife. or professional Oryx photographic leaders! Spitsbergen lies a mere 600 miles from the North Pole and is the largest island of the Svalbard Our Antarctic Peninsula Adventure cruise is a shorter excursion, aimed at those with less time Archipelago. Draped in darkness during the long northern winter, this frigid land is dramatically who nonetheless wish to experience a wide array of fantastic Antarctic fauna against the scenically transformed into a place of perpetual sunshine during our summer cruises. The scenery is nothing Adelie Penguin by Marius Coetzee Polar Bear and cub by Elliott Neep

62 Global

short of breathtaking, with towering snowcapped mountains, forbidding glaciers and flower-studded tundra. The abundance of iconic Arctic mammals is a major attraction, including whales, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Reindeer and the fabulous Polar Bear, of which we stand an excellent chance of close and personal encounters. Avian specialties include Ivory Gull, King Eider and vast colonies of breeding alcids, including Little Auks (Dovekies) and Atlantic Puffins.

Our Russian Far East cruises explore some of the richest seas in the northern hemisphere and take Whiskered Auklet by Adam Riley Gibson’s Albatross by Elliott Neep us to remote lands, little explored by naturalists. Our Russia’s Ring of Fire cruise explores three quite distinct and unique geographical regions: the Kamchatka Peninsula, and the Commander and Kuril Islands. Referred to as the “Ring of Fire” for the prevalence of its active volcanoes, this little-disturbed wilderness still supports spectacular numbers of wildlife. These range from a dozen alcid species, including the highly sought-after Whiskered Auklet, to healthy Sea Otter and Orca populations. We also have excellent chances for finding a number of superb cetaceans, Steller’s Sea Lion and outstanding birds, such as Steller’s Sea Eagle, Short-tailed Albatross and numerous Asian passerines. Run as a co-operative venture with BirdLife International, the unique In the Wake of Bering expedition takes us to one of the remotest coastlines on earth, in search of some very special birds and wildlife. Primary on our list of targets is the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Steller’s Sea Eagle by Adam Riley King Pengiun by Marius Coetzee of which fewer than 200 pairs are thought to now make the annual migration to Northern Kamchatka Tour name & dates: Tour cost: Group size & tour leaders: and Chukotka to breed. Other potential highlights on this epic adventure include an incredible 13 Antarctic Peninsula Adventure I: 6 - 16 Mar From US$5,840 • £3,760 • €4,700 • Simon Bellingham & expedi- species of alcids, Red-legged Kittiwake, Steller’s Sea Eagle and Emperor Goose. The seas also (11 days) ZAR47,700 tion leaders support a rich diversity of cetaceans, while on the surrounding coastline we will look for Brown Bear, Classic Antarctica - the Falklands, South Georgia From US$10,900 • £7,030 • €8,720 • Tba & expedition leaders Kamchatka Marmot and Arctic Fox. & Antarctica I: 20 Nov - 8 Dec (19 days) ZAR89,050 Classic Antarctica - the Falklands, South Georgia From US$12,750 • £8,225 • €10,200 • Tba & expedition leaders The Northwest Passage is one of the world’s most historic and elusive sea routes, linking the Atlantic & Antarctica II: 28 Dec 2013 - 15 Jan 2014 (19 days) ZAR104,150 and Pacific Oceans through Canada’s High Arctic. Join us as we sail in comfort through this Antarctic Peninsula Adventure II: 20 - 28 Dec From US$4,950 • £3,190 • €3,960 • Tba & expedition leaders dramatic wilderness, first explored by Barrow, Parry and Franklin almost a century ago. Herds of (9 days) ZAR40,450 Walrus, rafts of seals, pods of whales, prehistoric-looking Musk Ox and the mighty Polar Bear are all Galápagos of the Southern Ocean: 30 Dec From US$5,450 • £3,520 • €4,360 • Adam Riley & expedition targets. The Canadian Arctic is also host to numerous special birds, including Ivory Gull, King Eider, 2013 - 11 Jan 2014 (13 days) ZAR44,500 Landing fee: US$650 leaders Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl and Snow Bunting, to name just a few. Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams I: 6 - 16 From US$4,865 • £3,130 • €3,910 • Elliot Neep & expedition Aug (11 days) ZAR39,700 leaders

The Western Pacific Odyssey cruise beginning in New Zealand and ending in Papua New Guinea, Spitsbergen - Land of Arctic Dreams II: From US$3,890 • £2,500 • €3,130 • Elliot Neep & expedition provides an unprecedented opportunity to see some of the world’s most rarely-observed seabirds 16 - 24 Aug (9 days) ZAR31,800 leaders and remote island endemics. We land at Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, and four of the Solomon Canadian Arctic - Northwest Passage: 14 - 25 From US$6,820 • £4,390 • €5,480 • Tba & expedition leaders Islands, before disembarkation at New Ireland. Such mouth-watering species as New Zealand Storm Aug (12 days) ZAR55,700 and Beck’s Petrel, Heinroth’s Shearwater, Kagu, Roviana Rail, Norfolk Island Parakeet, Rennell Russia’s Ring of Fire: 24 May - 5 Jun (13 From US$6,920 • £4,450 • €5,560 • Tba & expedition leaders Shrikebill and Crow Honeyeater are possible, as well as a potential new species of storm petrel off days) ZAR56,500 Landing fee: US$500 New Caledonia. Russia - In the Wake of Bering: 21 Jun - 4 Jul From US$7,510 • £4,830 • €6,040 • Tba & expedition leaders (14 days) ZAR61,400 Landing fee: US$500

These oceanic journeys are truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences and cannot be more highly Western Pacific Odyssey: 25 Mar - 13 Apr From US$10,240 • £6,590 • €8,230 • Erik Forsyth & expedition recommended! (20 days) ZAR83,700 Landing fee: US$500 leaders

63 Experiencing nature, with impressive clarity. For longer than ever before. Visit our website: This is the moment we work for. zeiss.com/sportsoptics Amboseli African Elephant herd by Greg du Toit

/// VICTORY ZeIss. PIOneeR sInCe 1846.

VICTORY HT. The brightest premium binoculars in the world.

Experience a revolution in observation optics: the new VICTORY HT. Thanks to its innovative optical concept with SCHOTT HT-glass it achieves light transmission levels of up to 95 % and more, which means you can continue observing for longer periods. Equally impressive is the ergonomic Comfort-Focus-Concept, with its intuitive operation and quick, precise focussing, as well as the extremely robust design with new Double-Link-Bridge. Available in 8 x 42 and 10 x 42. www.zeiss.com/sportsoptics 64

ZSO_VictoryHT_Az 297x210_Sperlingskauz_GB_ROCKJUMPER.indd 1 7/16/2012 12:19:38 PM Experiencing nature, with impressive clarity. For longer than ever before. Visit our website: This is the moment we work for. zeiss.com/sportsoptics

/// VICTORY ZeIss. PIOneeR sInCe 1846.

VICTORY HT. The brightest premium binoculars in the world.

Experience a revolution in observation optics: the new VICTORY HT. Thanks to its innovative optical concept with SCHOTT HT-glass it achieves light transmission levels of up to 95 % and more, which means you can continue observing for longer periods. Equally impressive is the ergonomic Comfort-Focus-Concept, with its intuitive operation and quick, precise focussing, as well as the extremely robust design with new Double-Link-Bridge. Available in 8 x 42 and 10 x 42. www.zeiss.com/sportsoptics 65

ZSO_VictoryHT_Az 297x210_Sperlingskauz_GB_ROCKJUMPER.indd 1 7/16/2012 12:19:38 PM 2 0 1 3

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B r o c h Leopard mother and cub by Marius Coetzee u Recommended partner r

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