About Rockjumper

Our Guides are all passionate birders and accomplished tour co-ordinators who just love sharing their birding experiences with others. Amongst our team are the region’s top birders. Despite our relative youth, we have all had many years of field experience and between us we have a wide range of cultural, mammal, reptile, amphibian and botanical expertise. Our team of 12 full-time Rockjumper guides is complemented by the world’s top local birders who co-lead some of our tours. Wherever possible, we also make use of community guides.

Our Office in Pietermaritzburg has expanded in synchrony with the rapid growth of Rockjumper, so that we can keep abreast with the complex arrangements that efficient and organized travelling requires. Alison Wakelin professionally handles her responsible position as our pre-tours support manager; Crystal Brook handles our tour planning and bookings and Coral Gold dilligently manages our finances. Adam Riley and Cuan Rush are now spending less time in the field and dedicating their energy to overseeing the operations of the company. Matthew Drew recently joined the team and will be assisting with various business management functions such as marketing and strategic planning.

Our Tour Costs are very reasonable and we offer excellent value without cutting corners. Being based in South Africa, rather than the USA or Europe, means that our operating costs are significantly reduced. Our policy is not to earn huge mark-ups on any particular departure but rather to build a dedicated client following who return on our tours on a regular basis. All prices are quoted in US$, pp refers to “per person” and ss to “single supplement.”

Our Guide to Client Ratio is probably the lowest in the birding industry and most of our tours have a maximum of 6 to 8 participants, giving our clients a very personalized tour experience. For some destinations, larger groups are essential, and on these tours we provide two leaders with an absolute maximum of 12 or 14 participants.

Our Standard Tours are generally designed for the keen birder.
However, our pace varies according to the destination. For example, our Egypt & Petra - Birding & Antiquities Tour is a relaxed pace adventure with as much time dedicated to the fascinating remains of past civilizations, as to the migrant and resident birds of the region. This tour can easily be enjoyed by a non-birding spouse. At the other end of the scale are trips to Sierra Leone where the birding can be hard-core and the pace brisker. In between these two examples, fall the balance of our standard tours, that are designed to maximize the birding experience without feeling rushed. We also include the outstanding highlights of the region, be they scenic, historical, cultural or big and furry! We use the most appropriate and superior accommodation available, but usually don’t go above a 4-star rating to avoid extravagant costs. The information blocks after each tour description are designed to assist you in deciding whether the tour fulfills your requirements. We have also introduced a range of Mega-Birding tours; longer departures aimed at the avid birder who seeks a chance of finding every special bird in the country without having to return to ‘mop up’ the more difficult or out-of-the-way specials that ordinary tours do not include.

Our Custom Tours for private groups make up more than half the tours that we operate. Our office can plan any sort of tour, be it chasing a few tough species for hardcore birders, a relaxed family vacation or a big-game safari, almost anywhere in the world. We are very flexible, and versatile and will do our utmost to realize your dream vacation according to your specific requirements. Our private departures are also excellent value for money and can be arranged for single individuals through to large groups.

Our Conservation Initiative includes activities undertaken by the Rockjumper Birding Conservation Fund. A portion of the fees from each tour sign-up is used solely to conserve the birds that bring so much fulfillment and joy into our lives.

Our Loyalty Programme includes a 10% discount on every 5th full tour booked with Rockjumper. We also give a $300 discount to anyone who signs up for two back-to-back, full Rockjumper tours. This is designed to assist clients who wish to travel for longer periods and make the most of arduous flights to distant parts of the world.

BACK to BACK TOURS FOR 2010 include:

Cape to Windhoek — Best of the West: 17 Sep - 1 Oct (15 days)
Namibia Botswana & Zambia Overland II: 26 Sep — 13 Oct (18 days)

Rwanda Birds & Gorillas I: 22 — 29 Jun (8 days)
Uganda Birds & Gorillas I: 30 Jun — 17 Jul (18 days)

The Taxonomy and Nomenclature