During your tour with Rockjumper you will have support at every stage of your journey, before, during and after your tour.

Before your tour the main points of contact are the Sales Team and the Support Team.

The Sales Team will help you with:

• choosing the right tour
• booking and payments

The Support Team will assist with

• flights, visa requirements and arrival & departure logistics
• general packing guide and pre-tour preparation, information or requests

Our team strives to be friendly and knowledgeable, and they are always happy to assist.

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From the time of your arrival and during your tour your Rockjumper Tour Leader(s) will:

• guide you throughout the trip
• answer questions about birds, wildlife, and the itinerary
• help with any day-to-day needs or concerns

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If anything comes up

• You can always speak directly to your tour leader first
• The office team remains available if additional support is needed

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Simple summary

“The office team supports you before and after the tour, and your expert tour leader looks after you during the trip.”

Please feel free to get hold of us at info@rockjumper.com and we will be very happy to assist. If you are already booked onto a tour with a paid deposit and booking form sent in, then please direct your questions to support@rockjumper.com. Alternatively, feel free to call our Toll-free number (USA & Canada Toll-free) 1-888-990-5552.  Should any issues arise whilst en route to the tour/s destination, please contact the emergency contact numbers provided.

Rockjumper is strongly committed to conservation, and supporting wildlife and habitats is a core part of what we do.  Since its formation, Rockjumper Birding Tours has been supporting the conservation of the birds that bring us many delightful hours of bird-watching pleasure. To co-ordinate and effectively implement our conservation efforts, we launched the Rockjumper Bird Conservation Fund (RBCF) in 2008. A minimum of US$50 from each Rockjumper tour sign-up goes directly into the RBCF. Organizations that we have actively supported over the years include the African Bird Club, BirdLife International, Oriental Bird Club, Tucson Audubon Society, Massachusetts Audubon Society, BirdLife South Africa, Birds of Korea, American Birding Association, Ornithological Society of the Middle East, Born Free USA, World Migratory Bird Day and the Neotropical Bird Club.

Within South Africa, we have also donated to the SOS Mtunzini Conservancy, the Middelpunt Wetland Trust, Fynbos Endemic Birds Survey and KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation, and been involved in the training of local guides. Other projects that we have also sponsored include work on the highly threatened White-throated (Hodgson’s) Bush Chat in Mongolia, the monitoring of a Northern Brown Kiwi at Wainui in the Bay of Plenty, and the protection of the severely threatened Indian Bustard. Rockjumper is also the BirdLife Species Champion for the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail and Adam Riley, Rockjumper’s founder, has recently won an Owl award for his conservation efforts from BirdLife SA.

Our approach to conservation

We focus on:

• protecting bird species and their habitats
• supporting local conservation initiatives
• promoting responsible, ethical birding practices

Conservation isn’t separate from our tours; it’s built into how we operate.

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Organisations and initiatives we support

While partnerships can evolve over time, Rockjumper has supported and worked with:

• BirdLife International and its partners
• ZEISS
• African Bird Club
• Oriental Bird Club
• Mecklenburg County Audubon
• Rotary IFBR
• American Birding Association
• The Wildlife Society
• Western Field Ornithologists
• New Jersey Audubon
• Birds Georgia
• Five Valleys Audubon
• Delaware Nature Society
• Houston Audubon
• Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife, and for the forest restoration work at Ferncliff in PMB
• various local conservation NGOs and reserve projects
• community-based conservation efforts in the regions we visit

Another key conservation initiative has been the Kruger Birding & Wildlife Challenge

As part of our ongoing commitment to species conservation, we launched the Kruger Birding & Wildlife Challenge in support of BirdLife South Africa’s efforts to protect the White-winged Flufftail. Since its inception, the challenge has been successfully run three times (2019, 2022, and 2026), growing into a unique and impactful conservation initiative and raising meaningful funds, which have been fully invested into conservation.

This exciting and rewarding event has offered participants the opportunity to explore the world-famous Kruger National Park in north-eastern South Africa, from its remote northern reaches to its vast southern landscapes. Along the way, teams have enjoyed exceptional birding and wildlife viewing while contributing meaningfully to conservation.

Importantly, the challenge is more than just an unforgettable safari experience, it has played a direct role in helping to prevent the extinction of one of Africa’s, and indeed the world’s most endangered and little-known birds, the White-winged Flufftail. All proceeds raised have gone directly to BirdLife South Africa to support critical research and conservation actions for the species.

Rockjumper Birding Tours has furthermore volunteered its resources and expertise to organize and coordinate these events and is the BirdLife Species Champion for the White-winged Flufftail.

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How your tour contributes

By travelling with Rockjumper, you’re helping to:

• support protected areas and reserves (through park fees and permits)
• create economic value for conservation
• encourage sustainable tourism in important birding regions

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Responsible birding practices include:

• careful, limited use of playback
• no disturbance to nesting birds
• respect for wildlife and local communities

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The bigger picture

To ensure that the birds and habitats we enjoy today are still there for future generations

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Simple summary

“We support conservation through partnerships, responsible tourism, and by directly contributing to the protection of key birding areas worldwide.”

Rockjumper offers a referral discount, which is a nice benefit for returning clients.

How it works

• If you have travelled with Rockjumper before and refer a new client who signs up for a tour, you receive a US$400 discount voucher.

Key points are as follows:

• The person you refer must be a first-time Rockjumper traveller.
• They must book a scheduled tour of at least 14 days.
• The voucher:
  • Is non-transferable and non-refundable
  • Can only be used on a future tour (not as a deposit)
  • Cannot be combined with other discounts
• You can earn multiple vouchers if you refer more than one person, but only one can be used per tour.
• Please notify the Rockjumper office within 1 month of your referral booking, so that we can issue your voucher correctly.

Rockjumper tours attract a wide range of birders, which is one of the things that makes our trips enjoyable and well-rounded.

Experienced birders

Many of our clients are:

• keen listers or very experienced birders
• travelling to see specific species or endemics
• knowledgeable and passionate about birds

These guests often sign up for tours that visit more remote parts of the world or tours that are heavily focused on endemics or difficult to find species. Typically, we see more experienced birders on our mega birding tours. These typically include tours that are more physically demanding or that explore seldom visited destinations such as Cameroon, Angola, Algeria, The Philippines, West Papua, and parts of the Amazon.

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Intermediate birders

A large proportion of our guests are:

• comfortable with birding but not “hard core”
• looking to improve their skills and knowledge
• keen to explore new regions with expert guidance

Overall, this is probably the most common group of birders who travel with us

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Enthusiastic beginners

We also welcome:

• newer birders with a strong interest in wildlife
• people transitioning from general nature travel into birding

Our guides are very supportive and our Relaxed style tours are perfectly suited to beginner birders or even intermediate or experienced birders who want to explore a country or region at a more relaxed pace.

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Mixed-interest travellers

On certain tours (especially Birds & More or Relaxed Tours) some guests may be:

• general wildlife enthusiasts
• interested in other aspects of the tour being offered including historical sites, wine or culture
• travelling with a non-birding partner

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Photographers

We are happy to accommodate birders carrying cameras:

• who are still keen on looking at birds but who would also like to take as many images of as many species as possible

Our dedicated range of Bird Photo Tours has been specially designed with the bird photographer in mind. We still look for the specials and endemics but also spend time trying to get photos of as many species as we can

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What they all have in common

Regardless of experience level, most Rockjumper clients:

• are enthusiastic about nature
• enjoy small group travel
• are considerate and cooperative (important for group birding)
• value a well-organised, high-quality experience

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Group dynamics

Our Tour Leaders put effort into maintaining a positive atmosphere so that everyone can enjoy the experience. Key points are:

• shared etiquette
• respect for others
• ensuring a friendly, inclusive environment

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Simple summary

“From keen listers to enthusiastic beginners we are all united by a passion for birds and nature.”

This is one of the most important distinctions when choosing the right Rockjumper tour

In simple terms:

Both Highlights and Classic tours fall under our “Classic Tours” umbrella, but they are designed for slightly different styles of travel and birding.

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Classic Tours (the original, standard experience) can be thought of as the full, in-depth birding experience.

What to expect:

• Comprehensive itineraries where we aim to cover the region thoroughly
• Longer duration (often 12 to 20+ days)
• More species targeted, including endemics, tougher or localized birds
• More time in the field (some early starts when necessary, night birding, often full days in the field)
• Can include some remote areas and occasionally basic accommodation if required to access the birding areas

These tours are ideal if you:

• Want to maximize your species list
• Are a keen or experienced birder
• Don’t mind a moderate to sometimes adventurous pace

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Highlights Tours (usually shorter & focused on the very best birding sites)

What to expect:

• Shorter trips (often 7 to 12 days)
• Focus on key sites and the most iconic species
• Less travel time and fewer remote areas
• Typically more logistically simple
• A slightly more relaxed pace

These are ideal if you:

• Have limited time
• Value efficiency
• Want a great introduction to a region without committing to a long tour

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The key difference

• Classic Tour is deeper, longer, more comprehensive
• Highlights Tour is shorter, easier, focused on the “best of”

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How to choose

If you’re unsure, a simple way to decide:

• “I want as many birds as possible” → Classic
• “I want a great experience without it being too long or intense” → Highlights

Ultimately it comes down to what the primary focus of the tour is. On our birding tours we focus on birds and birding. While some tours are mixed interest and take in some wildlife highlights or a historical site or two the primary focus is always on birding and maximizing opportunities to see birds.

Tours operated through Rockjumper Wildlife are focused on mammals primarily and maximize our time with the iconic species in the areas being visited. These are more general natural history style tours centered around key mammals or wildlife experiences. Birding is not a priority on these tours but given the natural areas being visited we will look at the odd iconic bird, or an interesting frog, insect or reptile.

Tours through Out of Bounds focus on key cultural and historical highlights in the countries visited. We typically don’t spend time looking for birds on these trips.

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Birding Tours (Classic/Comprehensive & Mega)

Main focus: birds and species lists

• Early starts and a focused pace
• Time spent finding key and often difficult species
• Less emphasis on photography conditions or non-bird activities

Worth noting: These tours are typically best suited to keen birders and listers. Mega tours are typically faster paced with more one-night stops.

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Bird Photography Tours

Main focus: getting photos of as many species of birds as possible

• Slightly slower paced than our classic/comprehensive tours
• Smaller groups where possible
• Focus is still on quality birds and finding specials and endemics. We just spend more time at good sightings

Overall you will likely see fewer species, but you will enjoy much better opportunities to photograph the species seen.

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Wildlife Tours

Main focus: Seeing a wide range of animals

• Birds are occasionally included, but not the priority
• More emphasis on:
  • mammals (often iconic species)
  • broader wildlife experiences

Our wildlife tours are best for general wildlife enthusiasts

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Birds & More (Travel & Cultural Tours)

Main focus: A balanced travel experience with birds still at the core

• The birding on these itineraries is combined with:
  • culture
  • scenery
  • food, wine, history, etc.
• More relaxed pace and varied activities which are ideal for:
  • mixed-interest travellers
  • couples where one partner is not a dedicated birder

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Relaxed Birding Tours

Main focus: Enjoying birds at a comfortable pace.

• Less intense schedules with no difficult hiking
• Later starts, shorter days
• Still good birding, but without the pressure

Our relaxed birding tours are best for birders wanting a less intense birding experience. Think of these tours as birding holidays.

This is something we monitor very carefully as your safety and that of our tour leaders is always the top priority.

If a destination becomes unstable or unsafe (e.g. political unrest, natural disasters, health risks), Rockjumper will:

• Assess the situation continuously using trusted sources
• Act conservatively and responsibly

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Possible outcomes

1.Adjust the itinerary

• We may reroute parts of the tour
• Substitute safer areas or alternative sites

This is often the preferred solution if good birding alternatives exist

2.Postpone or cancel the tour

• The tour may be cancelled or postponed if safety cannot be assured
• This decision is made with your wellbeing in mind

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What happens then?

• You would typically be offered:
  • a transfer to a different tour,
  • a transfer to a future dated tour to the same destination, or
  • a refund (depending on circumstances and timing)

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Why insurance matters

This is another reason why travel insurance is essential as it may cover:

• cancellations
• flight changes
• additional costs

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Reassurance

• We do not take unnecessary risks
• We have extensive experience operating globally and adapting when needed
• You will be kept informed clearly and promptly

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Simple summary

“If a destination becomes unsafe, we adjust, postpone, or cancel the tour, always prioritising your safety.”