19 Jul 2028 - 01 Aug 2028 (14 days)
USD10,550 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Christian Artuso
Tour Price (Per person): USD10,550 (GBP8,091 * AUD15,339)
Single Supplement: USD690 (GBP529 * AUD1,003)
Flight costs: USD1,760 (GBP1,350 * AUD2,559)
Pricing notes : Due to the extremely limited availability of inter-island flights, deposits must be paid 9 months prior to the departure date of the tour and are non-refundable. Single Room supplement is for Honiara only.
20 Aug 2029 - 02 Sep 2029 (14 days)
USD11,250 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz
Tour Price (Per person): USD11,250 (GBP8,628 * AUD16,357)
Single Supplement: USD760 (GBP583 * AUD1,105)
Flight costs: USD1,950 (GBP1,496 * AUD2,835)
Pricing notes : *All prices are estimated, and dates may change* Due to the extremely limited availability of inter-island flights, deposits must be paid 9 months prior to the departure date of the tour and are non-refundable. Single Room supplement is for Honiara only.
For the adventurous birder, few destinations offer the excitement, isolation and exceptional endemic birdlife of the Solomon Islands' remote forested interior. Our Santa Isabel & Makira Mega Endemics tour ventures well beyond the usual birding circuit, exploring two of the archipelago's most fascinating and biologically distinctive islands. Cloaked in extensive tropical rainforest, these rugged landscapes harbour an extraordinary collection of highly localised species, many found nowhere else on Earth. This is a dedicated expedition for serious birders and world listers, combining challenging forest exploration with opportunities to encounter some of the rarest and least-known birds in the Pacific.
Our adventure begins on Guadalcanal before heading north to Santa Isabel, where the remote highland forests surrounding Tirotonga provide access to several exceptional species. Foremost among these is the spectacular and notoriously elusive Black-faced Pitta, undoubtedly one of the most desirable birds in the Solomon Islands. Other outstanding targets include Fearful Owl, West Solomons Owl, Solomons Frogmouth, White-eyed Starling, North Solomons Dwarf Kingfisher and the exceptionally scarce Imitator Sparrowhawk. Working alongside experienced local guides, we will explore remote forest trails and search carefully for these highly sought-after species.
Black-faced Pitta; Fearful Owl; Solomons Frogmouth; West Solomons Owl; Imitator Sparrowhawk; North Solomons Dwarf Kingfisher; Red-capped Myzomela; Yellow-throated White-eye; White-eyed Starling; Makira Owl; Makira Dwarf Kingfisher; Makira Honeyeater; Makira Thrush; Makira Fantail; Makira Flycatcher; Makira Leaf Warbler; Makira White-eye; Makira Cicadabird; Makira Starling; Sooty Myzomela; Shade Bush Warbler; White-collared Monarch; White-headed Fruit Dove; Crested Cuckoo-Dove; Yellow-legged Pigeon; Silver-capped Fruit Dove; Mottled Flowerpecker; Solomons Robin; Chestnut-bellied Imperial Pigeon; Duchess Lorikeet; Yellow-bibbed Lory; Solomons Corella; Ultramarine Kingfisher; Black-headed Myzomela; Chestnut-bellied Monarch; Brown-winged Starling; White-billed Crow; Midget Flowerpecker; Finsch's Pygmy Parrot; Solomons Cuckooshrike; Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon; Solomons Brush Cuckoo.
Solomons Flying Fox; Pacific Flying Fox; Makira Flying Fox (rare).
Primary lowland and montane tropical rainforest, cloud forest, secondary woodland, forest edges, village gardens and coastal vegetation.
Hot, humid tropical conditions, generally 24–31°C at lower elevations, with frequent rainfall, potentially muddy trails and cooler conditions in the highlands.
6 with 1 Rockjumper tour leader
DIFFICULT: This is a high-intensity “mega” tour designed for passionate listers and serious birders who enjoy a fast-paced schedule. Due to its demanding nature, it’s not recommended for avid photographers, inexperienced birders, or anyone with mobility or health limitations.
Demanding to strenuous. A physically challenging tour requiring excellent fitness, stamina & mobility. Multiple lengthy hikes, remote locations & very basic facilities. Only suitable for experienced, adventurous travellers.
Comfortable hotels in Honiara. Very basic village homestays & forest lodges on Santa Isabel & Makira, with shared facilities, limited electricity & in some locations, no running water or conventional
Demanding to very demanding. Numerous elusive, highly localised forest endemics requiring considerable patience & persistence. Dense vegetation, difficult terrain & occasional nocturnal birding.
Remote Melanesian highland villages; traditional homestays and local cultural encounters; spectacular rainforest-covered mountains; pristine tropical island landscapes; community-guided forest exploration.
Challenging but potentially rewarding. Many targets inhabit dense, poorly lit rainforest & are difficult to observe/photograph.
I was very pleased with the birding. I saw all 29 endemics and a total of 42 life birds. The leaders are great at finding, luring in and identifying birds. I appreciated that the focus was very much on the birding. The food and accommodations were excellent and appropriate. I wonder if we should have spent our last night near the coast but am not sure how that would have affected our birding success.
Stu is a personable, helpful, and organized guide and was a pleasure to travel with. He was ready to help not only with finding and identifying birds, but also with little problems that popped up during our trip, as they so often do. Our local guide was likewise consistently friendly and helpful. My main concern is that on this trip, as on past Rockjumper trips, there doesn't seem to be any effort to vet the physical ability of potential group members, and as a result those of us who are prepared for the experience are held back by those who are physically not ready for it. I know that trips are rated on the website in regards to the level of exertion required, but this does not seem to help -- I have been on multiple tours with people who are not physically capable of maintaining a steady level of exertion while birding. This is not fair to those of us who are.
What a great experience! Everything was as you told us in the pre-departure literature, so we were well-prepared. Rob was an excellent tour leader. His vast experience in conservation, core knowledge of birds and bird behavior, and his enthusiasm was generously shared with the group. He modeled proper trail behavior and made sure that everyone “saw the bird”. The local guides were top-notch and took good care of the group. I also learned so much from the better birders in the group. Highly recommended!
The trip was run superbly from start to finish. The logistics, despite some difficulties imposed by weather conditions and countrywide fuel shortages, were impeccable and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Stephan did a superb job in ensuring that we all saw as many of the species as possible. He is an accomplished guide and I enjoy traveling with him.
Despite the heat and humidity, Guyana is a magical place with gorgeous rainforests and savannahs and lots of beautiful birds and the wonderful giant anteater. Lev Frid was a wonderful guide full of great enthusiasm. I especially appreciated his patience in helping everyone get a good view of the birds. He is a joy to travel with. Our local guide was also great and a lot of fun to be around and so helpful as well in identifying the different birds. Also a special shout out to Leroy, who helped us on the last full day of birding; he was great. The drivers Renford and Devon were awesome as well.
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