Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Pricing notes : Internal flights or ferry between Ambon & Buru are included in the tour price.
Tour price (Per person): USD4,295 * GBP3,474 * EUR4,120 * AUD6,829
Single Supplement: USD360 * GBP291 * EUR345 * AUD572
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Pricing notes : Internal flights or ferry between Ambon & Buru are included in the tour price.
Tour price (Per person): USD4,295 * GBP3,474 * EUR4,120 * AUD6,829
Single Supplement: USD360 * GBP291 * EUR345 * AUD572
Tour Leader: Nigel Redman
Tour Leader: Paul Varney
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change* Internal flights or ferry between Ambon & Buru are included in the tour price.
Tour price (Per person): USD4,500 * GBP3,640 * EUR4,317 * AUD7,155
Our Buru Extension explores a beautifully forested island hosting 20 currently recognised endemic species plus several very distinctive, endemic subspecies and localised regional endemics. Some of Buru’s most prized species include Buru Green Pigeon, Buru Racket-tail, Moluccan Masked Owl, Buru Boobook, Buru Dwarf Kingfisher, Buru Thrush, Buru Monarch, Buru Cuckooshrike, Buru Honeyeater and Tawny-backed Fantail among many others, and if we are very lucky, we may even find the strange, once mythical and reputedly nocturnal Black-lored Parrot! Before the tour is finally over, we will have a chance to search for some birds on Ambon, targeting the endemic Ambon White-eye and an evening excursion to Haruku Island for the amazing spectacle of Moluccan Megapodes attending their breeding area.
Endemics: Buru Green Pigeon, Buru Mountain Pigeon, Buru Racket-tail, Black-lored Parrot, Blue-fronted Lorikeet, Buru Dwarf Kingfisher, Buru Cuckooshrike, Buru Golden Bulbul, Black-eared Oriole, Buru Thrush, Black-faced Friarbird, Buru Honeyeater, Black-tipped Monarch, Streak-breasted Jungle Flycatcher, Flame-breasted Flowerpecker, Buru White-eye, Tawny-backed Fantail, Madanga Additional targets: Dusky (Forsten’s) Megapode, Hantu (Buru) Boobook, Moluccan King Parrot, Red Lory, Moluccan Masked Owl, Moluccan Cuckoo, Moluccan Scops Owl, Great-billed Parrot, South Moluccan Pitta, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Metallic Pigeon, Chestnut-backed (Buru) Bush Warbler, Island (Buru) Leaf Warbler, Wakolo (Buru) Myzomela, Cinnamon-chested Flycatcher, Moluccan Flycatcher, Pale Cicadabird, Drab Whistler, (Buru) Spangled Drongo, Mountain White-eye & Black-faced Munia
tropical lowland evergreen & semi-evergreen rainforest, montane forest, woodland, savanna, scrub, coastline
hot and humid with tropical showers in the lowlands, cooler in the mountains with showers and fog possible
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader / 14 with 2 Rockjumper leaders
MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.
Moderate, suitable for most birding / wildlife interest levels. Many early starts & late endings to the day since the tour operates during the austral summer. Several night birds to be found. Hot & humid conditions throughout, coupled with low-density birding. Most island birding sessions are optional, so one can stay on the vessel and relax instead.
Comfortable to very comfortable. The rooms on the ship are somewhat on the small side with limited storage room. Otherwise, everything on board is extremely comfortable & well organised.
Mostly moderate but varying from challenging at times to easy & rewarding. Many target species do show well. However, mostly forested habitat coupled with low density means that birding can be slow /
80 - 90
Ranges from very good to challenging, depending on habitat & situation. Some dedicated hides at bird-of-paradise display leks provide for superb photography. Mostly rewarding / worthwhile.
What a fabulous tour to such a remote part of Indonesia. As always, Glen and Keith Valentine were exceptional guides and great fun to be with. The crew of our boat, Lady Denok, were amazing whether it was in the dining room, making great coffees, getting us in and out of the dinghies or taking us snorkelling. Once we left the boat in the Tanimbars, the local agent was there to meet us and the land-based part of the tour was exceptionally well managed. The local people were very welcoming and could not do enough for us.
Expert guiding by Keith and Glen Valentine, aided by fabulous local talent, ensured we saw the maximum number of endemics and other birds and mammals. Perhaps more importantly, these two brothers enjoyed their time together and provided a warm, friendly and caring environment in which we all had a good time with lots of laughs, and looked out for each other to ensure everyone got on the birds and did not falter on a tough hike or challenging car ride.
My thanks to Keith and Glen Valentine for taking so much time in getting me on the birds. They are so patient and really nice.
This was an adventure to be sure. The places we traveled were indeed remote and with the exception of larger cities like Ambon & Sorong inhabited by few people. This was my first trip to Indonesia and was an adventure to even get to Ambon. However, the Indonesian people must be the kindest most helpful people in the world. The boat was lovely and this amazing trip had so many interworking pieces -- moving from the Indo Seamore to the shore for the next adventure, disembarking at various kinds of dock, piers, rocks, etc, meeting up with our vehicles for rides up into the hills -- everything worked like clockwork. We saw so many fabulous birds thanks to our super guides, David Hoddinott and Lev Frid. The two guides were so helpful and informative; I would gladly travel with either of them or both in the future. However, I have to say that this trip was just about at the limit of my ability. I would never have seen the birds I did without the help of David & Lev and our various local guides and drivers. I think only Rockjumper could have pulled this tour off.
"Glen Valentine is an amazing guide and really made the trip special. He is personable, patient and unflappable. He did a fantastic job of getting everyone on the birds and this was really challenging in many cases. One of the best I’ve experienced. Our local guide was also very good at leading us to key areas and finding difficult birds. Some of the trip was challenging in Sumba, but well worth the effort. Overall, this was a fascinating and rewarding trip to a little known part of the world with lots of really exciting endemic birds!
Indonesia - Buru Extension II 2024 - November 2024
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise II 2024 - November 2024
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise I 2024 - October 2024
Indonesia - Sumatra & Java 2024 - August 2024
Indonesia - Lesser Sundas Endemics 2024 - August 2024
Indonesia - Bali Birding Extension 2024 - August 2024
Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera: Wallacean Endemics 2024 - July 2024
Indonesia - Highlights of the East: Sulawesi, Moluccas & Papua 2024 - July 2024
Indonesia - Buru Extension II 2023 - November 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise II 2023 - November 2023
Indonesia - Buru Extension I 2023 - November 2023
Indonesia - West Papua: Arfak Extension 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise I 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise IV 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Buru Extension III 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Kai Islands Extension 2023 - September 2023
Indonesia - Banda Sea Cruise 2023 - August 2023
Indonesia - Allanson - Flores Endemics 2023 - August 2023
Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera: Wallacean Endemics (Small Group) 2023 - July 2023
Indonesia - Highlights of the East: Sulawesi, Moluccas & Papua II 2023 - July 2023