Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism Board are hosting a Birds and Mammals Tour for members of the Rockjumper Birding Tours, a South African-based tour operator specializing in birding and wildlife trips, from 13 until 27 May at various birding sites in Malaysia.

The team comprises Mr. Adam Riley, the Managing Director of Rockjumper Birding Tours & Indri Ultimate Mammal Adventures; Mr. Matthew Drew, the Marketing Director of Rockjumper Birding Tours & Indri Ultimate Mammal Voyages; Mr. Mario Haberfeld, the Brazil-based Marketing Manager & Director of Indri Ultimate Mammal Voyages; Mr. Simon Bellingham, the Director & Guide of Indri Ultimate Mammals Voyages; Mr. David Hoddinott, Mr. Markus Lilje and Mr. Glen Valentine, the Rockjumper Birding Tours Guides; and Mr. Luis Segura, the Director & Guide of Suricato Safaris.

The team will attend a dinner hosted by Tourism Malaysia on 13 May before embarking on a 14-day birds and mammals tour around Malaysia. During the trip, they will have the opportunity to explore a number of well-known birding sites both in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah comprising Ulu Gombak, Genting Highlands, Taman Negara Kuala Pahang, Fraser’s Hill, Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre, Kinabatangan Flood Plain and Wildlife Sanctuary in Sukau, Tabin Wildlife Resort in Lahad Datu and Kinabalu Park.

According to Mr. Riley, Rockjumper Birding Tours and its sister company, Indri Ultimate Mammals Voyages, arrange numerous birding and wildlife tours for individuals, groups and families to various parts of the world such as Australia, China, Malaysia, Brazil and Kenya.

“Over the last several years, we have established vast networks with many specialised tour operators in USA, Britain and South Africa focusing on birding, wildlife and heritage tours. We are grateful to Tourism Malaysia for organising this familiarisation programme. It gives us the opportunity to bring along our affiliated agents and give them a first-hand experience of Malaysia’s great wilderness,” he said.

Riley also says that the agents are fulltime international tour leaders and have access to several international birding and wildlife magazines and various tour operators selling this type of tours. “Their responsibility also includes writing trip reports which are sent to potential clients and also advertised on the internet,” he added.

As joint host, Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism Board view this familiarisation trip as a great opportunity to promote Malaysia’s great wilderness among foreign nature enthusiasts. The Rockjumper Birding Tours members are given first-hand experience of Malaysia’s wonderful rainforests, mountains, hills and rivers; and Malaysia stands to gain from the international media exposure they offer.

For more information, please call Kamal Azam Kamaruddin, Senior Tourism Officer, Industry Development Division, Tourism Malaysia, Tel: 03-2615 8758 / 03-2615 8188; Fax: 03-4042 5135 or Email: kamalazam@tourism.gov.my

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Rockjumper Birding Tours is a world leader in birding and wildlife tours. Launched in 1998, the company has pioneered and guided tours to countries as remote as Sierra Leone and Angola and has invaluable guiding experience in over 50 countries throughout the world. Rockjumper currently arranges and guides more than 100 tours annually across the four continents.

For more information on Rockjumper Birding Tours, please contact:
P O Box 13972
Cascades 3202
South Africa
Telephone: +27 33 394 0225
Alternative Telephone: +27 33 394 0251
Fax: +27 88 033 394 0225
Email: info@rockjumper.co.za
Alternative e-mail: rockjumperbirding@yahoo.com
Website: http://rockjumper.co.za

Issued by:  
Communications & Publicity Division, Tourism Malaysia
Date: 13 May 2010
Siti Rahmah Lehan: Tel: 03-2615 8188;
Email: sitirahmah@tourism.gov.my