Sarus Bird Tours - Birding Tour

Sarus Bird Tours: Worldwide Birding Tours

SCHEDULED

Antarctica & Falklands

Kenya Uganda Tanzania

Tanzania Southern Endemics

Romania Birds & Bears

Slovakia

Slovenia

Switzerland Wallcreeper

tour leaders
All our leaders are chosen for their wide range of skills. Not only are they expert birdwatchers, but they are also used to dealing with the many bureaucratic and logistical problems which can occur on tour. They are dedicated to providing you with an enjoyable and stress-free holiday, and have a wide range of knowledge about the destinations we cover.
Nigel Moorhouse owns Sarus Travel, and has a wide range of tour experience throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He is a qualified zoologist, and an expert on Geographical Information Systems, so you shouldn't get lost! He has worked for RSPB and WWT, and has written many articles, including being the co-author of ‘A Birdwatcher’s Guide to Turkey’. He has recently spent time the Americas and East Asia, in order to broaden his expertise.
Callan Cohen was born and educated in Cape Town and has authored an innovative bird-finding guide, Essential Birding - Western South Africa. He has expanded the con- cept for the Southern African Birdfinder, a new book on birding in the southern third of Africa, and runs Birding Africa, his own bird-guiding company.
Chris Cook is a longtime member of Portland Bird Observatory in England, and also a life member of the Dorset Bird Club. He has written many articles on na- ture and wildlife for publications in England, Japan and Korea. He has been based in Hong Kong and Seoul, and is now resident in Tokyo, where he has guided trips for several companies.
Tony Disley is a bird illustrator living in Lancashire, he has illustrated field-guides for both Gambia and Seychelles as well as contributing to other guides, he is currently working on plates for a guide to Melanesia. Tony's main interests in birding are migration as well as painting and photography. He has spent time birding in Gambia, Greece, Spain, India, Seychelles, Cameroon and recently spent time birding in Nigeria.
Brian Finch is East Africa’s most knowledgeable guide. His expertise on everything from dragonflies to birds is tremendous, He has recorded nearly all East African birdsongs, which will be released on CD in the near future, and his ear for calls is tremendous. He has discovered potential new species of birds and reptiles for his native Kenya, and his enthusiasm for the region is second-to-none.
Erik Forsyth hails from Scotland but has been living in South Africa for the past thirty years. He has a wonderful gift for sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge, backed up by a three-year Nature Conservation Qualification. Erik has birded extensively throughout Africa, Western Europe and Tropical Asia. He has also worked as a birding guide at several prestigious lodges in South Africa.
David Hoddinott has extensive experience guiding birding and general ecotours throughout Africa and South America. He has worked as the resident ornithologist at birding lodges in South Africa, Botswana and Ecuador, and now works full-time for Rockjumper. He is known in birding circles for his endless energy and boundless birding en- thusiasm
Gábor Orbán began leading with several tours in his native Hungary and throughout Europe. He worked and travelled in the US after qualifying in Zoology. Returning to Hungary, he organised Natours Hungary Travel Agency, which was transformed later into Ecotours Hungary Travel Agency in 1999.
John Overfield has been birding since a very early age. Originally from Leicestershire, he now lives near to Slimbridge. He has birded through all continents, and has led tours to many destinations in Europe and Asia, and undertaken several expeditions to far-flung places such as the Polar Ural.
Adam Riley has travelled extensively in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Americas, leading trips throughout. He is now one of Africa's most experienced birders, having seen well over 1800 species on the continent and over 2000 species in the region encompassing Africa and Madagascar, and runs Rockjumper Birding Tours from the highlands of South Africa.
Cuan Rush has worked at Umgeni River Bird Park in Durban, followed by 5 years developing birding multimedia products including the Roberts' Multimedia Birds of Southern Africa. Thereafter, he was at Mutemwa Lodge on the Zambezi River in Zambia as the lodge manager and resident bird guide. Cuan is now a full-time birding and wildlife guide. His passion, knowledge and enthusi- asm for birds is evident to all participants on his tours.
Balazs Szigeti is a dedicated Birdwatcher & Co-Director of Ecotours Hungary, a fully licensed tour operator based in Budapest. He speaks perfect English, has a great sense of humour & has travelled widely in Eastern Europe, West Africa and the Americas. He is a gifted birdwatcher, able to imitate many European birdcalls... even a nightjar...no mean feat! He is also a keen wildlife-photographer.
David Shackelford is an avid naturalist as well as an accomplished photographer and bird artist. His excitement for the natural world and sharing it with others stands out on every tour and, whilst originally from Texas, he now resides in Africa as a full-time guide. David has a business degree in International Management, and an expert understanding of the birds, their vocalisations, and wildlife behaviour.
Keith Valentine hails from South Africa. At 21 years of age, Keith became the youngest person to have seen 850 birds in Southern Africa. As well as researching the birds and wildlife of Africa, he holds a Degree in Finan- cial Management, and now guides tours throughout Africa and Madagascar. Keith has a wholehearted ex- citement for wildlife and birds, and gains immense enjoyment from sharing these experiences whilst on tour.
Glen Valentine broke his brother Keith's record of becoming the youngest person to have seen 850 species of birds in the Southern African sub-region at the age of 19. He has also travelled extensively in Zambia, Mozam- bique and Malawi, increasing his already profound knowledge of Africa's birds, wildlife and culture. His exceptional birding skills and personable nature cou- pled with his extreme levels of enthusiasm will ensure a fantastic and memorable tour.
Richard White worked as a bird guide in one of South Africa's most exclusive game lodges. where he discovered his passion for birds and guiding. He then worked at Sacha Lodge in Ecuador for a year, and now is back in South Africa where his portfolio includes all of Africa and Madagascar. Although birds are his prime passion he has an active interest in plants and other wildlife .
Local Guides are of great importance, keeping an eye on local specialities. We have helped to train and equip a number of guides in East Africa, supporting local communities in conservation.

The published leaders for any tour are the first-choice leaders. Since they are chosen up to 18 months in advance of the tour date, there are occasions when the published leader may not be available due to personal circumstances. In these cases a replacement of similar experience will be chosen.

If a tour is oversubscribed, we will often run a second simultaneous tour, with an appropriate experienced leader. These tours usually follow separate itineraries, in order to avoid overcrowding at birding sites, and perhaps meeting up to swap information.