Jonathan Rossouw
I’m a biodiversity junkie and nothing gives me greater joy than sharing my passion for wildlife with others.
Expedition Leader Jonathan Rossouw
Jonathan Rossouw is one of the world’s most experienced expedition leaders, having spent the past 25 years guiding wildlife trips in over 150 countries on all seven continents. He combines a legendary energy and enthusiasm with a broad knowledge of natural history, gained from a lifetime spent in pursuit of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles and coral reef fishes. Indeed, having seen over 9,000 species of birds, 1,000 mammals and 2,000 coral reef fishes, he has the dubious distinction of having experienced more species of vertebrate animals than anyone in history! A medical doctor by training, Jonathan was born and raised on South Africa’s east coast. After a “short break” from medicine to cycle across South America led to an epiphany about the conservation benefits of ecotourism, he returned to South Africa and started a birding travel company, before expanding into the world of global, conservation-focused expedition travel that now dominates his life.
"When it comes to expedition travel, in particular, one needs to be led by a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, entertaining and confidence-inspiring professional. We have yet to meet anyone quite like Jonathan who so completely ticks all these boxes!!"
-Pat G., Durban
Jonathan's Expeditions
Japan in Winter (February 12 – 27, 2025) 
Explore Japan’s winter wildlife and culture. Witness avian splendor: cranes, eagles, owls. Embrace Japanese traditions and cuisine. Photography and snow monkeys await.
West Africa (April 21 – May 13, 2025)
Soak in West Africa’s dizzying blend of markets, traditional dance, and music, while traversing primate-rich rainforests, scenic deserts, and remote archipelagos.
Taiwan, Philippines & Indonesia (June 9 – 27, 2025)
Crossing both the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, weave your way through some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet for incredible wildlife and ancient cultures.
Congo & Central African Republic (July 23 – August 4, 2025)
Lowland Gorillas highlight a plethora of primates, plus pangolins, Forest Buffalo, Bongo, and the world’s greatest gathering of Forest Elephants.
Explore Ghana’s savanna national parks and rainforest reserves on a quest for the top wildlife attractions of West Africa: pangolins, primates and Picathartes.
Antarctica with the Falkland Islands and South Georgia (November 22 – December 11, 2025)
Join our experienced team of expedition leaders for the ultimate Southern Ocean expedition, at the beginning of the austral summer when colonies are most active.
Ask Jonathan a question about his upcoming expeditions?
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Biodiversity, 'tis the Spice of Life…
The term “biological diversity” was first coined in the 1960s to describe the degree of variation of life, with its contracted form “biodiversity” only coming into general parlance by the mid-1980s. Simply stated, biodiversity is the sum total of all life on Earth, or the wealth of species, ecosystems, and ecological processes that make up our living planet. It has been argued that biodiversity has a value in and of itself, and an ability to appreciate this value may be one of the traits that makes us human.
