Namibia, Okavango Delta & VictoriaFalls Birding Safari
(21 days – or 14 days and other lengths)
Let us schedule this tour for you, whether you are two people or a group of 10 ...This is a marvelous 3-week birding adventure in which we sample three different southern African countries with spectacular scenery and diverse habitats and birdlife. It is a more relaxed version of our frenzied 2-week tour, and also includes a couple of extra sites. If time or money is limited, we recommend doing the 2-week trip instead, or a compromise between the 2- and 3-week trips (say 2 ½ weeks). We start our 3-week adventure in the coastal Namib Desert with its impressive dune fields, inhabited by desirable localized endemics, and lagoons filled with flamingos, pelicans, shorebirds and some really localized species such as Damara Tern and Chestnut-banded Plover. We then ascend the spectacular Namib Escarpment, which is inhabited by a whole suite of exciting birds occurring ONLY in Namibia and southern Angola. Eventually, we leave the endemic-rich desert and drive northwards to the splendid Hobatere woodlands where the stunning Bare-cheeked Babbler, Hartlaub’s Francolin, Violet Wood-hoopoe and other specials of the dry riverbeds and rocky outcrops lurk. An exciting foray to the wild and remote Kunene River on the Angolan border should yield the super-localized Cinderella Waxbill and several other hot specials. Eventually, after another night at Hobatere, we enter the grassland, savannah and woodland of one of Africa’s greatest game parks, Etosha National Park! Here, we can find spectacular Kalahari birds such as Crimson-breasted Shrike, Kori Bustard, Pygmy Falcon and a host of others, while seeing Africa’s big and small mammals. After Etosha, we head into an incredibly bird-diverse tropical corner of Africa, the Caprivi Strip and adjacent panhandle of the Okavango Delta (which falls just within the borders of Botswana). The magnificent wetlands and woodlands in these parts support Pel’s Fishing Owl, Slaty Egret, Carmine Bee-eater and literally hundreds of other species, quite a number of them spectacular. Finally, we bird around the Victoria Falls of Zambia for yet another rich assemblage of birds, including Racket-tailed Roller, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Schalow’s Turaco and chances of some rare species such as Taita Falcon.During this 3-week adventure, we plan to find the bulk of the Namibia/southern Angola and Kalahari endemics, as well as most of the extremely rich diversity of species inhabiting the tropical Caprivi/Okavango/Victoria Falls region (which has a greater overall species diversity but fewer endemics). Many big mammals and some amazing scenery will be encountered incidentally to our focus on birding. For birders who are not on a tight budget, it may be worth adding a few days in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which, although expensive, is one of the world’s greatest wildlife havens. This would be a stunningly rewarding nature experience, although ALL the Okavango birds can be seen in the Caprivi plus the Okavango Panhandle (which we do anyway).
Please Inquire about Pricing
Prices will vary depending on the length of the tour, number of participants, the exact itinerary, and whether or not you choose to substitute camping where available in place of lodges and inns. All prices include transport while in southern Africa, cross border fees, national park entrance fees, guiding fees, local guides, accommodation and meals. The prices exclude the international flight to Walvis Bay/Livingstone/Windhoek, medical and travel insurance, drinks, tips, gifts and other items of a personal nature. We are able to arrange good deals on local flights from Johannesburg or Windhoek to Walvis Bay and from Livingstone back to Johannesburg/Windhoek.