Namibia & Botswana Private Birding Safari

Arrive in the fascinating German colonial city of Windhoek, met and transfer to  Galton House for overnight (dinner & breakfast included). Depending on timing, there are great birding opportunities in the city environs. Discuss forthcoming safari over dinner with your guide.

Drive southwest through the Khomas Hochland and down the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert. Lots of birds are to be seen including Pale Chanting-goshawk, pygmy falcon, go-away bird, Cape penduline tit and more depending on the season. Arrive at Dead Valley Lodge for two night’s full board. Enjoy a sunset drive.

Drive to watch the sun rise over the Sossuvlei dunes in the Namib Naukluft National Park. Wander amongst some of the world’s highest dunes. Seek out the elusive endemic dune lark and many other species. Afternoon visit to the Sesreim Canyon and evening walk from the lodge.

Drive northwest through the desert to the Atlantic shore to the Ramsar site of Walvis Bay, where there are massive numbers of water birds including Hartlaub’s gulls, curlew sandpipers, pied avocets and terns, especially the local Damara tern. Two nights at Oysterbox Guesthouse on full board basis.

Drive to the delightful resort town of Swakopmund, where the cold Benguela Current supplies food for myriad seabirds, like crowned cormorants. Africa oystercatchers feed here, along with migratory species. Inland we look for Gray’s lark and Tractrac chat as well as other wildlife such as yellow mongoose.

Head northeast to the high rock outcrop, Spitzkoppe and on to the Erongo Mountains near Omaruru for two night’s full board at Erongo Wild Lodge. Afternoon excursion seeking semi-endemic birds such as the Red-billed Francolin, Verreauxʼs Eagle, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Pearl-spotted Owlet and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater to name a few.

Early morning search for the elusive Hartlaub’s francolin, which only calls at dawn. Afternoon drive looking for the Herero chat, a difficult endemic, plus others – Lanner falcon, white-backed mousebird, Bokmakierie bush shrike, Carp’s tit and many more. Lots of mammals, reptiles, insects and plants to see too.

On to the Etosha National Park, watching for wildlife and birds on the way. At Ongava Lodge, there are 125 Square miles to explore which is one of Namibia's largest private game reserve. As well as a huge array of wildlife and bird species there are also opportunities to take walking safaris and use hides ideal for photography.  

Drive through Okaukuelo to Halali Resort (full board). An ideal place to spot owls – Scop’s, pearl-spotted, white-faced and giant eagle, as well as Carp’s black tit, violet wood hoopoe and bare-cheeked babbler. The resort has waterholes, viewed from an elevated vantage point, which attract wildlife day and night.

Travel on to the Oshikoto region, stopping at Namutoni to look for blue cranes, Temminck’s courser and the grey-backed finch and clapper lark. Visit the sinkhole Lake Otjikoto, known for Birchitt and other warblers and on to Mushara Bush Camp (full board).

Head via Tsumeb to the Hakusembe River Lodge, travelling via the Hoba meteorite (the world’s largest). Enjoy riverside birding with rufous-bellied heron, long-toed and wattles lapwings, coppery-tailed coucal, mousebirds, malachites kingfishers and more. Optional river cruises available.(lunch, dinner, breakfast).

Drive east to the western part of Caprivi Strip and on to Mahango Park. Here, look for the black-breasted snake eagle yellow-fronted tinkerbird southern black tit arrow-marked babbler and Meeve’s  glossy starling. Elephants, Burchall’s zebra and many antelope, including roan and sable are seen here. Two nights at River Dance Lodge (full board).

Explore within the Kavango area and the Mahango Game Reserve on foot, by boat or on game drives. Visit the scenic Popa Falls. Many new species of birds to be seen.

Continue birding and cross the border into Botswana and board a boat to Xaro Lodge for a final two nights (full board). Woodlands around the camp are home to Meyer’s parrot, green wood hoopoe, crested barbet golden-tailed and Bennett’s woodpeckers, ashy flycatcher and more.

The wetlands are home to many reptiles and mammals, such as hippos, crocodiles and the rare sitatunga, a swamp dwelling antelope. Many more birds with the prime target being the massive Pel’s fishing owl, one of the most wanted birds in Africa!

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for light aircraft flight to Maun for onward travel. Flight to Maun is not included in the rate. Private road transfer to Maun is also available which would normally take between 6 & 7 Hours.