Namibia Birding Special – Self-Drive 15 Days

Welcome to Namibia, an enchanting country where the landscapes and cultures are as diverse as the wildlife that abounds here. Having arrived independently to Hosea Kutako airport in Windhoek, the charming capital of Namibia, you will be met at arrivals for your luxury private transfer to the Rivendell Guesthouse for your overnight stay.

After settling in to your welcoming en-suite bedroom you may have time to explore your surroundings and take in dinner in one of the nearby restaurants, before enjoying a great night’s sleep in preparation for the adventures that lie ahead.

1-night accommodation in an en-suite room at Rivendell Guesthouse. Breakfast Included.

Car hire: Your Ford Ranger 4x4 (or similar) will be delivered to you today at the hotel. Your 14-day rental will include Classic Plus Super Cover Insurance, and the car will be equipped with air-conditioning, Bluetooth, USB and power steering. Please ensure all drivers have a valid unendorsed driver's license and passport with them to take delivery of the car.

After a great night’s sleep and a tasty breakfast, this morning your self-drive Namibian adventure will truly begin as you make an approximately 5-hour drive from Windhoek to the beautiful Desert Homestead Lodge located close to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. (Driving directions for all routes on the itinerary will be provided.) This welcoming lodge is perfectly located for exploring around the incredible National Park and the renowned red dunes of Sossusvlei. Depending on your arrival time you could choose to partake in some of the lodge’s numerous activity options which include horse safaris through the Namib desert, sun downer drives, guided walks and excursions to Sossusvlei and the Naukluft Mountains. Alternatively, you could simply relax after your long drive, indulging in the exceptional hospitality, enjoying a dip in the swimming pool and soaking up the soothing views over the plains to the dunes and mountains.

The nearby Namib-Naukluft Park is one of the least populated areas in all of Namibia, and we recommend taking day 3 as your opportunity to discover this vast wilderness in all its glory. If you are self-driving into this magical area, you could choose to wake early and drive to the Sesriem gate and onwards towards Sossusvlei, around 70km from the Park entrance. Sossusvlei, with its monumental dunes, up to 325m when measured from their base, is one of the most famous destinations in all of Namibia. The entrance opens at sunrise and this is the best time of day to see the dunes. National Park entry fees of N$250 per person are applicable (children under 16 are charged N$100) and N$50 per vehicle per day. The last section of the road into Sossusvlei is 4x4 area only and you can either leave your vehicle at the car park and proceed either on foot (a beautiful walk), or take the shuttle which usually runs between here and Sossusvlei which is 5km away.

Over 60 bird species have been recorded in the area. Some of the notable birds include Rueppell's Bustard, Monteiro's Hornbill, Dune Lark, Black-eared Sparrow-Lark, Kopje Warbler, and Karoo Thrush.

2 nights’ accommodation at Desert Homestead Lodge in a standard room with breakfasts and dinners included.

This morning you will leave Sesriem behind and take a 5-hour drive to the beautiful coastal area of Walvis Bay, close to Swakopmund on Namibia’s western coastline. Walvis Bay is home to a famous RAMSAR Heritage Site lagoon and is a wetland of international importance, home to many bird species including the greater and lesser flamingo. The delightful Oyster Box Guesthouse, your accommodation for the next 2 nights, is located right on the lagoon so is the perfect spot from which to enjoy some relaxing aquatic birdwatching. The most notable bird in Walvis is the Dune Lark which is endemic to Namibia. Other larks to be found in the desert include Gray's Lark and Stark's Lark. Numerous pelagic birds can be seen from boat cruises , including a number of sub-Antarctic species. The parks and gardens can also be a good place to spot birds, with species such as Orange River White-eye often present.

Upon arrival here the rest of the day will be at your leisure and you can choose to simply relax on the open deck soaking up the sun and the views, enjoy dinner in one of the 3 nearby restaurants or take the 5 minute drive into town. Should you wish to venture further afield, the fascinating German-inspired town on Swakopmund is less than an hour’s drive away. At the end of the day you can indulge in a customary "sundowner" in the sheltered lounge and bar before retiring to your comfortable air-conditioned en-suite bedroom.

On the morning of day 5 you can enjoy your included full-day Dune Lark / Kuiseb Dunes and Walvis Lagoon Birding & Eco Tour. Accompanied by professional and knowledgeable birding guides this will offer you a first-class interpretive tour of the natural wonders of Namibia, with a focus on the varied species of birds found in this area. You will be collected from the guesthouse at 8am this morning to be transported to the unique lands of the Kuiseb Delta to search for sightings of the only true endemic of the country, the arid adapted Dune Lark. Out of the 16 near endemic birds of Namibia the Dune Lark is the only true endemic, and this little lark is one of the most arid-adapted birds in the world. In the Kuiseb you can find it running rapidly over the bare sand between patches of vegetation and dune grass. It scurries between the dunes searching for seeds and small insects on which it feeds.

On this full day excursion we will spend a short time at the sewerage works near Walvis Bay where large numbers of Common Moorhen, Hottentot Teal, Red-knobbed Coot and other wetland species may be found, before travelling to the Salt Pans near Swakopmund to look for any specials that may be around at the time. We will then travail through the surrounding desert plains to search for Gray’s Lark, Rufous-eared Warbler and Tractrac Chat. If time allows we can spend some time around the vegetated Swakop river and may encounter Orange River White-eye, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Red-faced and White-backed Mousebird, Rufous vented Tit Babbler, Rock Kestrel, Dusky Sunbird, Bokmakierie, Fiscal Shrike, Common Waxbill, Cape Sparrow, Black-Chested Prinia and with luck Peregrine Falcon. The Key species for this trip are the Dune Lark, Gray’s Lark, Orange River White-eye, and the Tractrac Chat. Drinks and a light picnic lunch will be provided during the day and you will be transferred back to the guesthouse around 4pm.

2 nights’ accommodation at Oyster Box Guesthouse in a standard room with breakfast and full-day birding tour included.

This morning you will take an approximately 3.5 hour drive to Erongo Wilderness Lodge, set in the foothills of the Erongo Mountains on the edge of the enormous Erongo Crater. This small lodge blends beautifully into the surrounding boulder-strewn landscape and is another excellent spot for birding enthusiasts. Upon arrival you can choose to partake in some of the lodge’s optional excursions including guided walks (free of charge) and guided nature drives into the 200,000 ha conservation area (fees apply). Birding is one of the main attractions here, with 48 different species having been sighted in the immediate vicinity, including Black Eagle, Rosy Faced Lovebird & Ruppell’s Parrot. Raptor present in the surrounding mountains include Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Booted Eagle, and Verreaux's Eagle. An early morning drive is likely to produce Hartlaub's Francolin and Rockrunner. This is one of the best places to see the francolin, which can be very difficult to see and is generally found only early in the morning, so tomorrow may be the best time for a drive if you would like to seek out sightings of these. Other interesting birds include Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, White-tailed Shrike, Herero Chat, Pale-winged Starling, and Dusky Sunbird.

In the evening you can enjoy a delicious dinner either under the stars overlooking the floodlit waterhole or in the beautiful thatched dining area complete with magnificent views, well stocked bar and good wine cellar, before enjoying a good night’s rest in your luxurious tented chalet.

1 night’s accommodation at Erongo Wilderness Lodge in a luxury tent. Breakfast, dinner and guided walks included.

This morning you will make your way to Palmwag, an approximate 5.5-hour drive, for the next two nights of adventure. Access to the Etendeka Mountain Camp is by special 4x4 vehicle and you will be required to meet your guide at 4pm at Palmwag Lodge, so please plan your drive accordingly (full directions and instructions will be provided). You will be able to safely leave your car parked at the Palmwag Lodge for the duration of your stay and your guide will take you on the 90-minute scenic drive through the beautiful & rugged terrain of the Etendeka Mountains to your camp.

Etendeka Mountain Camp offers a unique, pristine wilderness experience which will appeal to photographers, naturalists, astronomers and geologists alike, as well as lovers of peace, quiet and open space. The Etendeka Tourist Concession comprises an area of 50,000ha in the foothills of the Grootberg on the edge of the rocky Namib Desert, and being part of the old Damaraland where wildlife is free to roam uninhibited you may be able to expect sightings of Hartmann's mountain zebra, black rhino, giraffe, springbok, oryx and maybe even desert-adapted elephants during your time here. Many of Namibia's endemic birds occur here, such as Herero Chat, Monteiro's Hornbill, Rüppell's Korhaan and Rockrunner. Your stay here will be on a fully-inclusive basis and a wide variety of fantastic guided walks will bring you into the heart of this beautiful nature.

2 nights’ accommodation at Etendeka Mountain Camp in a tent on a fully inclusive basis with two course dinners, continental breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas, a full bar, return transfers to the camp, guided nature walks and scenic drives.

Today will bring another approximately 5.5 hour drive as you make your way from Palmwag to the birding hotspot of the Kunene River area. Your accommodation for the next two nights, the Kunene River Lodge, is idyllically situated along the banks of the river nestled beneath a beautiful canopy of indigenous trees. Offering the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure, the lodge provides a number of optional activities including white water rafting, canoeing, 4x4 drives and birding cruises. This afternoon and evening can be enjoyed at your leisure, and should you wish to simply relax then this is the ideal place to do it, with unrivalled hospitality and tranquil surroundings.

On day 11 you can enjoy your included Cinderella Waxbill Birding Excursion. The species count at this birding hotspot is fast approaching 300, including a remarkable number of endemic sightings, most notably the Angolan Cave Chat. Of considerable interest, and principal among the endemics, are the Cinderella Waxbill and Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, and this 2-hour guided walk will offer you the chance to sight these rarely seen birds within close proximity to the lodge. There are very high chances of sighting the Cinderella Waxbills on this walk, but of course this cannot be guaranteed. An additional guided trip to sight the Angolan Cave Chat can be arranged upon request.

2 nights’ accommodation at the Kunene River Lodge in an A-Frame bungalow with dinners and breakfast included.

Today will bring you to Hobatere Lodge, 65km north of Kamanjab on the western border of the Etosha National Park. The drive to here should take approximately 4.5 hours and upon arrival you will be offered a number of optional activities including morning and night time game drives and guided nature walks. Situated in a concession area of 8,808 ha, the lodge is home to a wide variety of wildlife including Hartmann's zebra, giraffe, elephant and eland. Should you wish to simply relax after the exertions of your previous days then the personalised service, excellent food, swimming pool and inviting chalets will be simply perfect.

1 night’s accommodation at the Hobatere Lodge with dinner and breakfast included.

This morning you will begin your drive to the Okaukuejo side of the incredible Etosha National Park and what may well be the highlight of your whole trip. Your accommodation for the next 2 nights will be at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp, the first ever camp to open in Etosha. We recommend travelling to camp through Etosha, allowing you to enjoy your first experience of this remarkable park. The rest camp itself is a haven for wildlife, and its waterhole is often voted as the best of all the camps in Etosha. Chilling out in camp with some drinks, binoculars in hand, you are likely to see everything from lions and black rhinos to elephants and jackals. For birding, the camp is home to a good colony of Social Weaver. The attendant Pygmy Falcon are also found as well as various seedeaters, finches, and other birds.

We recommend taking some time to relax today before venturing into the park tomorrow for a full-day exploration.

2 nights’ accommodation at Okaukuejo Rest Camp in a Waterhole Chalet with breakfast included.

Today is free to spend at your leisure, and the recommended plan for today will likely be to venture into the stunning Etosha National Park, Namibia's premier game viewing destination. Okaukuejo Rest Camp is located right at the western end of the pan, meaning you could not be better placed for exploring this fantastic park that is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species and 16 amphibian species.

Advice will be provided on which routes to take, safe driving practices and the best places to spot some of the park’s most enchanting wildlife. To enter Etosha you will need to pay park entry fees of N$250 per person per day and N$50 per vehicle (children under 16 are charged N$100), and the park is open from sunrise to sunset.

The birding list for Etosha is extensive, but some of the specialty birds are Black-faced Babbler, Violet Woodhoopoe, Carp's Tit, and Bare-cheeked Babbler, Monteiro's Hornbill , Rueppell's Parrot, Hartlaub's Francolin, White-tailed Shrike and Rockrunner. We can provide full information on the best areas for birdwatching, including Fisher’s Pan where flamingos and other water birds can be seen, Springtontein where the open flats feature Double-banded Courser and Temminck's Courser, and Andoni Plains which is very good for Blue Crane, Burchell's Sandgrouse, several larks, and other grassland birds.

Driving through this magnificent park on a constant lookout for wildlife, surrounded by enchanting scenery at every turn…without doubt this will be a day that will live long in the memory!

Leaving the wonders of Etosha behind, there is time for one last adventure as you drive through the park, out of the Anderson Gate and take the approximately 3.5 hour drive to the magnificent Waterberg Plateau Lodge. Perched part way up the awe-inspiring Waterberg plateau and boasting amazing views across the plains, the lodge is surrounded by the national nature conservancy of Waterberg National Park which is home to a number of threatened species such as buffalo, rhino, leopard, vulture and other antelope. It is also a haven for over 200 species of birds. A must-see target bird is Rueppell's Parrot, and a small population of Violet Wood-hoopoe is also present, mainly around permanent water. Rosy-faced Lovebirds are common around the cliffs. A number of other notable birds include; Orange River Francolin, Hartlaub's Francolin, Blue Crane, Bradfield's Swift, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Carp's Tit, Rockrunner, and Rufous-winged Cisticola.

Enjoy a day of exploring around your incredible wildlife-rich surroundings before availing of a tasty dinner and a well-deserved rest.

1 night accommodation at Waterberg Plateau Lodge in a Rock Chalet with breakfast and dinner included.

On the morning of day 15 it will be sadly time to say goodbye to Namibia as you make your way back to Windhoek International Airport to drop off your hire car and connect with your onward or homeward flights, filled with memories of your unforgettable Namibian adventure.