Full Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival in Walvis Bay, Dune Lark, and Walvis Bay Lagoon
Your international flight arrives in Walvis Bay. After collecting the luggage and fetching a rental vehicle, we will head straight for our Dune Lark site near the intriguing Namib village of Rooibank. Here it is usually easy to find Namibia’s only true endemic in a picturesque setting. After finding this species, if time permits, we may begin exploring the huge Walvis Bay Lagoon. This lagoon happens to be one of Africa’s most important shorebird stopovers (it is a Ramsar site), where we will see incredible numbers of Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Great White Pelican, and some extremely localized species such as the diminutive Damara Tern and Chestnut-banded Plover. Overnight: Lagoon Loge, Walvis Bay.

Day 2. Birding around Walvis Bay
We can join an optional dolphin, seal, whale, and seabird boat trip on the Walvis Bay Lagoon (at additional cost), or we can continue birding from the shore. Southern right whales often come close inshore (seasonal), and the highly localized Heaviside’s dolphin is frequently seen, along with the more common bottlenose dolphin. Cape fur seals may also be seen on the boat trip, and with luck perhaps an ocean sunfish or a leatherback turtle. African Penguin, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Great White Pelican, White-chinned Petrel, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Cape Gannet, Black Oystercatcher, and other seabirds are often observed from the boat. Today we will also explore sites closer to Swakopmund, where our main target bird is another localized Namib near-endemic, the incredibly pale Gray’s Lark. While looking for this species, we should also find the almost pure white desert subspecies of Tractrac Chat, large rafts of Black-necked Grebe, and very large numbers of other waterbirds and waders. Overnight: Lagoon Loge, Walvis Bay.

Day 3. Birding the Spitzkoppe
This morning we will leave the coast and head inland. If we were really unlucky and missed Gray’s Lark the previous day, we will visit other sites for this nomadic species. We may also encounter the rare and declining Burchell’s Courser and many other sandy desert species during our drive, before reaching the magnificent Spitzkoppe. The Spitzkoppe, or “Matterhorn of Namibia”, is an impressive desert mountain that rises steeply out of the plains. On the road to this imposing batholith we usually find Stark’s Lark and other strategic species.The main target around the base of the huge boulders is the most difficult of the Namibian/Angolan endemics, Herero Chat, a truly bizarre species that tends to hunt in small groups from low perches onto the ground. Rosy-faced Lovebird, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Bradfield’s Swift, Augur Buzzard, Dusky Sunbird, Karoo Long-billed Lark, and many other tantalizing endemics will distract us (in a good way) from our main task of finding our major target. We will also see more common and widespread species such as Familiar Chat and the attractive Mountain Wheatear. After birding here, we will travel to the fine Huab Lodge, where we will spend two nights. Overnight: Huab Lodge, Kamanjab

Day 4. Birding the Namib Escarpment
The charismatic and striking White-tailed Shrike is common along the Namib Escarpment, and early morning birding usually generates the equally beautiful Rockrunner and Hartlaub’s Spurfowl. This spurfowl is really weird-looking (like many of the Namibian specials), and it is a genuine skulker (again, very different from other spurfowls). The only time it is usually an easy bird to find is at dawn, when it calls loudly from atop boulders. Other spectacular birds we might see include Violet-eared and Black-cheeked Waxbill, Green-winged Pytilia, and a plethora of others. Overnight: Huab Lodge, Kamanjab

Days 5-6. Birding the Ruacana district
Today we continue further northwards to one of the most remote parts of Namibia, the Ruacana district, where we hope to find the spectacularly localized Cinderella Waxbill along with other specials such as Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Grey Kestrel, Bat Hawk, and a host of others. Our lodge for tonight and the next is the isolated, peaceful, and stunning Kunene River Lodge. There is an optional adventurous trip for Angola Cave Chat, which has very recently been discovered as a breeding bird in Namibia! It is a real mission to get to the Namibian site along an extremely rough track (in Angola it is easier to see). Please let us know in advance if you want to join this optional trip, which costs R550 per person. Some people like to rest instead of pushing for this bird, but hardcore birders, of course, like to see it, unless they have been to Angola. Overnight: KuneneRiver Lodge, Opuwo

Day 7. Birding Etosha National Park
At the world-renowned Etosha National Park we’ll start our birding and wildlife viewing with a night at Dolomite Camp, situated in the previously closed western section of Etosha. This is one of Africa’s truly great game parks, and here we expect to find a plethora of Kalahari birds as well as many big mammals as a byproduct of the birding. Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, gemsbok (oryx), and other very large (as well as small) mammals are quite possible, and, more importantly, we should find many spectacular birds. Kori Bustard, Northern Black Korhaan, Blue Crane (a South African endemic except for an isolated population in Etosha), Pygmy Falcon, Red-necked Falcon, an excellent diversity of other raptors, many owl species, Pink-billed Lark, Chestnut Weaver, Damara Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike (the name says it all), Sociable Weaver, and many other birds inhabit the grassland, savanna, woodland, and wetlands of Etosha.

We will sample the different habitats of Etosha while driving slowly from west to east. Each of the three major rest camps has a floodlit waterhole, offering spectacular wildlife viewing at night. Double-banded Sandgrouse (which drinks at night), nightjars, and Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl are quite easy to observe at these waterholes. Overnight: Dolomite Camp, Western Etosha

Day 8. Birding Etosha National Park
We will have another full day in Etosha, but will have to traverse some distance to get to the center of the park where we stay the night. Overnight: Okuekuejo Camp, Etosha

Day 9. Birding Etosha National Park
Today we’ll drive slowly, busily birding and wildlife-watching, through this wonderful park from west to east. Overnight: Mokuti Lodge just outside Etosha’s eastern gate.

Day 10. Transfer to and birding at Rundu
After some final birding in Etosha we will depart for Rundu, the gateway to one of Africa’s greatest wildlife havens – the Caprivi Strip and Okavango Panhandle. The well-developed woodland around Rundu hosts such important species as Rufous-bellied Tit, Red-headed Weaver, Green-capped Eremomela, Common Scimitarbill, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Black Cuckooshrike, African Golden Oriole, Tinkling Cisticola, and many others. We may even be fortunate enough to find Sousa’s Shrike or Sharp-tailed Starling. Birding the rich wetlands in the area may generate the diminutive Dwarf Bittern, Rufous-bellied Heron, African Pygmy Goose, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Swamp Boubou, and a whole host of other desirable species. Overnight: Hakusembe River Lodge, Rundu

Day 11. Birding the western Caprivi Strip
Today we continue eastwards into the heart of the Caprivi Strip, finding exciting tropical bird species along the way. We will overnight near Mahango National Park, which often hosts Rock Pratincole, Swamp Boubou, Harlaub’s Babbler, and a plethora of other species in lush surroundings (so different from the Namib – this is a birding tour of great contrasts!). Overnight: Ndovhu Safari Lodge, Divundu

Day 12. Birding Mahango National Park and the Okavango Panhandle
We will start early and spend most of the day birding the absolutely phenomenal Mahango National Park. This tiny reserve hosts over 400 bird species, plus lots of big game including some mammals not easily found in Etosha, such as African buffalo, sable antelope, and roan antelope (both antelope being very rare globally, but relatively easy to find in Mahango). There is a rich variety of habitats in this reserve, from expansive floodplains to papyrus swamps to huge baobabs with associated birds, to dry thornveld, etc. In the late afternoon we will head due south into Botswana, where we will spend the next two days birding the panhandle of the magnificent Okavango Delta. Birds such as Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Lizard Buzzard, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Brown Firefinch, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Chirping Cisticola, Luapula Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Golden Weaver, Greater Painted-snipe, and many others are relatively easy to find in these magnificent swamps. Overnight: Xaro Lodge, Shakawe, Botswana

Day 13. Birding the Okavango Panhandle
Today we will continue birding in the swamps, both on foot and by boat. Overnight: Xaro Lodge, Shakawe, Botswana.

Day 14. Birding the eastern Caprivi Strip
We will re-enter Namibia and continue eastwards along the Caprivi Strip, birding the fine Caprivi National Park and looking for difficult species such as crakes, rails, Dwarf Bittern, Luapula Cisticola, and more around the Kongola River. Our next luxurious lodge is located on an island in the Kwando River Overnight: Mazambala Island Lodge, Kongola

Day 15. Caprivi Strip Departure
After breakfast at the lodge, enjoy a morning bird viewing before departure.

• Safari Includes
• Safari Excludes
• Safari Costs
• Book Safari
• Safari Planner

Activities/services included in the cost:
• Arrival and departure airport transfer. • Accommodation as per the itinerary.
• Accommodation in the National Parks is based on Full Board
• Road transportation in custom made safari vehicles.
• Exclusive private vehicle and driver-guide throughout the safari
• Game dives as per the itinerary
• Park and game reserve entrance fees
• English Driver guides available for the safari
• Our 24hours support throughout the safari

Activities/services excluded in the cost:
• All International Flights/local Flights + Taxes
• Visa fees, Travel & Personal accident insurance
• Excursions, services and activities not mentioned in this program
• Flying option available for certain safaris at an extra cost
• Personal expenses e.g. laundry, telephone calls, Drinks, Tips etc

To get costs for this tour, contact our Sales Office Team on sales@trailsofafrica.co.ke
Just give us the Safari Tour Code and name of the safari you want to book and we shall revert back with costs and availability.

Full Names*

Your Email*

Safari Booked & Tour Code*

Arrival Date*

No of Pax*

No of Kids*

Fill in more details if any:

*

Read our Safari FAQs
Read our Safari Dos and Don’ts
Read our Animal Checklist
Read our Birds Checklist
Read our Camping Checklist
Read our Mountain Climbing Packing List