INTRODUCTION
This wild and spectacular country with towering golden sand dunes, deep canyons, high mountains and shimmering plains surrounded by rich bushland, surely offers one of the greatest African safaris ever! From the aptly named Skeleton Coast, where many ships have been lost, to the beautiful Namib Desert and the famous Etosha Pan and National Park, this tour will deliver the ultimate African experience, with countless birds and game amidst some of the most dramatic scenery imaginable. On this tour we will be searching for some endemic and near endemic birds of Namibia , including species such as Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Dune Lark, Monteiro's Hornbill and Ruppell's Korhaan. There will also be an opportunity to see some fantastic mammals as Elephant, Giraffe, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Black Rhino. Led by one of South Africa's best safari guides we will be well looked after on this exceptional tour.
Itinerary
Day 1st UK to Windhoek
Day 2nd : Arrival in Windhoek . Flying into Namibia 's capital Windhoek will give you a soft landing. Located centrally, Windhoek is the starting point of our adventurous holiday. On a guided city tour we will explore this meeting place between Africa and Europe , the modern and the old. Overlooking the small central business district is the landmark Christuskirche, the old fort, the oldest building in Windhoek, the Reiter Denkmal (Equestrian statue) and the historic Ink Palace; the seat of Namibia's Parliament. We then head to the Daan Viljoen Game Park , 24 km west of the city. Game to be seen include Gemsbok (Oryx), Greater Kudu, Blue Wildebeest and Red Hartebeest, while good birding can be enjoyed with specials of the dry west such as Monteiro's Hornbill, Short-toed Rock-Thrush, Rockrunner, Black-faced Waxbill, Barred Wren Warbler and Pririt Batis. Overnight in Windhoek .
Day 3rd, 4th: Windhoek to Omaruru. From Windhoek we travel north to Omaruru, passing through Okahandja where Kavango wood carvings can be bought. Omaruru was founded in 1870 as a trading post and mission station, and it was here that the New Testament and the liturgies were first translated into Herero. Omaruru's dry setting beside the shady Omaruru riverbed attracts bird specials such as Red-billed Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Southern Pied Babbler and Pearl-spotted Owlet. Other animals: Common Barking Gecko, Rock Agama, Giant Ground Gecko and Greater Kudu. Overnight in Omaruru.
Day 5th : Omaruru to Etosha National Park . We venture north to the Etosha National Park , one of Africa 's great game parks. Centred around the vast expanse of the Etosha Pan, the park is a sanctuary to the Black Rhino, White Rhino, herds of Elephant, the striking Black-faced Impala, Lions and a profusion of other animals and birds such as Common Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Sociable Weaver, Gabar Goshawk, African Pygmy Falcon, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Bateleur and Egyptian Vulture. Overnight in Etosha National Park (Okaukuejo).
Day 6th : Okaukuejo surrounding. We spend the day exploring the western part of the Etosha National Park . Namibia 's most famous game reserve, and the subject of many a wildlife documentary, Etosha is also a superb birding destination. The arid woodlands and grassy plains in this part of the park are home to a wide variety of northern Namibian specials such as Northern Black Korhaan, Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Ant-eating Chat, Greater Kestrel and Double-banded Courser. As with many African parks, the Okaukuejo Rest Camp, which we will explore freely on foot, is a excellent place for birding. A Sociable Weaver colony is present in the camp site and Pearl-spotted Owlet, Crimson-breasted Shrike, African Hoopoe, Blacksmith Lapwing and Violet-eared Waxbill may be found. Liquid calls herald the arrival of Double-banded Sandgrouse at the floodlit waterhole in the evening, Rufous-cheeked Nightjars may be seen hawking moths over the water and a White or Black Rhinoceros might show up. Overnight in Etosha National Park (Okaukuejo).
Day 7th : From Okaukuejo to Namutoni ( Etosha National Park ). Today we work our way east to Namutoni in the Etosha National Park via the Halali Rest Camp. This trip is worth exploring a few selected waterholes on the route, there are good areas for Cheetah encounters. The Halali Rest camp is famous for Groundscraper Thrush, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Southern White-crowned Shrike and Violet Wood-Hoopoe. At the Halali waterhole we might be treated to Elephants coming in to drink. The acacia thicket in the Namutoni Rest Camp, which is centred on an old German fort is home to Burnt-necked Eremomela, African Palm-Swift and Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver. Mammals that can be encountered on our game drive include Ground Squirrel, Red Hartebeest, Giraffe, Springbok and the near-endemic Black-faced Impala. Overnight in Etosha National Park (Namutoni).
Day 8th: Namutoni surroundings. This day in the eastern reaches of the Etosha National Park will really get us into the wild. With the Namutoni Rest Camp as our base we undertake game drives around Namutoni, the rewards will be great. We keep a careful watch for Egyptian Vulture, as Etosha is the only park in southern Africa where this species is recorded with any regularity. We may find Burchell's Sandgrouse, Secretarybird, Eastern Clapper Lark and Chinspot Batis. Etosha is famous for the concentration of animals around the waterholes during the dry season and has to be seen to be believed. Burchell's Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and the majestic Gemsbok (Southern Oryx) all occur in large numbers, forming the main prey of the park's predators, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Spotted Hyaena. Floodlit waterholes in all three camps attract Elephants, Rhinoceros, Leopard, African Wild Cat and Brown Hyaena. Banded Mongoose is often seen in the Namutoni Rest Camp. Overnight in Etosha National Park (Namutoni).
Day 9th : Etosha National Park to Rundu. We leave the Etosha National Park and make our way to Rundu with a in between break at the well-known Lake Otjikoto which became a watery grave of German armaments during World War 1, just outside Tsumeb. The woodlands and wetlands around Rundu, a small town on the Okavango River , are home to Bradfield's Hornbill, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Grey-headed Parrot, dwarf Bittern, Rufous-bellied Heron and many others. Whilst heading north to Rundu we keep an eye open for Greater Kudu, Eland, Gemsbok and Smallspotted Genet. Overnight in Rundu.
Day 10th : Rundu to Caprivi Strip (Mahangu Safari Lodge). From Rundu we continue to the Mahangu Safari Lodge, situated in the heart of the Caprivi Strip . If ever there was a Garden of Eden the Caprivi Namibia 's wetland Paradise would surely have been that garden. This region has been blessed with Africa 's most special gifts, a unique and complex network of rivers, riverine forests, flood plains, swamps and open woodlands teeming with wildlife and bird life. Before reaching the Lodge we stop at the Popa Falls , a series of rapids in the Kavango River , a wonderful birding site with possibilities to find Rock Pratincole, Brown Firefinch, White-browed Coucal and African Skimmer. The Nile Crocodile is common in the Okavango River , Hippopotamus sunbath outside the river and Spotted-necked Otters are regularly seen in the river. Overnight in the Caprivi Strip (Mahangu Safari Lodge).
Day 11th : Visit to Mahango Game Park . On a daytrip we visit he Mahango Game Park . The park is renown for its large numbers of Elephant, Red Lechwe, Sable, Roan, Buffalo , Blue Wildebeest and Gemsbok and also offers outstanding birding. Bare areas in the drainage line of the Okavango River attract Temminck's Courser, Fawn-coloured Lark, Brown Snake-Eagle, Greater Painted Snipe, Green-winged Pytilia, Allen's Gallinule and Squacco Heron. Overnight in the Caprivi Strip (Mahangu Safari Lodge).
Day 12th : Mahangu Safari Lodge surrounding. From this perfect base we explore the Okavango River by boat for spectacular game and bird viewing. This boat cruise along the papyrus-fringed channels and into the lily-covered backwaters provide the opportunity of seeing Rufous-bellied Heron, African Pygmy Goose, Collared Pratincole, Pel's Fishing-Owl and Long-toed Lapwing, and boasts Hippo, Nile Crocodile, Red Lechwe and swamp-dwelling Sitatunga. Overnight in Caprivi Strip (Mahangu Safari Lodge).
Day 13th : Caprivi Strip to Rundu. After a few days in the Caprivi Strip we travel west through Rundu, Rising unexpectedly above the acacia savanna, the camp is inhabited by Ground Squirrel, Yellow Mongoose, Black-backed Jackal, Dik-Dik, Chacma Baboon and Rock Hyrax. This Rest Camp, set in tall woodland at the foot of the Waterberg Plateau is a reliable site for the near-endemic Rueppell's Parrot, Monteiro's Hornbill, Bradfield's Swift, Carp's Tit and Rockrunner. Overnight at Rundu.
Day 14th : from Rundu to Waterberg Game Park . A guided game-viewing drive will take us on top of the Waterberg Plateau with its sheer orange cliffs. Larger game on the plateau include Black and White Rhinoceros and the scarce Roan and sable Antelopes. On a walk through cliffs, boulder-strewn slopes and tall acacia woodland along the base of the sandstone plateau, special birds as Short-toed Rock-Thrush, red-billed Spurfowl, Marico Flycatcher, Damara Hornbill and rosy-faced Lovebird can easily be located. Overnight at Waterberg.
Day 15th : Return to Windhoek. Via a short scenic dirt road we continue south with good chances of seeing Red Hartebeest, Gemsbok and warthog, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill and the Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk alongside the road. At last we arrive in Windhoek . To fuel up after this exciting journey we have a farewell dinner in Africa 's most famous restaurant. Overnight in Windhoek .
Day 16th : Departure. We spend the last few hours enjoying the quiet and endless vistas of Africa on this 7300 ha guest farm Africa Farm Ondekaremba. This farm is home to Greater Kudu, Chacma Baboon, Gemsbok and Red Hartebeest. The farm's birdbaths situated in the fine garden attracts Rosy-faced Lovebird, Go-away Bird, Southern Masked Weaver and Black-faced Waxbill. before departing to the airport, only 15 minutes drive away. we will then head fro the airport to catch our overnight flight back to London.
Day 17th : Arrive UK
