In the confines of Namibia we have three different birding habitats, Karoo, Bushveld and the Namib Desert. Of the top 10 birding sights in the Bushveld region of Southern Africa, the no. 1 and 2 spots are in Namibia, namely Ruacana and Rundu-Mahango. There are several endemics restricted to the arid savannas of Northern Namibia and Southern Angola: Hartlaub's Francolin, Ruppels Parrot, Monteiro's Hornbill, Violet Woodhoopoe, Carp's Black Tit, Bare-cheeked Babbler and Rockrunner, being some of these.

Like other open country biomes, the Karoo is best birded from a car, with regular stops and short walks. Spring is probably the best time to visit; it gets too hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter. It's good to get an early start because the birds keep a low profile in the heat of the day, and the heat haze precludes scanning for distant birds. A wide variety of birds of prey, ranging from the massive Martial Eagle to the diminutive Pygmy Falcon may be seen in this habitat.

True desert is restricted to the Namib coast of Namibia. The Namib Desert is justly famous for its stunning landscapes and towering dune seas. Most birds of the open plains are best located by driving slowly along, and stopping to scan and listen. Dune Larks require a walk into the vegetated dunes, and most of the escarpment species are best located on foot. Apart from endemics, there are spectacular birds to be seen, including Lappet-faced Vulture and Red-necked Falcon. Time of day is more important than season.

Our birding tour includes all the comforts with an oppurtunity to see as many of bird species in Namibia as possible. We also see a wide variety of larger wildlife, including Lions, Elephants and Rhinoceros. Please read the sample tour and contact us for more detailed information.

Day 1: Arrival in Namibia. Guest farm. The fantastic thing about birds in Namibia is that you don't have to travel far to see a wide variety of species. On leaving the airport for our first destination, Duestenbrook Guestfarm, it is not uncommon to see a Martial or Tawny Eagle on one of the telephone posts! The guest farm, an hour and a half from the airport is wonderful for viewing the Damara Rockrunner, a Namibian endemic, the Monteiro Hornbill, Red-billed francolin, Pied and Bare-Cheeked Babblers, Blackchested prinia, Grey-backed Bleating Warbler, Rattling Cisticola and Bradfield's Swift, a near endemic to Southern Africa. A wonderful area to walk, old German Homestead, one of the earliest farms in Namibia, Duestenbrook is also known for it's Leopard viewing....

Day 2: Waterberg Plateau Park.To the Waterberg Plateau Park, a beautiful Sandstone capped plateau, springs and a forest-like atmosphere. The endemic Carp's Tit, Bradfield's Hornbill, Golden-tailed and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Red-eyed Hornbill, Kalahari Robin, Grey Hornbill, with it's eerie whistle, Goldenbreasted bunting and loads more. The Waterberg played a prominent role in Namibia's colonial history and is wonderful for walking trails, amazing views of the Kalahari Basin and wildlife. The park is under State management and the accommodation and meals are good and reasonably priced.

Day 3 and 4: Etosha Pans. Through Tsumeb, a historic and interesting copper mining town, we arrive at Namutoni Camp, in one of the most beautiful Game Parks in Africa, the Etosha Pans. We have the freedom to drive around at leisure, in this park about 24000 km\2. Wide open, spacious views, allow us the oppurtunity to see all the big Game and of course, many beautiful birds! Crimson-Breasted Bou-Bou, Whitecrowned Shrike, Bare-cheeked, black-faced and Pied babblers, Double-banded courser, the huge and majestic Kori Bustard, the elegant Secretary bird, Red-krested and black Korhaan, Whitebacked and Hooded Vultures, black-shouldered Kite, Meyer's Parrot, Red-billed, Yellow and Grey hornbill and so much more... The second night we spend at Okakuejo Camp with it's waterhole, which draws a variety of animals including many elephant, rhino and Lion. The resident Giant Eagle Owls are active, in full view. The bird viewing within the Camp is wonderful, Scops and Pearl-spotted Owls, Pririt Batis with is beautiful whistle, just the beginning....

Day 5: Guest farm. From the Etosha Pans, we drive westwards, 40 Kilometres north of Kamanjab to Rustig farm. We will camp under the Omumborongbongo trees, in this Savannah farm territory. This award winning Lodge lies near Etosha, Damaraland and Kaokoland. We may go on open-vehicle game drives and bird watching excursions. Breathtaking views over the plains teeming with wildlife and sit around a romantic campfire at night.

Day 6: Guest farm. A paradise for wild African animals, we find Elephants, Giraffe, Eland Antelope, Hartmanns Mountain Zebras and much more. We will join a specialist birding guide to introduce us to the bird species in the North-West Bushveld of Namibia. An area famous for its’ birds, we will come across birds seen earlier on our trip and of course, some we have not encountered before. The European Bee-eater, Pied Barbet, Lilac-breasted and Purple Roller, Violet and Scimitar-billed Woodhoopoe, Lesser Honeyguide, Cardinal Woodpecker, Dusky, Sabota, and Red-capped Larks, Ashy and Carp’s Tit, Groundscraper Thrush, Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler, Fan-tailed and Rattling Cisticola, Marico Flycatcher, Fiscal and Lesser-Grey Shrike and many other species, including a variety of Raptors.

Day 7: Huab River bed. We travel over the Grootberg pass, from the dominating granites into the only area in Namibia dominated by volcanic rock, from a time long gone by when South America split from Africa.... After lunch at Oasis Palmwag, we enter the fascinating Damaraland with it's own unique Fauna and Flora. We camp in the Huab river, a place where Desert elephants and free-ranging Black Rhino roam. Up to 200 different bird species may be found in this area, including the Bare-cheeked Babbler, Violet Woodhoopoe, Damara Rockrunner, Carp’s Tit, Ruppel’s Parrot and the Monteiro Hornbill, all Namibian endemics.

Day 8: Spitzkoppe. Via the looming Brandberg Mountain and Uis, a ghost mining town, we travel to Spitzkoppe, a solid granite Inselberg in the middle of the Namib Desert. The granite originally intruded the area when the Gondwana Continent started splitting apart, and has been weathered to its’ existing form. A lovely area to camp and walk, we have the freedom to discover the birds species which congregate in this granitic environment. Here we should see some endemic or near endemic species, the Harltaub's Francolin, White-tailed Shrike, Rosyfaced lovebirds and Herero Chat. The beautiful Bockmakierie, Mountain Chat, Anteating Chat and many of the smaller species may also be seen. The Long-billed Lark is also present with its’ unique call and awesome flight display. An area that also boasts a large variety of raptors including the Black and Martial Eagles, which can all be observed from the comfort of our lovely campsite between the Granite boulders.

Day 9: Swakopmund. Guest Cottages. We travel two hours to Swakopmund, a coastal town enveloped in fog and a Colonial history...(the fog usually clears by 11 a.m and the days become sunny and warm!). A pretty town, coffee and cake and of course, great for shopping. Via the stark Moon Landscape, we spend a few hours viewing the interesting desert fauna, the famous Welwitschia Mirrablis and other desert succulents. If were lucky, we find the desert Horned Adder among these, soaking up the sun. The birds we encounter are the Tractrac Chat, Gray's and Starks Lark, the endemic Ruppels Korhaan and of course... the Ostrich! At the Salt pans on the outskirts of Swakopmund, we hope to see Swift, Common and Arctic Terns, Ruff, Little Stint, Whimbrel and Bartailed Godwit.The Blackwinged stilt, a variety of plovers, Black Kormorants and Flamingoes also make their presence felt. We retire to comfortable Guest cottages within walking distance from the town centre, and enjoy some great Seafood for dinner.

Day 10: Swakopmund. Guest Cottages. We visit Walfish Bay it's lagoon and the desolate Sandwich Harbour. The lagoon is considered one of the prime wetland birding spots of the world, about 11000 hectares in size and has been listed by Ramsar as a natural heritage site. Filled with Greater and Lesser flamingo, Blackwinged Stilt, White-fronted Plover, Crowned, Bank, Cape and White-breasted Cormorant, Avocet, Kittlitz's and Chestnut-banded plover, Caspian and Damara Tern and large numbers of Turnstone and Curlew Sandpiper. We may take a boat ride out into the harbour area and/or visit Sandwich Harbour, 40 Kilometers South, a freshwater lagoon, surrounded by high dunes, the beach and the unpredictable Atlantic Ocean. Often hundred of Blacknecked Grebe gather here along with Cape Teal, Moorhen, Threebanded Plover, Knot, Ringed Plover and Greater Crested Grebe.

Day 11: Desert Campsite. We travel through the Namib-Naukluft Park to Sesriem. The park is beautiful with a variety of antelope and other animals. The Hooded vulture can be seen, along with a variety of Raptors that make these open plains their hunting ground. Granite hills, Basalt boulders and desert sand. We stop for lunch and famous apple pie at Solitaire, a one-horse village and petrol/supply store. We set up camp under beautifull Camelthorn trees in the afternoon and take a walk up the Elim dune to watch a spectacular African sunset.

Day 12: Camping. After and early wake up call, we travel the 60 km to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. There are massive dunes on either side, the early morning light a photogaphers dream, along the way. As the sun rises we see huge rolling dunes, as far as the eyes can see. A lovely walk between the dunes, we see the famous Vlei's, a result of the battle between water and sand, in this case the dune sands slowly have choked the path of the Tsauchab River to the sea....

Day 13: Camping. We travel further inland to the catchment area of the waters that have flowed to Sossusvlei over the centuries. Nestled between the Naukluft and Zarib Mountains, we find a desolate yet beautiful farm, where we set up camp under the huge Fig Trees(Ficus Sycamorus) on the banks of the dry Tsauchab River. The Karoo Robin, Redbacked Shrike, Greater Kestrel, African Hawk Eagle, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Common, Violetteared and Blackcheeked waxbil, Larklike Bunting, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Yellowbellied Ermomela, Chat Flycatcher and many other species are found here. We spend two days here and also visit a gorge in the Naukluft Mountains with running streams and a variety of bird life.

Day 14: Guest farm. Via Bulllsport, Rehoboth and Windhoek, we travel to a lovely Guest farm close to the International Airport, to enjoy our last night in Namibia. We can go on our last game drive or take a walk on this lovely farm. A time to collect our thoughts, see the last of a number of birds that make the moist farm gardens their home and start packing our bags! A hearty farm dinner, a good Brandy in the pub, and it's off to bed and sweet dreams of the beautiful tour we have completed.

Day 15: A short drive to the Airport and we depart.