Namibia is a country of vast open spaces and relatively few people. Habitats range from the Namib Desert in the west to moist woodlands and floodplains in the north-east. The diversity of birds is similarly high and several species are endemic or near-endemic to the country. 

This tour concentrates on the west and north of Namibia where all of these species (anticipate a tour total of around 325 species) except the Barlow's Lark can be seen. The tour will take in the majestic Namib Desert, rich coastal wetlands, the hills and woodlands of the interior, Etosha Game Reserve and the riverine forest of the Cunene River floodplain. 

Your leader, Prof. Phil Hockey of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, is a well known expert on Southern African birds and has led previous tours to Namibia. 

Two-week Itinerary
Arrive Windhoek International Airport and transfer to Daan Viljoen Game Reserve.

Day 1:  

An early morning walk through the reserve will allow you to familiarize yourself with some of Namibia's commoner birds. Among the species we should encounter are Rockrunner and Monteiro's Hornbill, and there is always a chance of Carp's and Ashy Tits. Black-cheeked Waxbills can be found along the dry river beds, and Red-billed Francolins forage around the camp. 

Later in the morning we will head north-west to Spitzkop, a series of magnificent rock outcrops on the eastern edge of the Namib Desert. The key bird at Spitzkop is the highly localized Herero Chat, and it is also a good locality for Rüppell's Korhaan, Pale-winged Starling, Bradfield's Swift, White-tailed Shrike, Rosy-faced Lovebird and Dusky Sunbird. We will camp the night at the base of one of the rocky domes - sunset and sunrise can be spectacular! 

Day 2:  

We leave Spitzkop in the late morning, traveling west on a dirt road across the desert to the small fishing village of Hentjies Bay. From here we turn south along the coast to Swakopmund, hopefully seeing the diminutive Damara Tern en route. North of Swakopmund we will search the gravel plains for Gray's Lark and the local race of Tractrac Chat, after which a visit to the local saltworks should produce many waterbirds, including Chestnut-banded Plover. We will spend the night at bungalows in Swakopmund.

Day 3:

Early this morning we head south to Walvis Bay and in to the Rooibank dunefield. The target bird here is the endemic Dune Lark. We shall then spend some time around the lagoon at Walvis Bay, one of the great waterbird havens of Southern Africa. It is also one of the great rarities traps of the west coast, and is a guaranteed locality for African Black Oystercatcher. In the early afternoon we head north-east to the village of Omaruru, stopping en route to look for Rüppell's Parrot, Southern Pied Babbler and others. An evening walk along the bed of the Omaruru River should produce Violet Wood-hoopoe, and Pearl-spotted and African Scops Owls can be found around the camp.

Day 4:

Before dawn, we head a few kilometres west of the village for a dawn chorus of Hartlaub's Francolin. Later in the morning we follow a fascinating road that takes us east of the Brandberg, via Uis and Khorixas, to our next overnight stop at Kamanjab. Along here we could see both Burchell's and Temminck's Coursers, as well as a good cross-section of raptors.

Day 5-7:

From Kamanjab we drive north to the Cunene River west of Ruacana. The Cunene River is the border between Nambia and Angola and is a green oasis running through otherwise dry mopane woodland. There are three very special birds here - Grey Kestrel, Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush  and Cinderella Waxbill. The riverine reedbeds and woodlands, however, support a host of other birds. These include Swamp Boubou, a  distinctive race of Red-necked Francolin, Bare-cheeked and Hartlaub's Babblers, Chestnut Weaver and Barred Owl. The Cunene race of Bennett's Woodpecker may be a full species and other specials sighted here in recent years include Bat Hawk and Angola Swallow.

Day 8:

Today we have a lengthy drive of about 700 km to a camp 40 km north of Grootfontein en route to our final destinations along the Kavango River. The camp site is essentially a stop-over, but will be our best chance to see the elusive Black-faced Babbler.

Day 9:

After birding around the camp site in the morning, today we head north again across the pan lands of Kavango to the village of Rundu, which lies on the south bank of the Kavango River. Woodland and wetland birding will be the order of the day.

Day 10-12:

Leaving Rundu mid-morning on 10 May, we head eastwards to spend three nights at Popa Falls. En route we may see Racket-tailed Roller, Rufous-bellied Tit and Slender-billed Honeyguide; there have also been recent reports of Souza's Shrike from this area. While at Popa Falls, we will work not only the Popa area and the Kavango River, but also the Mahango Game Reserve and the extreme northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, on the Botswana border. 

Specials in this area include Slaty Egret, White-backed Night Heron, Long-toed Plover, Lesser Jacana, Sharp-tailed Starling, Greater Swamp Warbler, Chirping Cisticola and Brown Firefinch. Southern Africa's second Spur-winged Plover has been resident in the area for some time and may even await our arrival!

Day 13:

Today is our other long drive of the trip—about 700 km (420 miles) south to the Waterberg. Although primarily a stop-over on our return leg to Windhoek, Rüppell's Parrot can be guaranteed around the campsite.

Day 14:

Return to Windhoek for afternoon flights.

If you are interested in experiencing this unique birding route, please e-mail us or complete an inquiry form for more information.