Africa

Giant sand dunes, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park

Africa / Namibia

Giant sand dunes, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park

Namibia, 15 days

Namibia is an excellent destination for birdwatching, with a bird list of over 600 species including many endemic to the region. It is still a relatively unknown and sparsely populated country. As well as its abundant birdlife, Namibia boasts fabulous game and wildlife watching. Needless to say, it offers fantastic photographic opportunities, with approachable birds and animals, and unique and outstanding scenery.

Namibia is a politically stable country, having achieved independence from South Africa in 1990. Since then it has become increasingly popular as a birdwatching destination. The infrastructure is first class, with good quality accommodation and transport. One can travel for miles on deserted roads, stopping occasionally to watch Pale Chanting Goshawks, Northern Black Korhaans, Crowned Plovers and various game at the roadside. In Etosha National Park the game watching is unrivalled, without the attendant crowds experienced in East Africa.

Our tour is offered in conjunction with Bird Holidays. Bird Holidays have been visiting Namibia for six years, and this will be Phil Palmer's seventh visit.

{backbutton}

Fact File

15 days in Namibia visiting famous National Parks and nature reserves
start and finish in Windhoek
using 8 accommodations located close to the sites

Highlights

2 days in the Namib Naukluft Desert visiting the famous Sossusvlei dunes
2 days on the Skeleton Coast
5 days in the legendary Etosha National Park
exploring the Erongo Mountains and the Waterberg Plateau
wide variety of mammals and endemic birds
plenty of interesting bird species

Accommodation

1 night at the Palmquell Guesthouse, Windhoek
2 nights at the Namib Naukluft Lodge near Sossusvlei
2 nights at the Hotel Langholm, Walvis Bay
1 night at Erongo Wilderness Lodge
5 nights in Etosha: 2 nights at Okaukuejo Rest Camp, 1 night at Halali Rest Camp, 2 nights at Namutoni Rest Camp
1 night at the Waterberg Rest Camp

Departure Dates

http://www.ecotours.hu/calendar

Price

Ask for the actual price.

Our price includes:

- all birdwatching excursions with expert leader and local driver/guide,

- full-board accommodation,

- soft drinks at meal times,

- local transport by mini-coach,

- boat trip,

- park entrance fees,

- return flight to Windhoek,

- airport taxes

Not included:

- optional travel insurance, payable at the time of booking,

- items of a personal nature,

- alcoholic drinks,

- laundry,

- tips.

If you have questions about the inclusion of any cost item, please contact us.

Activity level

Generally easy to moderate walks

Itinerary

We take an overnight flight from London to Windhoek in Namibia.

Arriving at Windhoek we transfer to the Guesthouse for the first night. A visit to a nearby wetland may yield African Darter, Red Bishop, Hottentot Teal and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater.

3-4

We enter the Namib Naukluft Desert and the famous Sossusvlei dunes, birdwatching en route. The dunes are home to mammals including Oryx and Springbok and birds such as Ruppell's Korhaan and Dune Lark.

5-6

We head towards Walvis Bay on the Skeleton Coast the best site to see thousands of shorebirds. Specialities include African Black Oystercatcher and Chestnut-banded Plover, and the endemic Damara Tern. During a boat trip in the bay we also have a chance of seeing Jackass Penguin and Benguela Dolphin.

We return inland via the impressive Spitzkoppe, watching for Mountain Zebras en route. We hope to find the endemic Gray's Lark and the elusive Herero Chat. In the Erongo Mountains we expect Hartlaub's Francolin, Freckled Nightjar, Short-toed Rock-thrush, Kalahari Robin and the endemic White-tailed Shrike.

8-12

We spend 5 days in Etosha staying at all three camps in the park. We will search for mammals such as Elephants, Black Rhino, Lion, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Black-faced Impala and Damara Dik Dik. Among the sought-after bird species we hope to see Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Blue Crane, Owls, Double-banded Sandgrouse and Rufous-cheeked Nightjars.

We drive south to the Waterberg Plateau where we explore the surrounding bushland on foot for local specialities such as Monteiro's Hornbill, Damara Rockrunner, Bradfield's Swift, Crimson-breasted Shrike and Ruppell's Parrot.

On our last day we make our way back to Windhoek, in good time for our evening flight home.

We arrive back to London.

Enquiry

Booking