Bee-eater Tour (13 days Namibia-Botswana-South Africa)

Upon arrival at the Namibian Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek you will be met by your tour guide and will be taken to your accommodation.

It lies 45km North-East of Winhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport and is the perfect start to your tour. It features a large lapa where the meals are served. This permits a fantastic view over the unique "Bird Restaurant", where various species of wild birds can be found to enjoy the special delicacies on offer.

Onjala offers a variety of activities, with the main focus being on wildlife viewing: horseback rides, game drives, guided hikes, bird watching, sundowner rides, star gazing (optional).

After early morning birding and a delicious breakfast we leave the lodge and continue to our next accommodation: the West Nest Lodge. West Nest Lodge has plenty to offer every visitor who likes to be in touch with nature and experience spectacular sunsets, game and bird viewing, walking trails and the peace and tranquility only nature can give.

This part of the northern Kalahari tree and bush savanna is inhabited by species such as Arrow-marked Babbler, Bradfield's Hornbills, African Barred Owlet, Bateleur, Ant-eating Chat, Brown-crowned and Black-crowned Tchagras, Violet-backed and Cape Glossy Starlings.

Our destination today is at the Dqae Qare San Lodge, which is a community owned lodge and campsite situated on a 7500 hectare community owned game farm situated in western Botswana near Ghanzi. The lodge specialises in offering an authentic Bushman Experience through a wide variety of cultural activities

The area in and around Ghanzi is inhabited by species such as Arrow-marked Babbler, Bradfield's Hornbills, African Barred Owlet, Bateleur, Ant-eating Chat, Brown-crowned and Black-crowned Tchagras, Violet-backed and Cape Glossy Starlings.

Today you drive to Thamalakane River Lodge which is located 19 km outside of Maun in a beautiful landscape. Huge trees lining the banks of the nearby Thamalakane River determine the picture here. There is a large restaurant overlooking the garden as well as a pool. The rooms have views of the river. Each room has a small veranda.

The acacia woodland holds a wide selection of birds typical of this habitat across the region. Red-billed Spurfowl, Kalahari Scrub Robin and Violet-eared Waxbill forage low down in the thickets, while Lilac-breasted Roller and Southern White-crowned Shrike perch more conspicuously in the taller acacias. Bateleurs and Martial Eagles patrol the skies, and a host of Bulbuls, Babblers, Hornbills, Barbets, Sunbirds, Flycatchers and others occupy the niches in between.

We head out early for a full day game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve spotting plenty of wildlife and birds along the way. Moremi Reserve is the best place to experience excellent views of savannah game as well as bird-watching on the lagoons.

Birds come in large numbers in the Moremi, and quickly win over your heart once you arrive. With over 500 species in an area of just under 5.000 square kilometers, the sheer number of species will strike you as amazing. Among these special birds is the slaty egret and the much easier to find, magnificent wattled cranes. Other interesting species to look out for are Bradfield's Hornbill, Coppery Tailed Coucals and Pink Throated Long-claws.

Today we drive to Nata. On the way to your lodge you will drive past the northern outreaches of the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

The Nata Lodge is located between native palm trees and large Marula trees. The main building, which also serves à la carte dinner, has a generous and open layout. This creates a special "bush" atmosphere, which gives rise to the safari mood. This continues in the stylish, thatched-roof bungalows and the built-up, rustic, big house tents with en-suite bathrooms. Well known as a bird and bird friendly property, this lodge clearly invites you to birdwatch.

All four of southern Africa's sandgrouse Namaqua, Burchell's, double-banded and yellow-throated) occur around the pans which we pass on our way to Nata. These delicately plumaged birds are most often seen in the evening, flying rapidly towards a waterhole with rippling calls. Males will waddle in to immerse their absorbent belly feathers and carry water back many kilometres to their young on the nest.

Conspicuous is the boldly-marked male Northern Black Korhaan, who calls with a noisy 'karak karak karak' as he takes off and circles slowly in territorial display, before fluttering to the ground with yellow legs dangling. Like all Korhaans, the brooding female relies on her cryptic camouflage to remain hidden. Another common species, the Double-banded Courser, is superbly adapted to withstand the harsh conditions of the pans. It does not need any drinking water.

In the morning we will visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary. The Nata Bird Sanctuary will bring you to the homing grounds for so many birds, including: Flamingo, Pelican, Duck, Goose, Ostrich, Kingfisher Eagle, Spoon Bill and more. There are about 165 bird species that can be found in the Nata Bird Sanctuary.

From Nata we continue south to Francistown, the second largest city in Botswana. Driving through the Mopane landscape, birders can spot a variety of raptors, including African Hawk-Eagle, Bateleur, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle and Lanner Falcon. Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, White-fronted Bee-eater and Helmeted Guinea fowl can be seen all over the veld. Southern Ground-Hornbill, Secretary bird and Great Sparrow are also commonly found here.

Today we cross the border, this time to South Africa in the Limpopo Valley to the Mopane Bush Lodge. What can one expect from such a name more beautiful than untouched nature, and that's why we take an afternoon birding hike through the wildlife park of the lodge and look for the Swallow-tailed Bee Eater.

The Limpopo Valley is the southern limit of many bird species Afrotropical range. Bird species such as Tropical Boubou, Broad-billed Roller, and Meve’s Starling are extremely rare within South Africa but are considerably more common and widespread outside the country’s borders.

From Mopane Bush Lodge we visit the adjacent Mapungubwe National park which is considered an Important Birding Area (IBA) for its protection of globally threatened species such as the White-backed Vulture (breeding) and the Kori Bustard (possibly breeding). The riverine forest habitat allows for the secretive, subtropical, river-dependent Pel’s Fishing Owl to occur here.

The Limpopo River is important for wetland-dependent and associated birds, such as Black Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Greater Painted-snipe and White-crowned Lapwing. Great White Pelican, Lesser Moorhen, and Allen’s Gallinule occur in small numbers when conditions are suitable.

Todays journey will take you through Limpopo Province and past Tzaneen, the second largest city in the province, towards Kruger National Park. The Raptor Retreat Lodge is situated on the Parsons Nature Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park in the Mopane region.

We will enjoy roadside birding during our scenic drive to the accommmodation. There are a number of very special birds found on the way from Mopane Bush Lodge to Raptor Retreat Game Lodge. Species such as Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, African Broadbill, Eastern Nicator, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Orange Ground Thrush, Crested Guineafowl and Crowned Eagle can be encountered.

The whole day will be spend in the fabulous Kruger National Park, which is well known as a priority birding destination. A diversity of savannahs, tropical grasslands and riverine forests covers 20 000 km², home to over 500 birds recorded in South Africa, which makes it one of the most rewarding birding spots in the world. Of special interest are the 95 endemics - those species found only in Southern Africa. Look out for Lilac-breasted Roller and Hornbill that are so characteristic of the Kruger, as well as birds of prey, Kingfisher and the splendid Secretary Bird.

Today the road leads us through areas where bird specials such as Jackal Buzzard, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Olive Bushshrike, Greywing Francolin, Barthroated Apalis and Stanley’s Bustard can be seen.

The Panorama Route’s diverse habitat and vegetation provides a perfect breeding ground for a varied selection of birds.

View points into the Blyde River Canyon, this third-largest canyon in the world and one of Africa`s scenic wonders, are ideal for raptor watching and it rates as one of South Africa`s raptor hot-spots. Regular sightings include Verreaux`s Eagle, Cape Vulture, Jackal Buzzard, Lanner Falcon, African Goshawk and White-necked Raven. The ultimate prize is Taita Falcon - an incredibly rare little falcon that nests nearby and occasionally flies over.

After some early morning birding followed by a wonderful breakfast at Hannah Game Lodge you'll be on your way to the Johannesburg Airport, where you will gather the last impressions of endless plantations and idyllic villages.

Today's roadside birding on our way to O.R.Tambo Airport is particularly rewarding, as the province sits between grassland and savanna biomes where varied topography creates a diversity of habitats that attract different bird species such as; Blacksmith Lapwing, Laughing Dove, Hadida Ibis, Egyptian Goose, Grey Go-Away Bird and Abdim's Stork.