You arrive in Kasane at 13.30 where you will be met by your transfer drive who will drive you the short distance to The Old House on the banks of the Chobe River.
Here you can relax for the afternoon before enjoying a bird walk in the grounds of the lodge.
On the second day we have included a river cruise along the Chobe River to the floodplains and islands of the national park but there is also an option to visit Chobe Safari Lodge with extensive grounds and some special birds such as Collared Palm Thrush either before or after the cruise.
On your last day you will find yourself on a full day safari in Chobe National Park in an open air vehicle
full day safari in Chobe National Park
Chobe River Cruise
Full day safari in Chobe National Park
Chobe River Cruise
You will be collected at 10am this morning by your private transfer driver who will drive you over the border into neighbouring Namibia and on to the banks of the Zambezi River where you will be met by the Captain from Zambezi Mubala River Lodge who will take you the last few kilometres by boat to the lodge which sits on the banks of the river.
Here you have 2 nights to enjoy the area including a guided walk the breeding colony of ten thousand Southern Carmine Bee-eaters as they swirl around calling and hawking insects as well as a birdwatching cruise and options for birding around camp
Less well known than Chobe NP but wonderfully rich in wildlife is the northern part of Namibia including the Caprivi Strip, a finger of land following the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers until they merge at the borders with Botswana and Zambia. It’s a strange quirk of colonial politics that the rivers form borders with neighbouring countries so birding here can sometimes mean spotting sightings on the opposite bank in Angola or Zambia.
This area is more akin to the greener, wetter areas of broadleaf woodland that covers those neighbouring countries and the birdlife here is far more akin to those regions. We highly recommend birders to visit the Caprivi if only to tour area around Divundu and especially Bwabwata National Park where you could be the only people watching the elephants or photographing the buffalo while you see birds that are never found further south such as Rufous-bellied Tit, Rock Pratincole and Gabon Boubou. No-one can fail to be entranced by the extraordinary Schalow’s Turaco. Its green and purple plumage, capped by a jaunty crest, is made even more stunning as it takes flight on crimson wings.
Birdwatching Cruise
Guided Bird Walk
Birdwatching Cruise
Guided Bird Walk to the Carmine Bee-eater Colony
You return to Katima Mulilo this morning where you will be met by your driver/guide in our specially adapted safari vehicle.
From here he will drive you further west along the Caprivi Strip, through the Bwabwata National Park and on to Divundu and Mahango NP which straddles both sides of the Kavango River.
Your accommodation is on the banks of the river and you have 3 nights here to explore Mahango from both sides and also by boat on a birdwatching cruise
We highly recommend birders to visit the Caprivi if only to tour area around Divundu and especially Bwabwata National Park where you could be the only people watching the elephants or photographing the buffalo while you see birds that are never found further south such as Rufous-bellied Tit, Rock Pratincole and Gabon Boubou. No-one can fail to be entranced by the extraordinary Schalow’s Turaco. Its green and purple plumage, capped by a jaunty crest, is made even more stunning as it takes flight on crimson wings. And speaking of crimson there is no more fabulous sight that entering the breeding colony of ten thousand Southern Carmine Bee-eaters as they swirl around calling and hawking insects.
Birdwatching Cruise
Self-Guided Drives into Mahango NP
Birdwatching Cruise
Self-guided birding in Mahango NP
You leave the languid rivers of northern Namibia today and head south west towards Etosha National Park with an overnight stop at Roy's Rest Camp.
This simple lodge is a perfect half-way stop and has the added bonus of good birding from walking trails within its grounds including Black Faced Babbler and Rosy-faced Lovebird and Pied Barbet
You leave Roy's today and continue your journey to the eastern side of Etosha National Park and enter via the Von Lindquist Gate before driving the short distance to Namutoni Camp, your base for the next 2 nights,
There are many key waterholes within a few kilometres of camp and the area is known for excellent wildlife sightings and is the best area in the park to see cheetah which hunt along the edges of the pan and into the acacia woodlands.
Etosha National Park is the jewel in a crown of many gems and almost every visitor will wish to spend time here. We offer stays in three locations within the park boundary allowing the visiting birder the opportunity to rise early and explore the park before breakfast and ahead of the main park gates opening to allow access for other visitors. For safety reasons, once out of the camp, it is strictly forbidden to leave your tour vehicle so the enclosed camps offer the opportunity for birders to stroll around the thickets enjoying close up views of small species harder to locate on a game drive. Burnt-neck Eremomela and Barred Wren-warbler are two such birds but there are many others.
Our high level viewing vehicle makes for an excellent mobile hide. Equipped with our special camera-supporting rails we aim to make viewing and photography a pleasure. Etosha’s great open spaces are home to enormous birds. Kori Bustard and Ostriches proudly strut around accompanied by Secretarybirds and sandgrouse. Overhead three species of vultures and several eagles survey the ground while the frequently encountered and photogenic Pale Chanting Goshawks perch atop many a roadside acacia allowing close approach. We won’t neglect the little brown jobs either. Every bush or grassland can hold LBJs like larks, pipits or cisticolas to challenge the identification skills.
You leave Namutoni today and head further into Etosha to the centrally wooded area around Halali Camp.
The floodlit waterhole at the camp is often visited by huge herds of elephant and black rhino are seen most nights and even the ever-elusive leopard
Woodland birds dominate the area and the camp is a very good place to see a variety of bird species with its mix of grasslands and scrub and owls often roost in the tall mopani trees around the campsite
Halali Camp within Etosha is famous for its Violet Wood-hoopoes, Bare-cheeked Babblers and the delightful White Helmet-shrike. White-crowned Shrikes and Groundscaper Thrushes can liven up lunch time as they feed on the lawns whilst Damara Red-billed Hornbills and Great Blue-eared Starlings can further distract you from your meal.
As the dry season progresses much of Etosha dries out. Waterholes then become the magnet for all life and our tours can get you into a prime position to watch mammals arrive for a life-saving drink but they won’t be alone. Often thousands of birds are present too and breath-taking flights of doves and sandgrouse and gorgeous Violet-eared Waxbills can distract the viewer from even the most spectacular mammal sightings.
Your last camp in Etosha is Okaukuejo which is famous for its world renowned floodlit waterhole.
The camp sits within vast open plains and a huge number of herbivores trek endlessly to the waterhole daily in order to drink.
At dusk elephant herds dominate the pool when they come to drink and dust bathe and black rhino are usually present throughout the night
Okakuejo Camp has a world famous floodlit waterhole as is one of our most popular destinations. From dawn until nightfall guests can occupy the provided seating and enjoy an ever-changing panorama of mammals and birdlife arriving to drink whilst keeping an eye open for the predators that are often present as well. The show continues into the night when floodlights help pick out nocturnal visitors and don’t neglect the ethereal sight of several Rufous-cheeked Nightjars hawking over the water as they ghost in and out of the lights.
You leave the peace and quiet of Etosha this morning and head south on the tar road out of the park until you get to the gates of Okonjima, home of the Africat Foundation.
Here you can enjoy 2 safaris out into the 54,000 acre reserve in search of leopards and other wildlife that calls the area home including brown and spotted hyena, white rhino, eland, sable and many bird species ( see Expert Tips )
Okonjima Bird List
Ruppell's Parrot, Bradfield's Swift, Tawny Eagle, Southern Pied Babbler, Ashy Tit, Common Scimitarbill , Monteiro's Hornbill, Bradfield's Hornbill, Carp's Tit, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Short-toed Rock Thrush and Black-throated Canary
leopard tracking
Afternoon leopard tracking trail
After a final morning tracking leopards in the 54,000 acres you leave Okonjima and head south on the tar road all the way to Windhoek and your overnight accommodation at Hotel Thule which sits high on a hill overlooking the city.
The hotel has an excellent restaurant and lovely rooms and having a sundowner on the terrace is a perfect way to end your tour while the lights of Windhoek come out below you
Morning Leopard Tracking
Morning Leopard Tracking
Depending on you flight times you can relax at the hotel or visit Dan Viljoen Nature Reserve for a last few hours birding before being transferred to the airport for your flight home
