Birding: Best of Namibia
14 days · guided · Namibia's endemics, coast to Etosha
This essential Namibia birding departure takes in the key birding areas of this arid wonderland to try to target as many of the country's endemics and sub-region near-endemics as possible, whilst birding in some of the most dramatic, wildlife-filled landscapes on the African continent.
From the red dunes of the Namib to the salt works of Walvis Bay, the ancient floodplains of Damaraland, Hobatere and both halves of Etosha, the route ends among the granite boulders of the Erongo Mountains for a last chance at anything missed along the way.
- Day 1-2
Windhoek to Sossusvlei (Kulala), 2 nights
Through the Khomas Hochland with birding stops - Orange River Francolin, Mountain Wheatear, Rufous-eared Warbler, Black-chested Snake-Eagle - and over the Spreetshoogte Pass into the Namib. An early start the next morning for Dune Lark on the grassed lower slopes of the red dunes, with Dusky Sunbird and Acacia Pied Barbet along the dry riverbeds and Burchell's Courser on the gravel plains.
- Day 3-4
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, 2 nights
A long, rewarding drive to the coast, stopping in the Naukluft for the localised Cinnamon-breasted Warbler and crossing the Kuiseb canyon. A full day around Swakopmund and Walvis Bay: Gray's Lark, Tractrac Chat and, at the Walvis Bay salt works and lagoon, huge concentrations of flamingos and shorebirds with Damara Tern and Chestnut-banded Plover.
- Day 5-6
Doro Nawas Conservancy, Damaraland, 2 nights
North along the coast, then inland past the Brandberg to Wilderness Doro Nawas. Explore thickets along the Huab and Aba-Huab rivers for Damara Hornbill, Bare-cheeked Babbler and Rosy-faced Lovebird, and rocky outcrops for Benguela Long-billed Lark - with a fair chance of desert-adapted elephant and a visit to the Twyfelfontein rock engravings.
- Day 7-8
Hobatere, 2 nights
Past ancient welwitschia plants to Hobatere in the Khoadi Hoas Conservancy west of Etosha, with a night drive for nocturnal birds and mammals. A full day on walks and open-vehicle drives for White-tailed Shrike, Bare-cheeked Spurfowl, African Scops-Owl and Chestnut Weaver.
- Day 9-10
Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo area, 2 nights
Into Etosha and across to its central plains and the vast white pan - Secretarybird, Kori Bustard, Double-banded Courser and Pink-billed Lark among a staggering list.
- Day 11-12
Etosha National Park, eastern side, 2 nights
A different bird community around Namutoni and the Andoni Plains: Black-faced Babbler, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Southern Black Tit, Barred Wren-Warbler and an isolated population of Blue Crane.
- Day 13
Erongo Mountains, 1 night
South to Omaruru and the Erongo Mountains, a tented camp among the boulders, for Namibian endemics and anything missed - with rock hyrax, dassie rat and the recently described black mongoose.
- Day 14
Return to Windhoek
Depending on return flights.
Bird photography: Martin Benadie / Wilderness.
Enquire about the birding departure.
Tell us your dates and how many of you are birding - and whether anyone is along for the scenery rather than the lifers.
No payment is taken here. Package prices on this site are the suppliers' published rates; we confirm the exact figure against live availability when we quote.