- Overview
- Full Itinerary
- Photo Gallery
- Costing
- Travel Details
- Trip Reports
- Guide
- Map
- Know Before You Go
- Other Trips You May Like
Embark on a true African safari to Botswana and neighboring Namibia, where the wildlife is pristine, and our days are timed with the rhythm of nature. Southern Africa is visually exciting—each of its unique habitats have distinct features, most famous of which are the expansive Okavango Delta and stunning red dunes at Sossusvlei.
To start the adventure, we feature four nights at a lovely tented safari camp in Botswana known to have consistent sightings of Wild Dog, Leopard, Lion, and Cheetah in addition to habitat variety for great birding and some wonderful creature comforts that create a most memorable stay. Find Elephant, Zebra, Warthog, Giraffe, various antelopes, and impressive classic African birds, as well as regional specialties. Find yourselves immersed in the African landscape as large mammals move around, give us the best possible chance to see predators. There are no other camps nearby, so wildlife viewing is private and dynamic, a rare treat in the safari world. We can also enjoy night drives here, giving us a chance to find species such as Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox, and other elusive species.
Then it’s on to Windhoek to continue our journey with an incredible circuit in Namibia, exploring some of the most stunning arid-land scenery in Africa from lovely lodges, before in-depth time in renowned Etosha National Park. Find additional species here from the stately Oryx to abundant Springbok, coastal and desert regional specialty birds, and strange and legendary plants like the giant Welwitschia.
If big game, southern constellations, a rainbow of colorful African birds, and the enchanting sounds of wild Africa beckon, our Botswana-Namibia journey is sure to entice.
Tour Highlights
- Explore the Okavango Delta’s papyrus-lined channels and lagoons and legendary wetlands and Mopane forests of Moremi Game Reserve
- Look for Pel’s Fishing Owl, Hamerkop, Lesser Jacana, and colorful nesting bee-eaters, Hippos, Nile Crocodile, and the classic big African predators including African Wild Dog
- Live “National Geographic moments” in real time on each morning and afternoon game drive
- Find signature birds like Slaty Egret, Black Heron, African Openbill Stork, Hamerkop, African Fish Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill, bustards, hoopoes, and of course, the stunning Lilac-breasted Roller
- Capture that ultimate African sunset—acacia trees, Giraffes, Leopard, and more in silhouette
- Experience the Namib, the world’s oldest desert, famous for massive red dunes at Sossusvlei
- Look for signature birds like Rockrunner, Herero Chat, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, and Dune Lark
- Walk amidst the granite outcrops of the Erongo Mountains, known for impressive wildlife, rock art, and over 200 species of birds
- See one of the most bizarre plants on the planet, the Welwitschia
- Watch exciting raptors like African Black (Verreaux’s), Martial, and Booted Eagles, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Lanner and Peregrine Falcons, Rock Kestrel, and more
- Enjoy the colonial seaside town of Swakopmund and visit Etosha National Park
Trip Itinerary
Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.
Sun., Sept. 28 Arrival in Maun, Botswana
The flight to Africa is long, so our first day is set at a leisurely pace in Maun, at the Cresta Riley Hotel where you can rest up from travels. This lovely shaded property is situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, where, if water levels are good, bird life abounds. Watch African Hoopoe and Magpie Shrike on the lawn, and Goliath and Purple Herons at the water’s edge. We enjoy patio dining under blooming Jacaranda trees.
Accommodations at Cresta Riley Hotel, Maun (D)
Mon., Sept. 29 Birding in Maun | Flight to Four Rivers Camp, Okavango Delta
Wake up to a chorus of African bird song, then enjoy some morning birding on the lush, shaded property and along the Thamalakane River. We have breakfast at the hotel and arrange the morning according to our flight time into our camp.
It’s a scenic flight, a little over an hour, in a small aircraft designed to land on bush airstrips. There we meet our expert local guides in their rugged 4-wheel drive safari vehicles. They review safety guidelines, and we go to the camp along the Boro River adjacent to Chief’s Island to settle in. Often, we enjoy afternoon tea with snacks before heading out for a boat ride in the afternoon when activity is high watching for numerous herons, cormorants, and ibis. We cruise a channel and watch for sparkling Malachite Kingfisher, often perched in close view, their jewel tones just captivating. The Okavango region is not unlike our Everglades, a slow moving, major river system that allows water to fan out across the otherwise arid landscape, transforming it into a paradise for wildlife. It is the largest Ramsar designated site in the world, set up to protect globally important wetlands.
Four Rivers Camp in a private concession adjacent to Moremi Game Reserve and hosts a fabulous mix of upland and wet habitats in a mosaic attractive to herds of Lechwe, Impala, and other antelopes. It has huge trees that bring in birds of the riverine habitat and this camp is known to often have a nesting pair of Pel’s Fishing Owl.
Your “tents” are hardly that—they feel luxurious on their raised platforms, with antique furnishings, spacious inside bathrooms that include indoor and outdoor showers, and a private patio with view of the river. Delightful cuisine is featured and at day’s end you can listen to night sounds from your large and comfortable bed. One could get used to this safari life!
Accommodations at Four Rivers Camp (B,L,D)
Tues., Sept. 30 – Thurs., Oct. 2 Safari Days at Four Rivers Camp Okavango Delta
Four Rivers Camp sits in a spectacular place where desert meets water on the dependable Boro River of the Okavango Delta. Landscapes reveal upland tracts of Mopane Forest set in a mosaic of open savanna amid papyrus-lined water channels, lagoons, and mature riverine forests. Aquatic animals and water birds abound. One of the treats is seeing Yellow-billed and Red-billed Hornbills calling from the crowns of trees alongside colorful African Green Pigeon. Babblers, shrikes, coucals, rollers, barbets, and the gaudy and comical African Hoopoe are visible right on the camp’s grounds. Black-backed Jackal, Warthog, Hippo, Impala, and Red Lechwe are often observed here, while Leopards enjoy resting in massive, often flowering Sausage Trees.
The watery realm here gives us a chance to explore by boat (pending river levels). We may explore by motorized boats, or in mokoros, local wooden boats push by poles by our expert local guides. The rhythm of our days is a full morning in the field, lunch, and after our mid-day siesta, we head out again, and pending what we’ve seen by this time we can return to the boats, or walk with a ranger on adjacent Chief’s Island. Animal activity picks up in the late afternoon and the soft light is perfect for photography. Sunsets are savored here!
As night falls, we listen and have a chance at seeing the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl. Each bend of the channel is good shorebird and wading bird habitat, with many to inspect at close range!
In the evening we gather around the fire for drinks and light appetizers before dinner (and after dinner for those that like to linger around the campfire) where we discuss our day’s sightings, photographs, and experiences. Most often we do our species checklist after lunch, when we have good visibility and good energy.
Accommodations at Four Rivers Camp (B,L,D)
Fri., Oct. 3 Return to Maun | Flight to Windhoek, Namibia
It’s time to move on to new terrain and our exciting days ahead in Namibia. Lunch is not included today as its at or near the airport and people most often scatter to do their shopping; there are good cafes to choose from in Maun or pick up something quick if you prefer.
The River Crossing Lodge just outside of Windhoek is in a perfect location to start the Namibia portion of our journey. The landscape reminds us of New Mexico, with acacia savannah and golden hued grasses under puffy white clouds. River Crossing Lodge is perched in the hills above the city. We check rocky slopes close to town that should yield Short-toed Thrush, White-tailed Shrike, Barred Warbler, and with luck, a favorite trip bird for some, the Rockrunner. At night, the city lights make its presence more obvious, but during the day it’s easy to feel miles away from anywhere in this landscape of beautiful rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and gold lit valleys. The simple cottages perch above the slopes with spectacular views of the valleys and vistas below. Dining is right there, and they serve delicious meals.
Accommodations at River Crossing Lodge, Windhoek (B,D)
Sat., Oct. 4 Windhoek Birding
Wake up to the sound of Rosy-faced Lovebird raucously playing on the roof and eaves of the lodge. Walk the grounds and enjoy sightings of Southern Cordonbleu and Black-faced Waxbill coming to water and African Grey Hornbill exclaiming loudly as they feed in spreading acacias. Pririt Batis, a striking little bird, is often on site here.
We start with some birding at Avis Dam, a great area to bird with easy walking. Over the water we should find aerial-feeding Bradfield’s and Palm Swifts, Rock Martin, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and both Greater-striped and Pearl-breasted Swallows. Wetland birds include South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler, and Red-billed Teal. In the shrublands surrounding the dam, Desert Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Black-chested Prinia, and a variety of seedeaters are easily seen.
Accommodations at River Crossing Lodge, Windhoek (B,D)
Sun., Oct. 5 Okonjima Reserve
This morning, we head through the modern and clean city of Windhoek and on out to Okonjima Reserve. This is a three-hour drive, and our plan is to arrive in time for a game drive. Along rocky outcrops we can look out for Hartlaub’s Spurfowl and Rockrunner as we go. Our lodge area is known for good chances to see some of the more elusive species such as Brown Hyena, Leopard, and even Pangolin.
It is also an excellent area for birding. Thornveld species around the lodge include Damara Red-billed, Monteiro’s, Yellow-billed and Grey-billed Hornbill, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Carp’s and Ashy Tits, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Chestnut Weaver, White-tailed Shrike, Rüppell’s Parrot, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Violet Woodhoopoe, Red-eyed Bulbul, Namaqua Dove, Southern Pied and Bare-cheeked Babblers, Marico Sunbird, Pearl-spotted Owlet, and Southern White-faced Scops and Scops Owls.
Accommodations at Okonjima Plains Camp, Okonjima Reserve (B,L,D)
Mon., Oct. 6 – Thurs., Oct. 9 Etosha National Park
Today we head on to the incredible Etosha National Park where we have a prime location to watch wildlife and enjoy ample space to explore. Etosha is one of the most magnificent game parks in Africa, teaming with large mammals and a grand mix of birds; the current park list features close to 400 species of birds.
For many, our time here is a highlight of the Namibia portion of the tour, where Elephant, Zebra, and other species congregate at scenic waterholes and birds abound. We start here, then continue to fanciful, isolated mountain ranges that contain unique species and, on the coast, passing through vast stretches of Namib Desert.
The main habitat upon entering Etosha is Mopane scrubland. Kori Bustard, the heaviest flying bird at 42 pounds, is a signature species here. In some areas, Acacia nebrownii may be in bloom, a favorite food of giraffes. The small yellow pompoms provide protein-rich food for many browsers here and birds love them too.
We are based in the park at two different camps, two nights on each side of the park, so that we experience a good mix of habitats while in this large, protected area. Our plan lets us explore without retracing our steps with more time for birding and finding wildlife. Both of our camps provide wonderful game viewing at night as well as providing opportunities to see nightjars and owls.
Etosha National Park is famous for its large game populations and during our stay here we should see Lion, Elephant, Burchell’s Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Springbok, Oryx, Giraffe, Greater Kudu, and several smaller antelopes. Among the rarer species regularly seen are Black Rhino (especially at waterholes at night), Cheetah, and Black-faced Impala, a subspecies only found in Namibia. We take time to see the various species well and there are excellent photo opportunities.
By the Von Lindequist Gate on the east side of the park, we find the open grasslands are home to Namibia’s isolated population of Blue Crane, Temminck’s Courser, Grey-backed and Chestnut-backed Sparrowlarks, and Eastern Clapper Lark. The elusive Black-faced Babbler occurs in dense Terminalia woodlands in this area. Birding is great right from our lodgings, perfect for early morning birding options.
On our cross-over day near the center of the park, the Halali area is wooded, a great stop for us as it’s the best site to see Violet Woodhoopoe, Bare-cheeked Babbler, and Carp’s Tit. Trees and shade are most welcome at this great rest stop and picnic site.
We then move on to the grassy plains north of Okaukuejo Camp, which are the best areas in the park to see Buffy Pipit, Southern Ant-eating Chat, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Pink-billed Lark, Double-banded Courser, Northern Black (White-quilled) Korhaan, and Spike-heeled Lark. Raptors are abundant and we should see Martial Eagle, Secretary Bird, Bateleur, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Tawny Eagle, and Greater Kestrel. Migrant raptors such as Western Red-footed Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Yellow-billed Kite can be seen in large numbers during the wet season.
Accommodations for two nights each at Onguma Forest Camp (eastern side) & Okaukuejo Camp (western side), respectively (B,L,D)
Fri., Oct. 10 Etosha to the Erongo Mountains—A Geologic Wonderland!
This morning we leave the park and head for a fantastic area to continue our exploring. The Erongo Mountain Range, an expanse of rugged and picturesque wilderness with fanciful geologic features, is one of Namibia’s most iconic places to visit, and in addition to excellent birding we find magnificent caves and rock painting sites, and an impressive array of wildlife species. The hoofed mammals include Wildebeest, Impala, Blesbok, Waterbuck, Kudu, Mountain Zebra, Oryx, Eland, and Springbok, and this lovely range is home to over 200 species of birds. There are also Rhino, Elephant, Warthog, and Giraffe, and with luck we even have a chance at finding predators including Leopard and Cheetah.
During our drive, look for the spectacular Secretarybird, hunting for its prey. We also may get looks at Yellow Mongoose and Steenbok, as well as more game type birds and Burchell’s Sandgrouse.
We stay at The Erongo Wild lodge, located in the spectacular Erongo Mountain hills. Birding in this area is rewarding and supports many of the Namibian near-endemics such as Violet Woodhoopoe, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Rüppell’s Parrot, White-tailed Shrike, Carp’s Tit, Rockrunner, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, and other species like Freckled Nightjar and Rosy-faced Lovebird. The whole environment is photogenic and magical. Accommodations at Ondudu Safari Lodge, Erongo Mountains (B,L,D)
Sat., Oct. 11 Erongo Mountains | Namibia’s Scenic Coast | Swakopmund
Today we enjoy an early morning walk among the geologic formations at Erongo. Our main species this morning is the Hartlaub’s Spurfowl. After breakfast, we pack up and make our way out of the mountains and over to the coast. This is a good day to watch for raptors such as the African Black (Verreaux’s) Eagle, Martial Eagle, Booted Eagle, and Black-chested Snake Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, and Rock Kestrel are all fairly common.
Along the way, there is a rich diversity of plant life including Welwitschia plant, the only member in the family Welwitschia and one of the more bizarre plants on the planet, on the western foot of the mountain. This plant is distantly related to the conifers of Europe and some of these plants are estimated to be 300 – 550 years old; the oldest determined age was 920 years. We drive via Spitzkoppe, one of a series of impressive granite inselbergs that rise steeply out of the desert plains. It is at this imposing batholith that we have our best chance of finding the near-endemic Herero Chat.
As we continue, the landscape becomes more arid and we look for the arid specialty species such as the rare and declining Burchell’s Courser, and many other sandy desert species like Stark’s Lark and other strategic species like Karoo Long-billed Lark. Other species that we may find include Mountain Wheatear, Familiar and Karoo Chats, Pale-winged Starling, Red-faced and White-backed Mousebirds, Bokmakierie, Grey-backed Cisticola, Black-chested Prinia, and Sabota Lark.
On the plains surrounding these hills we should see Rüppell’s Korhaan, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Chat Flycatcher, Verreaux’s and Booted Eagles, Augur Buzzard, and African Hawk-Eagle. Lanner Falcon also occur in the hills, as do Rosy-faced Lovebird, Carp’s and Ashy Tits, White-throated Canary, Layard’s Warbler, White-tailed Shrike, Double-banded Courser, Sabota, Red-capped, Spike-heeled, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Mountain Wheatear, Pale-winged Starling, Bradfield’s Swift, Rockrunner, both Monteiro’s and Damara Red-billed Hornbills, Dusky and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Marico and Chat Flycatchers, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Great Sparrow, Sociable Weaver, Scaly-feathered Finch, Lark-like Bunting, and the handsome Ground-scraper Thrush.
Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort because of its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere. Swakopmund exudes romance and history, which makes it a rich cultural melting pot of old and new. The town is an eclectic mixture of Bohemia and Bavaria which makes it home to artists, hippies, strait-laced descendants of German settlers, stately Herero women in Victorian dresses, and hardworking miners, game rangers, safari operators, and fishermen. Dining selections are excellent here and we enjoy some of our favorite restaurants.
Accommodations at Pension Rapmund, Swakopmund (B,L,D)
Sun., Oct. 12 Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
We spend most of the morning birding around the Walvis Bay Lagoon and we have our first chance here to find Dune Lark, Namibia’s endemic beauty. We are early for the peak numbers at Walvis Bay (October to April) when migrant birds have moved in from the northern hemisphere by the thousands but there are still plenty of species to see, and the variety of the birds around the lagoon is impressive. This area has the highest density of Chestnut-banded Plover, a near-threatened species, in the world. The Walvis Bay Lagoon happens to be one of Africa’s most important shorebird stopovers (it is a RAMSAR site), where we see incredible numbers of Greater and Lesser Flamingos and some extremely localized species, such as the diminutive Damara Tern.
Resident birds of the lagoon include Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, White-fronted Plover, and Three-banded Plover, as well as the sought-after Chestnut-banded Plover. Migratory species like Common Greenshank, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel, and Bar-tailed Godwit are possible.
We stop in at the Swakopmund salt works to look for Gray’s Lark. This pale-colored desert lark can be difficult to locate as it blends in perfectly with the expansive gravel plains that it frequents in the true Namib Desert. Another good find would be the pale form of Tractrac Chat, as well as Familiar Chat, Red-capped Lark, and with luck, Rufous-eared Warbler and Karoo Eremomela. Some of the water birds encountered can be White-breasted, Bank, Cape, and Crowned Cormorants, Cape Teal, Blue-billed (Hottentot), Red-billed and Maccoa Ducks, Cape Shoveler, Grey-headed Gull, and Little Grebe. Greater and Lesser Flamingos should be here feeding, and Chestnut-banded Plover is possible.
We return to enjoy another night in the seaside town of Swakopmund, known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbor for German Southwest Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. While touristy, we have fun here and are assured of some fun dining in a local restaurant.
Accommodations at Pension Rapmund, Swakopmund (B,L,D)
Mon., Oct. 13 Namib-Naukluft National Park | Sossusvlei & Deadvlei
Today we head down the coast, then leave behind the cold Benguela Current and head to one of the most beautiful areas of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei, stopping regularly to look for arid zone specialists such as Ludwig’s Bustard, Sociable Weaver, Pygmy Falcon, Lappet-faced Vulture, and Burchell’s Courser. The dry river courses and drainage lines are well wooded, and we should see species such as Dusky Sunbird, Rosy-faced Lovebird, and Scaly-feathered Finch along the way.
The Namib is the oldest desert in the world, with oases for a rich and sometimes odd array of mammal, plant, and birdlife. Throughout the Namib, Fiscal Shrike sit atop enormous Candelabra trees. At one stop the road comes close to aged granite mountains that skirt the plain. This is a good spot to try for Rockrunner. Elephant Trees, a succulent Moringa species, find purchase here on the stony slopes, which are smooth red basalt and granite with inclusions of feldspar—lovely! Down the road we stop to pay tribute to an enormous candelabra Euphorbia (E. virosa), that some Southern Fiscal (a type of shrike) often decorate with impaled armored ground crickets. Quiver trees (Aloidendron dichotoma) stand sentinel over a majestic view of the distant hills; take in the smell of Namib Myrrh (Commiphora virgata).
Our accommodation is situated within the Namib Naukluft National Park at the edge of the dune complex. Individual tented cabins are rustic yet modern, designed to blend in with the stark environment and keep a light footprint on the landscape with their straightforward design. Enjoy spending time in the lodge’s sheltered outdoor spaces with low comfortable seating in covered areas adjacent to sculptures of dead acacia trees, lighting contrived from the dead wood, the local building material, and expanses of glass. Feel immersed in the Namib here within granite outcrops and expansive desert views. Rooms are spacious, air-conditioned and all have private baths and patios. Perfect to take in the immense sense of peace and quiet that this vast desert brings. You may see Oryx right from your room!
Accommodations at Dead Valley Lodge, Sossusvlei (B,L,D)
Tues., Oct. 14 Full Day at Sossusvlei National Park
Because our lodging is in the park, we have an hour advantage over the many people that visit the heart of the park at Deadvlei today. We get up by starlight and depart for Deadvlei and the Elim Dunes as the sun starts to rise. During our drive, we keep our eyes peeled for Bat-eared Fox, Black-backed Jackal, Brown Hyena, and Cape Fox. Those that wish can hike to the vlei (saltpan) between enormous dunes, the largest about 1000 feet in height. Deadvlei is a large flat area where fine clays and silts have collected over the years, and when dry, crack into a cobblestoned pavement of rounded clay tiles. The pan is punctuated by the skeletons of camel thorn trees, dead for 800 or more years, when subterranean water flows shifted and left this area dry. Those that don’t climb can readily wander and enjoy photography. These are photo-worthy moments!
After the magical light of early morning, we move on to explore patches of vegetation at the base of the dune, where Dune Lark occurs in their namesake habitat. They are just the color of their environment, the iron red of the sand, and the creamy white of the vlei.
After lunch and a break at the lodge, we head back up the road along the Tsauchab River looking for “animalscapes,” mostly of Oryx backlit by the reddening dunes of sunset. We can hike into the scrub in search of more Dune Lark, and reptiles such as the Namib Sand Snake. The thorny Nara shrubs capture sand and provide food, shade and shelter to small animals and birds. They are leafless; with photosynthesis occurring in the green stems, which helps to preserve water. Here and there we could see the raised tunnels of the Golden Mole, an endemic that lives here.
Accommodations at Dead Valley Lodge, Sossusvlei (B,L,D)
Wed., Oct. 15 Sossusvlei National Park | Flight to Windhoek
This morning, enjoy a relaxed nature drive to some dunes where we can look for birds, reptiles, and mammals, depending on what we may have dipped on. Watch for Karoo Chat, Rüppell’s Korhaan, endangered Ludwig’s Bustard, Burchell’s Courser, and other arid adapted species such as Yellow Canary, Cardinal Woodpecker, and Pririt Batis.
We get up by starlight to be at the park gate for first entry and sunrise at Sossusvlei. Marvel at some of the largest sand dunes in the world, all a deep orange-red color that glows with first light. We spend the morning exploring this magnificent landscape with its unique natural history. Learn about desert plant adaptations, look for lizards, and study animal tracks left in the sand. One of the impressive sights to behold in the park is the massive nest of Sociable Weaver that often houses a pair of Pygmy Falcon.
We take a mid-morning scenic flight back from Sossuvlei to Windhoek (see the dunes from the air!) with plans to get back in time to connect with outbound flights from Windhoek. (B,L)
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Haretebeest & Zebra by Art Cimento
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Greater Kestrel by Art Cimento
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Elephant by Art Cimento
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Spitzkoppe Scenic by Art Cimento
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Eurasian Moorhen by Art Cimento
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Brandberg White Lady Lodge, courtesy of brandbergwllodge.com
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Baboon by Art Cimento
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Lion females and cubs by Peg Abbott
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Chacma Baby eating by Greg Smith
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Weaver by BBS
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Desert Quiver Camp, courtesy of desertquivercamp.com
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Desert Quiver Camp, courtesy of desertquivercamp.com
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Desert Quiver Camp, courtesy of desertquivercamp.com
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Hohenstein Lodge, Courtesy of ondili.com
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Pied Avocets by Art Cimento
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Bare-cheeked Babbler by BBS
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Green-winged Pytilla by BBS
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Kori Bustard by Art Cimento
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Whte-faced Owl by BBS
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Adult Leopard by Peg Abbott
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Hohenstein Lodge, Courtesy of ondili.com
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Hohenstein Lodge, Courtesy of ondili.com
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Drinking Giraffe by Art Cimento
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Ostrich by Art Cimento
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Cheetah by Art Cimento
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Oryx Scenic by Art Cimento
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Namibia Scenic by Art Cimento
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Batelear by Art Cimento
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Sociable Weaver by Art Cimento
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African Scops-owl by Art Cimento
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White-quilled Bustard by Art Cimento
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Broncos Lizard by Art Cimento
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Elephants by Art Cimento
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Dalmara Red-billed Hornbill by Art Cimento
Cost of the Journey
Cost of the journey is $15,990 DBL / SGL $18,990 SGL. Singles are extremely limited. This cost includes accommodations for 17 nights, all meals as specified in the itinerary, airport transfers, professional guide services, other park and program entrance fees and miscellaneous program expenses.
Tour cost does not include transportation from your home city to Maun, departing Windhoek, internal flights (estimated at a total of $1500) optional activities such as fishing, or items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone charges, gratuities for guides, lodges and drivers, or at some locations, beverages from the bar.
Travel Details
Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.
Arrival Airport: Maun International Airport (MUB) in Botswana
Arrival Details: Plan to arrive September 28, no later than 2:00 PM. We have a charter flight at 3:00 PM on the first day.
Departure Airport: Hoseo Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, Namibia
Departure Details: Plan flights to depart October 15, after 1:30 PM
Travel Tips: We suggest that you arrive in Maun the previous night to rest up from your travels and make sure you don’t miss the charter flight on the first day of the tour. We recommend the Crest Riley Hotel, which can be booked online. It’s a comfortable hotel with a restaurant and bar on site as well as nice grounds for birding. They will meet your flight for a hotel transfer. There are some nice local restaurants nearby as well as a women’s basket cooperative that are easily accessible via taxi.
You can also fly to Maun from Cape Town or Johannesburg the morning of September 28, but note you must arrive by 2:00 PM to make the charter flight. We can connect you to our travel agent who can help make flight arrangements. Naturalist Journeys will book internal flights. There are small plane flights with luggage restrictions in Botswana to reach our lodges, so this is going to be a pack light trip!
Entry Requirements: See "Essential Information" section under the "Know Before You Go" tab.
Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.
Namibia
- September 2014
- July 2022
- October 2022
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Mason Flint
Mason is a New Mexico native who started birding at age 11 when his family moved within walking distance of the Richardson Bay Audubon Sanctuary in Tiburon, California. Here, he became an Audubon Junior Naturalist. His love of birding and travel grew through as he moved with his family to Alaska, Ohio, and Vermont, college on the east coast, and a few years trying to eke out a living as a birder/ski bum in Montana and back in New Mexico.
In desperate need of gainful employment, Mason settled in Seattle where he spent most of his career at Microsoft. Mason was able to feed his habit by adding on a day or two of birding to business trips across the US, Europe, and Asia and travel with his family. His wife Suzy, who loves travel but isn’t a birder, is a good sport and jokes that being married to a birder has given her the opportunity to visit sewage treatment ponds around the world.
Mason retired a bit early in 2015 to help fledge his two sons, squeezing in travel and birding between soccer games and band performances. He was thrilled to finally combine his passions and profession when he joined Naturalist Journeys as a consultant in early 2020. Mason has led field trips in Guyana, Peru, Iceland, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Southeastern Arizona, Minnesota, and South Africa.Other trips with Mason Flint
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Tanzania: Wildlife & Birding Safari FULL - Check out Southern Tanzania in September!February 11 - 25, 2025 -
Ghana: West Africa's Brilliant BiodiversityFebruary 28 - March 17, 2025 -
South Africa: Birding & Wildlife Safari Only one room left!September 16 - 30, 2025
Photo credits: Banner: Springbok by Arne Smith on Unsplash; Giraffe by Peg Abbott; Blue and Violet-eared Waxbills by Peg Abbott; Elephants Walking Away by Peg Abbott; Dead Trees by Marcelo Novais on Unsplash; Lesser Flamingo, Bob Rodrigues Thumbnails: Jaguar (Peg Abbott), Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Greg Smith), Southern Ground Hornbill (Nina Hale), Blue Crane (Art Cimento), White Helmetshrike (Art Cimento), Northern Carmine Beeeater (NJ Stock), Giraffe (NJ Stock), Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Art Cimento)