Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
An 18-day birding expedition from Namibia's Atlantic coast through Etosha and the Okavango Panhandle to Victoria Falls, combining desert near-endemics, river specialists and major African wildlife.
About this tour
Cross three countries and a striking sequence of habitats on a route from Walvis Bay to Victoria Falls. Coastal lagoons and the Namib Desert lead into the rocky Erongo Mountains, where the search focuses on localized birds such as Dune Lark, Herero Chat, Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike and several Namibian hornbills.
Four days in Etosha combine dry-country birding with an open-top wildlife drive and waterhole visits. The journey then follows increasingly wooded and wet landscapes through Rundu, Mahango and the Okavango Panhandle, adding boat-based birding for Pel's Fishing Owl, African Skimmer, African Finfoot and other river and floodplain species.
The final section explores the Zambezi region and Victoria Falls. This is a full, wide-ranging programme with early starts, road transfers, short walks and optional night birding; the guide may adjust individual stops around weather, access and current bird activity.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Namibia.
Birds you can spot
Tricholaema leucomelas
target
Glaucidium capense
target
Cuculus gularis
target
Anhinga rufa
target
Chrysococcyx cupreus
target
Podica senegalensis
target
Bradornis microrhynchus
target
Lophoceros nasutus
target
Polyboroides typus
target
Aquila spilogaster
target
Actophilornis africanus
target
Circus ranivorus
target
Anastomus lamelligerus
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Terpsiphone viridis
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Motacilla aguimp
target
Nettapus auritus
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Otus senegalensis
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Rynchops flavirostris
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Gallinago nigripennis
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Platalea alba
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Saxicola torquatus
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Strix woodfordii
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Tachymarptis melba
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Chalcomitra amethystina
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Cinnyris buettikoferi
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Eremalauda eremodites
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Cinnyris hellmayri
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Turdoides jardineii
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Buteo augur
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Cissomela pectoralis
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Limosa lapponica
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Turdoides gymnogenys
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Crinifer personatus
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Terathopius ecaudatus
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Zapornia flavirostra
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Cuculus clamosus
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Egretta ardesiaca
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Sugomel nigrum
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Chlidonias niger
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Botaurus dubius
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Dryoscopus cubla
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Lissotis melanogaster
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Circaetus pectoralis
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Tchagra senegalus
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Crithagra mennelli
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Turdoides melanops
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Chlorophoneus nigrifrons
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Serinus alario
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Ardea melanocephala
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Estrilda atricapilla
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Podiceps nigricollis
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Elanus axillaris
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Tricholaema melanocephala
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Crithagra atrogularis
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Himantopus himantopus
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Vanellus armatus
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Anthropoides paradiseus
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Centropus monachus
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Apus leuconyx
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Brachycope anomala
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Telophorus zeylonus
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Spizocorys fringillaris
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Onychognathus salvadorii
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Eurystomus glaucurus
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Vidua obtusa
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Spermestes cucullata
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Metopidius indicus
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Zapornia akool
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Circaetus cinereus
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Apalis flavocincta
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Riparia paludicola
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Nilaus afer
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Treron waalia
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Campicoloides bifasciatus
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Anthus vaalensis
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Cursorius rufus
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Anthoscopus minutus
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Cossypha caffra
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Passer melanurus
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Motacilla capensis
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Oenanthe pileata
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Dendropicos fuscescens
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Hydroprogne caspia
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Aquila africana
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Cisticola anonymus
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Ploceus rubiginosus
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Ploceus castaneofuscus
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Erythrocercus mccallii
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Sarothrura lugens
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Curruca subcoerulea
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Batis molitor
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Emberiza tahapisi
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Glareola pratincola
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Hedydipna collaris
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Buteo buteo
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Tringa nebularia
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Gallinula chloropus
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Actitis hypoleucos
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Apus apus
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Estrilda astrild
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Cinnyris congensis
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Cinnyris cupreus
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Trachyphonus vaillantii
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Pyrenestes sanguineus
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Laniarius atrococcineus
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Lophoceros alboterminatus
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Vanellus coronatus
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Amadina fasciata
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Trachyphonus darnaudii
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Tockus damarensis
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Melierax metabates
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Cisticola guinea
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Rhinoptilus africanus
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Anarhynchus bicinctus
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Cinnyris fuscus
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Dendropicos spodocephalus
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Turtur chalcospilos
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Cisticola lugubris
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Falco subbuteo
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Merops apiaster
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Hydrobates pelagicus
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Euplectes axillaris
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Calendulauda africanoides
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Malaconotus cruentus
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Campethera taeniolaema
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Batis mixta
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Anthoscopus flavifrons
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Micronisus gabar
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Plegadis falcinellus
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Calyptocichla serinus
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Campethera abingoni
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Campethera cailliautii
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Ardea goliath
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Pelecanus onocrotalus
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Falco rupicoloides
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Rostratula benghalensis
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Nettapus pulchellus
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Phoeniculus purpureus
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Campethera maculosa
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Pytilia melba
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Crinifer concolor
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Malaconotus blanchoti
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Pseudhirundo griseopyga
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Turdus litsitsirupa
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Hydrobates macrodactylus
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Alcedo semitorquata
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Scopus umbretta
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Numida meleagris
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Namibornis herero
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Necrosyrtes monachus
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Hippolais icterina
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Rynchops albicollis
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Vidua raricola
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Vanellus macropterus
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Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
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Sarkidiornis melanotos
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Ardeotis kori
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Zapornia monasa
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Turdus libonyana
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Falco biarmicus
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Torgos tracheliotos
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Glaucestrilda caerulescens
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Lanius minor
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Microparra capensis
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Ploceus intermedius
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Clanga pomarina
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Cecropis abyssinica
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Cisticola tinniens
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Botaurus minutus
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Heterotetrax humilis
target
Tachybaptus ruficollis
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Eurillas gracilis
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Calidris minuta
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Apus affinis
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Kaupifalco monogrammicus
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Sylvietta rufescens
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Vanellus crassirostris
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Cisticola luapula
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Cisticola distinctus
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Polyboroides radiatus
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Corythornis cristatus
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Terpsiphone mutata
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Halcyon senegaloides
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Leptoptilos crumenifer
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Bradornis mariquensis
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Cinnyris mariquensis
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Tringa stagnatilis
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Bocagia minuta
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Polemaetus bellicosus
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Spizocorys personata
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Dendropicos lugubris
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Tockus monteiri
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Oena capensis
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Pterocles namaqua
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Apaloderma narina
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Pternistis natalensis
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Cisticola fulvicapilla
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Afrotis afraoides
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Ploceus castanops
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Oriolus sagittatus
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Ploceus brachypterus
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Pytilia afra
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Pandion haliaetus
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Cinnyris aurora
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Batis soror
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Otus brucei
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Stercorarius parasiticus
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Hirundo dimidiata
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Glaucidium perlatum
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Cisticola brunnescens
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Scotopelia peli
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Caprimulgus vexillarius
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Falco peregrinus
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Leistes bellicosus
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Ceryle rudis
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Vidua macroura
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Spizocorys conirostris
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Calendulauda poecilosterna
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Eurillas curvirostris
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Batis pririt
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Ardea purpurea
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Cinnyris bifasciatus
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Polihierax semitorquatus
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Ortygospiza atricollis
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Vidua nigeriae
target
Bubalornis niger
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Lagonosticta senegala
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Quelea quelea
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Pternistis adspersus
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Dryoscopus senegalensis
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Cisticola erythrops
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Cryptospiza reichenovii
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Tricholaema diademata
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Amadina erythrocephala
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Fulica cristata
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Falco chicquera
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Pytilia phoenicoptera
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Onychognathus morio
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Cinnyris regius
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Scleroptila streptophora
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Falco rupicolus
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Agapornis roseicollis
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Telophorus cruentus
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Arenaria interpres
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Calidris pugnax
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Leioptila annectens
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Ardeola rufiventris
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Melaniparus rufiventris
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Malcorus pectoralis
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Galerida macrorhyncha
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Calendulauda sabota
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Riparia riparia
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Calidris alba
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Sagittarius serpentarius
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Centropus senegalensis
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Cinnyris dussumieri
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Vidua regia
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Lamprotornis acuticaudus
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Monticola brevipes
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Empidornis semipartitus
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Egretta vinaceigula
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Onychognathus frater
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Ardenna grisea
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Tadorna cana
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Afrotis afra
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Merops nubicoides
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Turdoides bicolor
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Netta erythrophthalma
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Euplectes orix
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Eurocephalus anguitimens
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Ptilopsis granti
target
Tockus leucomelas
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Columba guinea
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Ploceus ocularis
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Muscicapa striata
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Plectropterus gambensis
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Ardeola ralloides
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Cisticola robustus
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Halcyon chelicuti
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Heliornis fulica
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Merops hirundineus
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Hydrobates monorhis
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Zapornia nigra
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Oriolus decipiens
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Ploceus castaneiceps
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Aquila rapax
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Phyllastrephus terrestris
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Crithagra burtoni
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Rhinoptilus cinctus
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Emarginata tractrac
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Laniarius major
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Bycanistes bucinator
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Cinnyris infrenatus
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Ploceus cucullatus
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Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
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Granatina granatina
target
Cisticola lais
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Burhinus vermiculatus
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Grus carunculata
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Batis occulta
target
Lophoceros semifasciatus
target
Crithagra canicapilla
target
Criniger barbatus
target
Ardea ibis
target
Crithagra frontalis
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Thalassornis leuconotus
target
Colius colius
target
Cossyphicula roberti
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Mazaria propinqua
target
Centropus superciliosus
target
Cercotrichas leucophrys
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Procellaria aequinoctialis
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Penelope pileata
target
Pelagodroma marina
target
Dendrocygna viduata
target
Aethopyga eximia
target
Charadrius marginatus
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Centropus ateralbus
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Apus caffer
target
Lanioturdus torquatus
target
Crithagra albogularis
target
Chlidonias leucopterus
target
Phylloscopus trochilus
target
Hirundo smithii
target
Tringa glareola
target
Halcyon senegalensis
target
Batis fratrum
target
Euplectes capensis
target
Eremomela icteropygialis
target
Chlorocichla flaviventris
target
Buphagus africanus
target
Apalis flavida
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Euplectes afer
target
Crithagra mozambica
target
Euplectes macroura
target
Phylloscopus cantator
target
Pytilia hypogrammica
target
Itinerary ▼
Begin near Rooibank in red-dune habitat, where Dune Lark is the principal target. Continue around Swakopmund and the coastal desert for Gray's Lark, Tractrac Chat and other arid-zone birds before reaching Walvis Bay's productive lagoon.
Take a lagoon boat trip for marine mammals and coastal birds, which may include Damara Tern, cormorants, pelicans and pelagic visitors. Later, work the salt pans and shallows for Chestnut-banded Plover, African Oystercatcher, grebes and migrant shorebirds.
Travel inland through open desert plains where Ruppell's Korhaan, sandgrouse, bustards and localized larks are possible. Rocky slopes around Spitzkoppe and the Erongo Mountains provide habitat for Herero Chat, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Monteiro's Hornbill and raptors.
Spend a full day among rocky slopes, dry riverbeds and lodge grounds. Priorities include White-tailed Shrike, Hartlaub's Spurfowl, Ruppell's Parrot and Rockrunner, with opportunities for Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Bearded Woodpecker and arid-country mammals.
Enter Etosha for an open-top wildlife drive and birding around plains and waterholes. Kori Bustard, coursers, Secretarybird, vultures and Pygmy Falcon may accompany elephants, Black Rhinoceros and other large mammals.
Use the full day for central Etosha's open country. Larks, Rufous-eared Warbler, Desert Cisticola, Cape Penduline Tit, Crimson-breasted Shrike, kestrels, vultures and sandgrouse are among the possible highlights.
Cross toward eastern Etosha with a stop around Halali for daytime owl roosts and Namibian near-endemics. Farther east, search woodland and plains for babblers, wood hoopoes, coursers, Red-necked Falcon and Caspian Plover.
Explore the Andoni Plains and surrounding dry woodland for Blue Crane, Pink-billed and Eastern Clapper Larks, Burchell's Sandgrouse, Burchell's Courser, Red-crested Korhaan and Violet-eared Waxbill.
Continue east as arid country gives way to taller woodland and riverine habitat. Late-day birding near Rundu may introduce jacanas, storks, coucals, barbets, kingfishers, Hartlaub's Babbler and Swamp Boubou.
Bird wetlands near Rundu for pratincoles, Blue-billed Teal, painted-snipe and small crakes, then transfer to the Divundu and Mahango area. Lodge grounds can produce Bradfield's Hornbill, parrots, swallows, firefinches and white-eyes.
Work tall woodland for Rufous-bellied Tit, Sharp-tailed Starling, Souza's Shrike and other regional species. An afternoon in Mahango adds floodplain birds, raptors, weavers and chances for African Buffalo, Roan Antelope and Sable Antelope.
Cross into Botswana and search open country for Bradfield's Hornbill before settling beside the Okavango Panhandle. Bird the lodge grounds and nearby woodland for Hartlaub's Babbler, coucals, starlings, firefinches and African Barred Owlet.
Cruise the upper Okavango for close views and photography of wetland wildlife. Pel's Fishing Owl is a leading objective, supported by African Skimmer, pygmy geese, Slaty Egret, lapwings, White-backed Night Heron, coucals and bee-eaters.
Return to Namibia and continue through riverine woodland to Katima Mulilo. A late boat outing may produce Rock Pratincole, African Finfoot, African Skimmer, Half-collared Kingfisher and White-backed Night Heron, with optional night-birding afterward.
Explore northeastern Namibia's riparian forest, woodland and seasonal pans. Targets range from Pale-throated Greenbul and Racket-tailed Roller to Western Banded Snake Eagle, Rosy-throated Longclaw, jacanas, herons and cisticolas.
Use the early morning for remaining Zambezi-region priorities, then travel east through broad-leaved woodland and complete the border crossings into Zimbabwe. Roadside sightings can include Southern Ground Hornbill.
Take an open-top wildlife drive in habitat around Victoria Falls, then visit the falls and continue birding near the town and lodge. Palm thrushes, turacos, hornbills, woodpeckers, rollers and riverside species are possible.
The scheduled programme ends after breakfast. An optional short birding walk may be possible before departure, but no formal activities are included on the final day.
Locations & map
- Walvis Bay, Namibia - Namibia
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - Namibia
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request
Included
- All accommodation
- Meals (from lunch on day 1 until breakfast on day 18)
- Unlimited bottled water
- Expert tour leader
- All entrance & conservation fees
- All ground transport
- Airport pick-up and drop-off (on Days 1 and 18, only)
- Entrance fees to Victoria Falls
- Boat ride on the Okavango River
- Boat trip along the Zambezi River
- Open-top game drive in Etosha National Park
Not included
- International/domestic flights (to Walvis Bay/from Victoria Falls)
- Visas
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. gifts, laundry, internet access, phone calls, etc.
- Any pre- or post-tour accommodation, meals, or birding excursions
- Soft/alcoholic drinks
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities (please see our tipping guidelines blog)
Transport & stays
Accommodations
- Ai-Aiba – The Rock Painting Lodge (days 3-4)
- Okaukuejo Camp, central Etosha (day 5)
Policies & FAQ
Insurance & Safety
In rare cases, tour logistics may also require the use of a different international guide than the one originally advertised. Any such changes are made with the aim of maintaining the quality and integrity of the tour.
Reviews
"The birds and mammals were awesome. Our guide, Dominic Rollinson, was extraordinary and stunningly amazing at finding birds. Food and lodging were exceptional. The variety of habitats, from ocean to desert to scrubland to rainforest to Victoria Falls, was fantastic. Truly the trip of a lifetime. Dom was outstanding, extraordinary! The best guide you'll ever find. Truly amazing how he could hear birds a mile away and locate them for us. He has supernatural powers, and I'm not kidding. The food was so good and plentiful, that I gained 8 pounds ! If you're looking to lose weight, don't take this trip :-)"