Namibia

Day 1: The tour begins at midday in Windhoek. After checking into our hotel, we should have time for local birding at nearby sites, which provide a fine introduction to the birds of Namibia. Acacia Pied Barbet, Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater, African Red-eyed Bulbul, Pririt Batis, Black-chested Prinia, Chestnut-vented Tit Babbler and Southern Masked Weaver are all possible before dinner. Night near Windhoek.  

Day 2: We’ll awake to the raucous calls of Red-billed Spurfowl in the surrounding scrub, and, before breakfast, visit a site for one of Namibia’s special birds, Rockrunner. This near endemic is, as its name suggests, found among rocky outcrops and is usually first detected by its strange, oriole-like song. Other birds we’ll hope for include Orange River Francolin, Common Scimitarbill, the vivid Southern Red Bishop and the smart Black-faced Waxbill. During our outdoor breakfast we may be further distracted by Short-toed Rock Thrush, Carp’s Tit, Familiar Chat and Bradfield’s Swift. We’ll then commence our journey south, and should soon see massive Sociable Weaver nests clinging to roadside poles and trees; some may even have the tiny Pygmy Falcon in attendance. Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk will also be using the roadside poles as a convenient lookout perch, while other raptors could include Black-winged Kite or the mighty Martial Eagle. Monteiro’s Hornbill, Rufous-crowned Roller, Southern Anteater-Chat, Common Fiscal (of the local “white-browed” Namib form) and Chat Flycatcher should be some of the more obvious species. Flocks of small passerines could include White-browed Sparrow Weaver and Lark-like Bunting, and roadside stops by old river courses might reveal a noisy group of Violet Wood-Hoopoe or Golden-tailed Woodpecker.

Our destination is a working guest farm at Namibgrens, perched on the edge of the Khomas Highland area, close to the famous Spreetshoogte Pass, a gateway to the vast Namib Desert and the perfect base from which to explore the area. Night at Namibgrens.  

Day 3: We’ll start by birding the grounds of the farm where Groundscraper Thrush, Layard’s Tit Babbler, Karoo Scrub-robin and Crimson-breasted Shrike are all pre-breakfast possibilities. We’ll then drive through the Spreetshoogte Pass, where from the top we can gaze across the immense Namib-Naukluft wilderness stretching away toward the coast. The Pass should give us a variety of birds, from the smart Augur Buzzard to the stunning Bokmakierie and both Scarlet-chested and Dusky Sunbirds. It is also one of the traditional sites to see Herero Chat, a bird that is restricted to Namibia and neighboring Angola. This distinctive chat uses the small acacia trees as a lookout but can at times be remarkably difficult to locate. 

Moving on we’ll stop for other species we may only see in this area, such as the Cinnamon-breasted Warbler. This dry country is very good for larks, so we should detect Stark’s, Sabota and Karoo Long-billed Larks. We’ll also hope for a sighting of the impressive Ludwig’s Bustard. We’ll stop at Solitaire, an isolated outpost with a small bakery famous for its apple pie. The trees surrounding the buildings can be a good place to see Rosy-Faced Lovebird coming to drink at dripping taps as we defend our pie against Cape and Great Sparrows and Cape Starling. Although we’re in a remote part of the country, Sossusvlei is one of Namibia’s big tourist attractions – it is here where you can see those huge brick-red sand dunes that adorn the guide book pages. If time permits we’ll visit the dunes first in the afternoon when the low light creates dark, curving shadows that contrast with the deep red sand, offering endless photo opportunities. There are also birds to look for, and this will be our first chance for Dune Lark, a sandy-colored bird and Namibia’s only endemic, which can be found running fast over the dunes in search of insects. Elsewhere we may find Common Ostrich, Rüppell’s Korhaan, Greater Kestrel and Mountain Wheatear. Night in Sesriem area.  

Day 4: There may be time to return to the dunes at dawn, searching for more new birds, including Secretarybird and Karoo Chat, as well as stately Gemsbok, the most common ungulate in this area. Retracing our steps via Solitaire, we’ll embark on a drive across the Namib-Naukluft, a huge national park the size of Switzerland that takes us through the oldest desert in the world. This is a drive to sit back and take in the slowly unfolding landscape as we pass through more dramatic passes and past dark inselbergs before leveling out as we near the coast.  

Birds are not numerous en route, but we’ll look for two in particular. The striking pale Namib form of Tractrac Chat lives out in this harsh land and can appear as an almost pure white bird sitting on low vegetation. It shares this environment with small flocks of Gray’s Lark, which scurry over the sand in search of seeds. We’ll also search some open gravel fields for Burchell’s Courser. 

We should reach the coast and the seaside town of Walvis Bay in the afternoon, and after checking in to our hotel we’ll take our first look at the lagoon. One thing is certain – there will be lots of birds – tens of thousands of them in fact, but how close they are will depend on the tide. Immediately obvious are the pink Lesser Flamingos stretching to the horizon, with smaller numbers of Greater Flamingos among them, and very large flocks of Cape Cormorants constantly streaming up and down the lagoon. Less numerous will be the noisy African Black Oystercatcher, while Great White Pelican can often be found right up on the boulevard that borders the lagoon. Night at Walvis Bay.  

Day 5: The extensive salt pans at Walvis Bay are a great place for birds. Driving along the convenient roadways that separate the pans, it is hard to escape both species of flamingos, but they will be mingling with hordes of Cape Teal, Pied Avocet and a mix of wintering waders such as Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-bellied Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. Around the edges of the pans White-fronted Plover will be dashing back and forth, and we’ll look through these to pick out Chestnut-banded Plover, a dapper African wader typically found on salt pans. Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls are always present, along with the large Swift and Caspian Terns and the local specialty, the tiny Damara Tern often seen diving for fish in the salt pans and out on the main lagoon. Driving around to the seaward side, we may see Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers harrying the local terns, and there should also be Sooty and possibly Cory’s Shearwaters cruising past, albeit at some distance. 

If we have not seen Dune Lark, we’ll have another chance near Walvis Bay, and there are also some great places to see Gray’s Lark as the strip of desert that runs inland behind the coast is much to their liking. We may also travel up the coast to Swakopmund to search for Bank Cormorant and explore places around Walvis Bay for Red-Faced Mousebird, Orange River White-eye and African Reed Warbler. Of course, being on the coast it would be a crime not to take dinner at least one night at a fine local seafood restaurant. Night in Walvis Bay.  

Day 6: We’ll leave the coast and head inland, hoping to make a detour to see an ancient and structurally unique plant, the Welwitschia, found only in the costal desert plains of Namibia and Angola. If we still haven’t seen Herero Chat, we’ll make another detour to visit Spitzkoppe, a gigantic inselberg where the species resides. Other birds in this area include Pale-winged Starling and Rosy-faced Lovebird, while Verreaux’s Eagle can be seen overhead.  

Our day’s final destination is the Erongo Mountains. Our lodge is located amid superb habitat – a wonderful mix of scrub and mature trees woven in and around the smooth red rocks. There are some special birds here, and in particular we hope to see the rare Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, whose strident calls echo around the rocky habitat at dawn. We’ll also search for the smart White-tailed Shrike, a striking black-and-white bird that is restricted to Namibia and parts of Angola. As darkness falls the yelping calls of Freckled Nightjar start to fill the air and we stand a good chance of seeing them as they flit around the lodge lights. Night in Erongo Mountains.  

Day 7: We’ll have a pre-breakfast walk around the lodge grounds. As well as actually seeing Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, there should be Red-billed Spurfowl, Green-winged Pytilia, White-browed Scrub Robin, Rockrunner, and Black-faced Waxbill among others.  

Moving on we’ll spend one night a short distance outside of Etosha National Park. Our lodge is surrounded by good habitats, including large areas of open grassland, and most important its out-of-park location allows us to do a night drive. Although we can’t predict what we’ll see, the main attraction is likely to be the mammals, with both Aardvark and Aardwolf possible, along with Bat-eared Fox, the strange Spring Hare, Yellow Mongoose and Small-spotted Genet. There should also be a few birds; Southern White-faced Scops and Barn Owls and perhaps a nightjar or two are possible. Night at Hobatare Lodge. 

Days 8-11: Mighty Etosha National Park dominates northern Namibia and remains one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. At its center lies the massive baked salt pan that gives the park its name, which translates to “The Great White Place.” Some 70 miles long, this shimmering expanse is dry most of the time, only receiving a thin cover of water after significant rain. However, it’s surrounded by a rich mosaic of savannah, mopane woodland and open grassland, all of which are alive with birds and animals. Dotted throughout is a series of waterholes that provide essential rehydration for wildlife and superb viewing opportunities for visitors.  

Etosha is huge, covering some 8,800 square miles, so to see all that it has to offer, we’ll divide our stay between the western and eastern sections. We’ll begin in the west, and our first day’s drive takes us across Damaraland to the western end of the park. We’ll arrive at our lodge in time for an afternoon game drive and our first chance to see some of the area’s mammals. Their numbers depend very much on the rains, but Giraffe should be immediately obvious, towering above the trees, and we have a very good chance of seeing our first African Elephants. There will be lots of antelope, ranging from the huge Kudu to the elegant black-fronted form of Impala, and with so much prey around Lion or Spotted Hyena can also be expected. Our lodge has a large, floodlit waterhole, and as dusk falls we can expect a variety of mammals and birds to appear. Sitting quietly within feet of the water we may be treated to a Black Rhinoceros or two coming to drink, and there could also be some nocturnal birds present such as Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl or a Rufous-eared Nightjar. 

Our drives on the plains should provide us with a wonderful variety of encounters. On the areas of open grassland we’ll be looking for Kori Bustard, Helmeted Guineafowl, Temminck’s and Double-banded Coursers, Red-capped, Spike-heeled and Pink-billed Larks, Capped Wheatear, Desert Cisticola, Rufous-eared Warbler, and African Pipit. Overhead the open skies are the domain of the park’s many raptors, which include Lappet-faced and African White-backed Vultures, Tawny Eagle and Bateleur.  

These plains are also home to large herds of Springbok, Blue Wildebeest, Warthog and Burchell’s Zebra, all of which will join other species at one of the many waterholes. Watching over an active waterhole is exciting, and we could once again be lucky enough to see a Black Rhino, this time in daylight. Black-backed Jackal seems to be everywhere, and it is not unusual to find groups of Spotted Hyena coming to the waterholes as well. Birds also need to drink. At some of the more open waterholes, and if the rains have been sparse, the morning air is filled with the distinctive calls of Namaqua Sandgrouse, flights of which are constantly coming and going. These birds are always very wary when drinking, as indeed they should be with the attendant Lanner Falcon always on the lookout for a meal. Occasionally the abundant Namaqua Sandgrouse are joined by the much rarer Burchell’s Sandgrouse, their reddish color and lack of tail streamers helping us separate them. Many Cape Turtle and Laughing Doves will join the throng, as will the common Grey-backed  and perhaps a few Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks. Waders are also attracted to the pools, and most will have resident Kittlitz’s Plover in attendance. It’s also not unusual to see a Hamerkop stalking the water’s edge. 

Etosha is crisscrossed by numerous tracks that get us close to many of its birds. Lilac-breasted Roller often permit a close approach, and both Red-crested and Northern Black Korhaans can be found on the roadside, while the bushes hold African Grey and Southern Red-billed Hornbills, Long-billed Crombec, African Barred Wren-warbler, Burnt-necked Eremomela and Southern White-crowned Shrike, among many others. 

In the eastern part of Etosha there will be more waterholes to take in, and we’ll also stop at a lodge to search the grounds for the distinctive Bare-cheeked Babbler, another bird found only in Namibia and Angola. This lodge is also usually home to Barn Owl and tiny African Scops Owl, both of which we hope to see at their daytime roosts. 

From our eastern base we’ll happily encounter many of the birds and mammals that have entertained us over the past few days, but there will be new things to look for as well: Swainson’s Francolin, Red-necked Falcon, Shikra, Gabar Goshawk, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Meyer’s Parrot, Rufous-naped Lark, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver and Scaly-feathered Finch, to mention a few. Nights in Etosha National Park. 

Day 12: We’ll take our reluctant leave of Etosha and begin the return journey to Windhoek, but before we reach there we have one final place to visit, the renowned Waterberg Plateau. This dramatic and very prominent feature rises some 700 feet out of the eastern plains. Our lodge is located at the end of a long valley and is surrounded on three sides by towering sandstone cliffs. There is a natural spring that supports a tropical environment around the lodge and creates a wonderfully relaxing place to end our tour. Night at Waterberg Wilderness Lodge. 

Day 13: We'll have all day to explore this area. The dense woodland on the approach to the lodge is where we may find parties of the striking Southern Pied Babbler or White-crested Helmet Shrike. The rocky cliffs are the perfect habitat for Bradfield’s Hornbill, and we’ll be listening for their distinctive whistling call, while there will be another chance to locate Hartlaub’s Spurfowl and Rockrunner. This is probably our best location for Rüppell’s Parrot, as this attractive bird, a near endemic, can often be found feeding on the seedpods of tall acacia trees around the lodge. Other species we may come across today include African Hawk- and Wahlberg’s Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Little Sparrowhawk, Lesser Honeyguide and White-bellied Sunbird. As night falls, we may find the diminutive Lesser Bushbaby bouncing around the trees, and a feeding station is regularly visited by a Cape Porcupine. Night at Waterberg Wilderness Lodge. 

Day 14: After breakfast we’ll begin our journey back to Windhoek, where the tour ends after lunch.

2026 Narrative

IN BRIEF: Another highly successful trip concluded with a with a substantial number of new species, along with a few that ultimately eluded us. The onset of widespread and unusually early rains produced notable bird movements, and several species consequently became more difficult to locate. Despite these conditions, we recorded all the near‑endemics except for the nomadic Burchell’s Courser and Ludwig’s Bustard, both of which are prone to extensive wandering during wet seasons.

We obtained good views of most Namibian and karroid specials, supplemented by a few unexpected write‑ins. Several new reptiles and amphibians were also documented along the route. Rainfall increased significantly toward the end of the trip, and raptor numbers were exceptional, with migrant kites, falcons, and kestrels particularly well represented.

IN DETAIL: The group assembled for lunch on 2 February for a pre‑tour briefing, after which we undertook a short walk on the grounds surrounding our lodge on the outskirts of Windhoek. The principal target for the afternoon was the near‑endemic Rockrunner, which proved elusive at first but eventually offered excellent scope views for all participants.

Additional highlights from the walk included a distant pair of African Hawk‑Eagles, Rock Kestrel, Diederik Cuckoo, Damara Hornbill, Acacia Pied Barbet, Southern Pied Babblers, African Barred Wren‑Warbler, Greater Striped Swallow, Pririt Batis, Rosy‑faced Lovebirds, Short‑toed Rock Thrush, and Southern Masked Weaver.

The following morning, at first light, we drove to Avis Dam for a pre‑breakfast walk. The dam was holding a substantial volume of water due to the excellent rains this season, yet it supported surprisingly few waterfowl compared with the previous year. Notable sightings included Red‑knobbed Coot, Black‑necked and Little Grebes, Egyptian Goose, Reed and White‑breasted Cormorants, Red‑billed Teal, and African Spoonbill. A Pearl‑spotted Owlet showed well, and both Monteiro’s and Southern Yellow‑billed Hornbills were encountered. Other highlights were European Bee‑eater, Black‑faced Waxbill, Marico and Scarlet‑chested Sunbirds, and White‑backed Mousebird. Over the dam, Bradfield’s, Little, and African Palm Swifts were present in good numbers.

After breakfast, we continued south along the C26, a scenic gravel back road winding through the impressive Khomas Hochland. Roadside birding produced a pleasing variety of raptors, including Pale‑chanting Goshawk, Black‑winged Kite, Common Buzzard, and Black‑chested Snake‑Eagle. Additional species recorded en route included Dusky, Rufous‑naped, and Sabota Larks, White‑tailed Shrike, Great Sparrow, Chestnut Weavers, Ashy Tit, White‑backed and Lappet‑faced Vultures, Burchell’s Starling, Crimson‑breasted Shrike, and Red‑billed Spurfowl.

As we entered more karroid habitat, we recorded Chat Flycatcher, Rufous‑eared Warbler, Kalahari Scrub‑Robin, Black‑chested Prinia, Dusky Sunbird, Chestnut‑vented Warbler, Sociable Weaver, Scaly‑feathered Finch, and Lark‑like Bunting. We arrived in the late afternoon on the edge of the Namib, where we spent the night. A short drive back to our accommodation after dinner produced a Spotted Eagle‑Owl.

A pre‑dawn walk at Namib Grens the following morning yielded a displaying pair of Bokmakierie. We also added a solitary male Mountain Wheatear, Cape Bunting, and Cardinal Woodpecker. Birding around the granite outcrops was relatively slow, as this appeared to be one of the few areas that had not yet received any rain.

After breakfast we added Karoo Scrub‑Robin before making our way to the edge of the escarpment, where the Spreetshoogte Pass drops dramatically into the Namib Desert. From the top we enjoyed sweeping views across the vast desert below. We searched the pass carefully for Herero Chat, though without success.

As we descended into the Namib, we encountered several characteristic arid‑zone species, including Stark’s Lark, Grey‑backed Sparrow‑Lark, Karoo Chat, a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles, Greater Kestrel, Namaqua Dove, and Capped Wheatear.

We reached our stunning lodge in time for lunch, with breathtaking views stretching across the open Namib plains toward the iconic red dunes. This landscape provides ideal habitat for Namibia’s only true endemic bird, the Dune Lark. As the afternoon light shifted and cast long shadows across the dunes, cameras came out to capture the classic desert scenery. Finding the Dune Lark required a bit of walking, but we eventually enjoyed excellent views of a very confiding individual. On the drive, we also encountered several groups of Rüppell’s Korhaan and Namaqua Sandgrouse.

Today we set off before sunrise with breakfast packs and drove west toward Deadvlei, roughly 60 km into the heart of the dune corridor. The immense red dunes created a striking, almost surreal landscape culminating in the Sossusvlei pan. After exploring the area, we returned to the lodge, packed up, and began our journey toward the coastal town of Walvis Bay. En route, we searched for key Namib species and were rewarded with excellent sightings of Gray’s Lark, Northern Black Korhaan, and Tractrac Chat. A large, desert‑adapted Namaqua Chameleon was also found crossing the roadside.

Upon reaching the coast, a brief stop at the sewage ponds produced impressive numbers of Greater Flamingos, accompanied by a wide selection of waders and common waterfowl. Blue‑billed and Cape Teal were present in good numbers, and both Little Grebe and Black‑necked Grebe were again seen side by side. Additional highlights included African Swamphen, Maccoa Duck, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler, Black‑winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Great White Pelican, and White‑fronted Plover. We then checked into our accommodation overlooking the Walvis Bay Lagoon, where Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls were recorded.

The wetlands surrounding Walvis Bay form a designated Ramsar Site, supporting vast numbers of Palearctic migrants as well as significant resident wader and waterbird populations. It is estimated that more than 250,000 Palearctic migrants pass through annually. We observed strong numbers of the expected species, with Curlew Sandpiper particularly abundant this season. Other migrants included Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Ruff, and African Oystercatcher. The saltpans also held a few notable vagrants, including Tibetan Sandplover and at least 36 Red‑necked Phalaropes.

The ocean was exceptionally calm, limiting seabird activity, though we managed distant scope views of at least one Wilson’s Storm‑Petrel and a Sooty Shearwater. A single Parasitic Jaeger was found on the peninsula. All the usual tern species were present, with good numbers of Damara Terns and a single Black Tern rounding out the day’s list.

After lunch we located Orange River White-eye around Swakopmund, with additional coastal sightings of Crowned, Cape, and White‑breasted Cormorants. A brief stop at the golf course produced Common Reed Warbler, Red‑faced Mousebird, and Common Waxbill.

Leaving the coast from Walvis Bay, we travelled down into the Khan River Valley, where we successfully found a pair of Karoo Eremomela, our main target for the area. Karoo Long‑billed Lark was added shortly afterwards before we continued toward Spitzkoppe, the impressive granite inselberg renowned for both its birdlife and ancient rock art.

At Spitzkoppe we quickly located our key species, Layard’s Warbler and Herero Chat, and added both Klaas’s and Jacobin Cuckoo. From there we moved into the upper Khan River, encountering a rich mix of woodland species including Damara Hornbill, Violet Woodhoopoe, White‑crested Helmetshrike, African Grey Hornbill, Spotted Flycatcher, Brubru, Golden‑tailed Woodpecker, and African Cuckoo. Along the road, large numbers of Abdim’s Stork and Black‑ and Yellow‑billed Kites were observed moving through the area.

As we continued toward the lodge, the raptor list grew further with Tawny Eagle, Red‑footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, and Red‑crested Korhaan, before rounding off the day with Carp’s Tit.

The Erongo Mountains, the eroded remains of an ancient volcanic complex, rise in massive granite domes and boulder stacks to over 2,300 meters above sea level. This dramatic landscape supports an exceptional diversity of species, many of them localized to these rugged slopes. That evening, as we enjoyed dinner, a pair of Freckled Nightjars hawked insects in the spotlight, joined by a Barn Owl drifting silently through the darkness.

A pre‑breakfast search for Hartlaub’s Spurfowl proved successful almost immediately, and we were treated to superb views of a male and female dueting from the rocks. The morning also produced Monteiro’s Hornbill, White‑browed Scrub‑robin, and the striking Violet‑backed Starling.

Leaving the Erongos, we passed through Omaruru, where large numbers of Bradfield’s Swifts circled overhead. Continuing westward into the Namib, we paused for a picnic lunch while targeting Bare‑cheeked Babbler, eventually locating a single bird moving quietly through the scrub. The drive also yielded impressive raptor activity, with numerous Yellow‑billed Kites, Common Buzzards, Shikra, and African Harrier‑Hawk, along with brief but welcome flight views of Rüppell’s Parrot.

We reached the Hobatere concession in the late afternoon, encountering only a few mammals on the way in. After dinner, a night drive brought an excellent selection of nocturnal species, including Verreaux’s Eagle‑Owl, African Scops Owl, Barn Owl, Rufous‑cheeked Nightjar, and Spotted Thick‑knee. Mammal highlights included Lion, a Small‑spotted Genet, and several sleeping Flap‑necked Chameleons tucked into the vegetation.

Etosha, meaning “Great White Place” in the Hai//om San language, takes its name from the vast white saline pan that dominates roughly a third of the park’s 22,270 km². This striking landscape supports an impressive diversity of fauna and flora. During our stay, we divided our time between two camps, each offering distinct habitats and an excellent variety of birds and mammals.

Mammal sightings were exceptional despite the expected dispersal caused by recent rains. We enjoyed several encounters with Black Rhino, along with a couple of memorable Lion sightings. A Brown Hyena at one of the lion kills was an unexpected highlight. We also managed brief but rewarding views of a Cheetah that had taken a Springbok earlier in the day.

Although the rainy season can make Elephants harder to locate, we still found a few bulls and a breeding herd of females. Over our four days in the park, we recorded all the common large mammals in good numbers, particularly in the eastern sector where rainfall had been more substantial.

In the east, Fischer’s Pan held a significant amount of water and produced an excellent selection of waterbirds. Stork diversity was impressive, with Abdim’s, Marabou, Saddle‑billed, Yellow‑billed, and African Openbill all present. Waterfowl included good numbers of Southern Pochard, Cape Shoveler, Maccoa Duck, Knob‑billed Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Whiskered Tern, and all three Teal species. Several African Painted Snipe were seen, along with a range of common waders such as Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, and Common Greenshank. Kittlitz’s Plovers were abundant, and we also found a couple of Chestnut‑banded Plovers.

Lark diversity was excellent, with all the expected species recorded: Pink‑billed, Red‑capped, Spike‑heeled, Eastern Clapper, Rufous‑naped, Fawn‑coloured, Grey‑backed, and Chestnut‑backed Sparrow-lark, accompanied by many vocal Monotonous Larks. Raptors were equally impressive, including Red‑necked and Gabar Goshawk, Red‑footed, Amur, and Lanner Falcons, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Montagu’s and Pallid Harrier, European Honey‑buzzard, Martial Eagle, Black‑chested Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, and White‑headed Vulture. A pair of Blue Cranes with two small chicks was a particularly special sighting. We also encountered several Burchell’s Sandgrouse, a species that can be difficult to find during the rainy season.

Leaving Etosha behind, we made our way to our final destination, the Waterberg Plateau, a large sandstone massif that supports an impressive diversity of bird and mammal species. We stopped for lunch in Tsumeb and made a quick visit to the sewage plant, which produced several unexpected highlights, including Blue‑cheeked Bee‑eater, Southern Pochard, Whiskered Tern, Lesser Striped Swallow, and Allen’s Gallinule. African Rail called from deep within the reeds but, despite patience, never emerged.

At Waterberg we enjoyed excellent views of Rüppell’s Parrot on the first afternoon. Bradfield’s Hornbill proved challenging, but persistence paid off on the final morning when a pair, accompanied by two recently fledged chicks, landed above us. We also had superb views of a pair of African Hawk‑Eagles. Violet Woodhoopoe showed well again, and the rocky slopes produced numerous Rockrunners and several Hartlaub’s Spurfowl. After breakfast on the last morning, we rounded off the birding with Crested Francolin.

We then made our way back to Windhoek and en route were treated to a final memorable sighting: a White Rhino, a fitting way to conclude the trip. We ended the trip at Etango Ranch, conveniently located near the airport for the group’s evening departures.

                                                                                                                                                                                              -          Sean Braine

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