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This is the ultimate Namibia birding adventure, which continues into Botswana to experience the amazing wildlife of the Okavango. On the way you will visit Sossusvlei, Walvis Bay, the Erongo Mountains and Etosha National Park with its unique and varied birdlife, all in the company of your private guide and expert spotters.
An accomplished and experienced Namibia birding and photographic guide, Toni holds a Namibia Academy for Tourism and Hospitality Level 3 qualification (the highest level attainable in Namibia) and is widely renowned for her extensive knowledge of the cultures, ornithology, flora, astronomy and wildlife of the country.
In 1981 Toni moved to Namibia with her family and from then on her love of the outdoors and all things nature grew and grew. Her father was an exploration geologist who travelled extensively around Southern Africa, living in small mining towns and managing bush camps where Toni would spend her school holidays camping in the bush, or visiting private farms and reserves. Toni’s father passed on to her his unparalleled knowledge of all things Namibia, and she carried this with her as she became a manager and guide at some of the most remote lodges in the extreme North West of Namibia. Toni has travelled expansively across Namibia and its neighbouring countries, making regular visits to all of the National Game Reserves and developing her photographic skills which she takes great pleasure in passing on to visitors to the region.
Her deep love and knowledge of the Namibia, coupled with her infectious passion and enthusiasm to want to share it, make her one of the country’s top guides and ambassadors for this beautiful country. More than just a guide who simply points from a vehicle, Toni becomes fully involved in the experiences of her fellow travellers and places a great emphasis on finding the best adventures, wildlife encounters and photo opportunities for her tour groups. As a Managing Tour Consultant she plans safaris for a wide range of interest groups but her main focus is on birding and photographic small group tours, where she delights in each visitor gaining an up-close and personal experience of all that the country she loves and knows so well has to offer.
Born in Chartres in the West Falklands, Jenny grew up on the family farm where her love for animals was nurtured by the25,000 sheep, horses and cows that lived alongside her. Forever a nature, conservation and wildlife enthusiast Jenny has travelled extensively throughout the Falkland Islands, visiting each and every wildlife island at least once, and even travelling around some by yacht. She spent 11 years on Sea Lion Island as Manager of the Lodge, Warden of the Nature Reserve and as the principal tour provider, meaning her knowledge of Sea Lion Island in particular is second to none. Having spent so much time here, as expected her wildlife speciality is Elephant Seals, but she is also well versed in the ways of the seabirds, penguins, whales, dolphins and sea lions that call the Falklands their home.
After her time on Sea Lion Island Jenny moved to Stanley to work for the Falkland Islands Government and became manager of a local travel firm assisting with travel arrangements for incoming visitors, before taking semi-retirement to spend more time with her family and enjoy more time further exploring the lands she knows so well. Jenny is extremely passionate about sharing the hidden nature secrets of the Falklands with those who come to visit her homeland and will be looking forward to accompanying you and passing on her unsurpassed knowledge of the areas you will be visiting.
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Arrive in the fascinating German colonial city of Windhoek, met and transfer to Galton House for overnight (dinner & breakfast included). Depending on timing, there are great birding opportunities in the city environs. Discuss forthcoming safari over dinner with your guide.
Drive southwest through the Khomas Hochland and down the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert. Lots of birds to be seen including Pale Chanting-goshawk, pygmy falcon, go-away bird, Cape penduline tit and more depending on season. Arrive Sossus Dune Lodge for two night’s full board. Enjoy a sunset drive.
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3DayDrive to watch the sun rise over the Sossuvlei dunes in the Namib Naukluft National Park. Wander amongst some of the world’s highest dunes. Seek out the elusive endemic dune lark and many other species. Afternoon visit to the Sesreim Canyon and evening walk from the lodge.
Drive northwest through the desert to the Atlantic shore to the Ramsar site of Walvis Bay, where there are massive numbers of water birds including Hartlaub’s gulls, curlew sandpipers, pied avocets and terns, especially the local Damara tern. Two nights at Oysterbox Guesthouse on full board basis.
Drive to the delightful resort town of Swakopmund, where the cold Benguela Current supplies food for myriad seabirds, like crowned cormorants. Africa oystercatchers feed here, along with migratory species. Inland we look for Gray’s lark and Tractrac chat as well as other wildlife such as yellow mongoose.
Head northeast to the high rock outcrop, Spitzkoppe and on to the Erongo Mountains near Omaruru for two night’s full board at Erongo Wilderness Lodge. Afternoon excursion seeking semi-endemic birds and an evening sundowner walk to a spectacular viewpoint before dinner.
Early morning search for the elusive Hartlaub’s francolin, which only calls at dawn. Afternoon drive looking for the Herero chat, a difficult endemic, plus others – Lanner falcon, white-backed mousebird, Bokmakierie bush shrike, Carp’s tit and many more. Lots of mammals, reptiles, insects and plants to see too.
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8DayOn to the Etosha National Park, watching for wildlife and birds on the way. At Ongava Lodge, there are 125 Square miles to explore which is one of Namibia's largest private game reserve. As well as a huge array of wildlife and bird species there are also opportunities to take walking safaris and use hides ideal for photography.
Drive through Okaukuelo to Halali Resort (full board). An ideal place to spot owls – Scop’s, pearl-spotted, white-faced and giant eagle, as well as Carp’s black tit, violet wood hoopoe and bare-cheeked babbler. The resort has waterholes, viewed from an elevated vantage point, which attract wildlife day and night.
Travel on to the Oshikoto region, stopping at Namutoni to look for blue cranes, Temminck’s courser and the grey-backed finch and clapper lark. Visit the sinkhole Lake Otjikoto, known for Birchitt and other warblers and on to Uris Safari Lodge (full board).
Head via Tsumeb to the Hakusembe River Lodge, travelling via the Hoba meteorite (the world’s largest). Enjoy riverside birding with rufous-bellied heron, long-toed and wattles lapwings, coppery-tailed coucal, mousebirds, malachites kingfishers and more. Optional river cruises available.(lunch, dinner, breakfast).
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12DayDrive east to the western part of Caprivi Strip and on to Mahango Park. Here, look for the black-breasted snake eagle yellow-fronted tinkerbird southern black tit arrow-marked babbler and Meeve’s glossy starling. Elephants, Burchall’s zebra and many antelope, including roan and sable are seen here. Two nights at River Dance Lodge (full board).
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13DayExplore within the Kavango area and the Mahango Game Reserve on foot, by boat or on game drives. Visit the scenic Popa Falls. Many new species of birds to be seen.
Continue birding and cross the border into Botswana and board a boat to Xaro Lodge for a final two nights (full board). Woodlands around the camp are home to Meyer’s parrot, green wood hoopoe, crested barbet golden-tailed and Bennett’s woodpeckers, ashy flycatcher and more.
The wetlands are home to many reptiles and mammals, such as hippos, crocodiles and the rare sitatunga, a swamp dwelling antelope. Many more birds with the prime target being the massive Pel’s fishing owl, one of the most wanted birds in Africa!
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for light aircraft flight to Maun for onward travel. Flight to Maun is not included in the rate. Private road transfer to Maun is also available which would normally take between 6 & 7 Hours.
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