Namibia & Botswana: Birding the Living Desert

Outwardly sun-scorched, rocky, and rugged, Namibia is a land of surprising biodiversity. Running north-south, the Namibian escarpment defines the backbone of the country; it surprises many to learn that Windhoek is at 5,400 feet of elevation. We’ll enjoy some introductory birding around that capital city before descending west, into the red-sand Namib Desert and onto the adjoining Skeleton Coast. The avifauna changes correspondingly, and we’ll encounter a mix of desert dwellers and shoreline specialists. The number of flamingos in Walvis Bay is amazing. Departing the coast, we’ll visit Omaruru, a rocky region known for hornbills and other Namibian near-endemics. Next on the agenda, Etosha National Park! Renowned for its elephants, rhinos, giraffes, antelope, and big cats, the park also hosts an incredible array of birds, several near-endemics included. Three days in Etosha won’t feel like enough, but a new roster of birds will draw us east, into the Caprivi strip. Water levels permitting, we’ll take a boat trip to visit a colony of Southern Carmine Bee-eaters. And if that sounds exciting, just wait until we cross into Botswana and explore the northern end of the Okavango Delta. The grounds of our riverside lodge teem with kingfishers and weavers, and expert boatmen will steer us along the adjacent flow, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, White-backed Night-Heron, and Slaty Egret possible at every turn. As this tour promises dozens of mammals, hundreds of birds, and countless miles of unique scenery, it should not be missed!