This tour offers you a birding and wildlife adventure that combines the highlights of three countries: , and . A wildlife adventures

We begin our tour in Namibia with a from Etosha Pan in visit to Etosha Pan, one of the best wildlife viewing places in Africa. The woodlands, savannah of the arid Etosha Pan and its Namibia, numerous waterholes provide an array of and viewing of large congregations of to the Okavango Delta in Elephants, Giraffes, Rhinos, Zebras, Springboks and Kudu, to name just a few. Predators are spoiled for choice, so it is no Botswana wonder that Cheetahs, Leopards and Lions thrive here. A total change of landscape will and Victoria Falls in be experienced once we enter the Caprivi Strip, a narrow eastward extension of Namibia running for 450 km and bordered by Zambia , Botswana and Zambia. Here, the floodplains of the Kavango and Zambezi Rivers will offer a totally different array of birds and mammals. We will then cross the border with Botswana to enter the Okavango Delta, one of the most pristine and unspoiled wetlands on Earth. Wildlife viewing in an open safari vehicle and on a boat will offer spectacular and mammal watching experiences. For some though, the highlight will be sightseeing one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the spectacular Victoria Falls in Zambia. Although, not at its best at this time of the year, the falls will leave an ever-lasting impression! We will conclude our tour with a “sundowner” on a tranquil boat trip along the Zambezi river.

Such an array of varied of habitats in three different countries provides incredible contrasts and wildlife encounters like no other. To enhance our experience of the African bush, we will have at our disposal a full-time local guide and a safari vehicle with a pop-top roof. You can expect to see about 300 species of birds and 40 species of mammals on this tour. ITINERARY

Day 1 Setting down at the park, while game and Windhoek airport in birdwatching en route. the morning, you will be met The most striking by our guide and myself and feature of the park is the transferred to a charming lodge Etosha Pan. About two on the outskirts of the city. million years ago, this After lunch, we will visit a area was an enormous local reserve, where in the hilly lake. Today, it is a vast, acacia savannah landscape, we shallow depression that, will look for Short-toed Rock for the greater part of the Thrush, Violet-eared and year, is a bleak expanse of Black-faced Waxbills and white cracked mud, which Rockrunner. Some mammals shimmers with mirages. might also be seen, such as There are, however, a Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, number of waterholes Red Hartebeest and Giraffe. scattered throughout the area that attract a large diversity of mammals and Day 2 In the morning, we will birds. The park is home to undertake a journey to 144 mammal species, the famous Etosha National including Black and White Park. Rhinos, Giraffe, Burchell's En route, we might Zebra, Elephant, Lion, encounter some mammals, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted including Chacma Baboon, Hyena, Warthog, Blue Greater Kudu, Steenbok, Wildebeest, Red Southern Giraffe, Warthog and Hartebeest, Eland (the Springbok. We might also see largest antelope), by the side of the road some Gemsbok (Oryx), Greater interesting birds, such as Kudu, Damara Dik-dik, Tawny Eagle, Pale Chanting Black-faced Impala and a Goshawk, Black-shouldered plethora of others. Kite, Lilac-breasted Roller, Springboks are especially Rock Martin and Acacia Pied numerous. At least Barbet. 20,000 of them roam the We will reach Etosha by reserve, and often, they late afternoon in time for some can be seen in herds of rest before our evening meal. several thousands. We will spend the first Three-hundred and night in the Okaukuejo camp, forty bird species inhabit famous for its floodlit the park. The majestic waterholes. The waterhole is Kori Bustard, the world’s frequented by numerous heaviest flying bird, and throughout the day and an intriguing, if not night and we should be able to comical, Secretarybird, get close views of wonderful are just two that we will antelopes, big cats and Rhinos encounter. just a few metres away from us We will break our and in the safety of the journey for lunch at Halali confines of the camp. camp. for lunch at Halali camp. The Mopani forest in the camp is home to Day 3 We will continue numerous birds and we exploring the Etosha will spend some time by moving to the eastern part looking for them. Close encounters with Namibia and is southern roosting owls, as well as three Africa’s top birding hot-spot. species of hornbills and the While birdwatching along very attractive Green Wood- the way, we should reach our hoopoe are all likely. lodge by late afternoon. You The dense woodland south will be impressed by the of Halali camp is home to the location of the lodge, where we highly localized Damara Dik- will spend the next three nights. dik and we will spend some Set in riverine forest on the time searching for this banks of the Okavango River, diminutive antelope too. the lodge is an ideal gateway to We will leave the park the fabulous Mahango Game just before the gates shut and Reserve and one of the most travel a short distance outside pristine wetland habitats on the park to a stylish lodge. Earth, the Okavango Delta. After the whole day of game With two sunset decks on the viewing, you will enjoy a bank of the river, you will have little luxury! the chance to relax and enjoy the serenity of the river and its wildlife. Day 4 After morning birding around our lodge, we will head towards Day 6 The whole day will Rundu. We will break the be spent exploring journey with a number of the Mahango Game Reserve stops, including a visit to the which protects habitats ranging sewage ponds, which has a from vast floodplains and nice selection of waders and papyrus swamps to dense waterfowl. climax woodland. The reserve At Rundu, we will do is home to Crocodile, some birdwatching in the Hippopotamus, Elephant, Lion, nearby woodlands in the hope Wild Dog, Buffalo, Kudu, of seeing Rufous-bellied Tit, Sable and Roan Antelopes, the Red-headed Weaver, Green- elegant Red Lechwe and the capped Eremomela, White- rare Tsessebe and our bird list breasted and Black will grow fast here too. The Cuckooshrikes, African highlights might include Golden Oriole and Tinkling Dickinson’s Kestrel, Bearded Cisticola. Woodpecker, Broad-billed We will spend the night Roller, Long-toed Lapwing and at a lodge situated on the the rare Slaty Egret. banks of the Kavango River and set within a lush garden. From the lodge’s premises, Day 7 you can see locals crossing Today, we will cross the river in mokoro's as they the border with travel back and forth from Botswana and go deeper into Angola to Namibia. the Okavango Delta. We will spend the entire day cruising the Okavango Delta (with a Day 5 Today, we will follow the Kavango River break for lunch) while searching for birds. The eastwards and after a two-hour drive we target species will be Perl’s Fishing Owl, which is will enter the Caprivi Strip, a narrow piece of land almost guaranteed to be seen here. Other likely sandwiched between Angola and Botswana. With species include White-fronted, Carmine and Blue- 450 species of birds, it is the most bird-rich region of cheeked Bee-eaters, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Osprey, Brown-throated Weaver, Brown and numerous waterbirds. The handsome African from the veranda of the Skimmer breeds here as restaurant here, as well as well, so no doubt we will Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos come across it too scooping and Crocodiles. Even the the prey from the water African Finfoot is a resident surface of the Okavango. bird here! Day 10

Day 8 You will be The lodge’s garden is teeming treated today to with birds and an early breakfast while cruising on morning stroll can produce the Okavango river –nothing good views of Red-faced can beat the enjoyment of Cisticola, Puffback, Black- having an omelette prepared collared Barbet, Orange- by your chef while being breasted Bush Shrike, Yellow- watched by hippos! fronted Tinkerbird, Black After breakfast, we will Cuckooshrike, Yellow White- continue eastwards along the eye, Amethyst Sunbird, Dark- Caprivi Strip, birding en capped Bulbul, Terrestrial route and reaching one of Brownbul and Blue Waxbill. Africa’s largest rivers, the After birding along the mighty Zambezi, by late Zambezi, we will cross the afternoon. En route, we might pick up African border with Zambia and head to Livingstone and Barred Owlet, Purple-banded and White-bellied the world-famous Victoria Falls. The immense Sunbirds, and White-crested Helmetshrike, amongst waters of the Zambezi River plunge into a gorge others. causing permanent rain, rainbows and the famous We should arrive at our comfortable lodge, "smoke" which is visible from a far distance. nestled on the banks of the Zambezi River by late This spectacle that bewitched the Scottish afternoon. A stroll around the lodge’s lush green missionary, David Livingstone, all these years ago, garden might produce an array of new species, is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on you. including Schalow’s Turaco, Brown-hooded We will spend some time in the vicinity of the falls Kingfisher, Spectacled Weaver, Bronze Mannikin, and look for some birds such as Trumpeter Hornbill, Golden Weaver, White-browed Coucal, Olive Jameson’s Firefinch, Schalow’s Turaco, Broad- Woodpecker and even a Willow Warbler. Our tailed Paradise Whydah, Shaft-tailed Whydah, chalets are situated on the water's edge overlooking Copper Sunbird and Dusky Lark. the river – another lovely place where you will be We will conclude our tour with a “sundowner” lulled to sleep with the sounds of grunting Hippo on a tranquil boat trip along the Zambezi river. A and woken to an early chorus of songbirds. lovely way to end our tour!

Day 9 After breakfast, we will drive eastwards while birding en route. The woodlands along the Zambezi River and its surrounding floodplains are home to a wide assemblage of birds including Livingstone’s Turaco, Copper, Purple- banded and Shelley’s Sunbirds, Black-headed Oriole, Arnot’s Chat, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Bennett’s Woodpecker, White-crowned Lapwing and Black-bellied Bustard. The most memorable experience though will be a visit to a spectacular Southern Carmine Bee-eater colony, with hundreds of birds nesting on the banks of the Zambezi River. Our accommodation for the next two nights is situated on the bank of the Zambezi River, which Day 11 After breakfast and birding on our runs the length of the property, offering breath- doorstep, we will depart for Livingstone taking views over the water. Species such as to catch our flight home or to join one of the African Fish Eagle, African Paradise Flycatcher, extensions that are on offer (Cape Town/Kruger numerous kingfishers and bee-eaters can be seen National Park). Tour Details

Date: 5-15 November 2020 (5-16 November including flights)

Price: £4250 per person sharing Single supplement: £350

The price includes: The price does not include:

- all accommodation on a shared basis - all items of a personal nature - all meals - flight cancellation, baggage and medical - all excursions and transfers by vehicle insurance. - tour guides’ fees - scheduled return flight from the UK to Windhoek and from Livingstone back to the UK. A group booking, however, is made, but you will have to deal with a travel agent directly. Alternatively, you can make your own arrangements.

Please note: - all passengers must cover themselves against flight cancellation, luggage loss and medical costs for the duration of their trip - a deposit of £600 is requested with a booking form. The final payment should be paid by 1 August - easy walks over flat terrain

Booking procedure 1. To secure your reservation, I require a deposit and the signed booking form. I can accept a provisional booking by phone or by e-mail. However, if a completed booking form and appropriate deposit does not reach me within 10 days, I will consider your reservation as cancelled.

2. Once I receive your booking form and deposit, I will confirm reservation by e-mail or post. You will also receive the date by which the final balance payment is due. The reminder of the final balance will also be sent/e- mailed to you before the due date. Please note that if the final payment is not received by the due date, I reserve the right to treat this booking as cancelled and will be forced to charge the cancellation fee (see terms and conditions).

3. I accept payments by cheque, postal order and bank transfer. All cheques must be made in British Sterling (£) and payable to Bozena Summers or Bozena Kalejta-Summers. If in any doubts, please contact me for payment details.

4. Upon the receipt of your final payment, the confirmation letter will be sent/e-mailed to you, together with the general information about the tour to help you to prepare for the trip. The species check list (the bird/mammal/insect/reptile/plant, where applicable) will be given to you on the first day of the tour.

5. I will contact you again shortly before your departure to confirm tour arrangement details, including meeting instructions, etc.

For further information please contact: Bozena Kalejta-Summers ScotNature Postal address: 8 Church Street Office 345 Inverness IV1 1EA Scotland Tel: 07718255265 E-mail: [email protected] www.ScotNature.co.uk