Botswana, Namibia, Caprivi, Kunene Birding Tour Road Trip Nata, Katima Mulilo, Popa Falls, Rundu, Tsumeb, Kunene River Lodge, Kamanjab, Swakopmund, Walvisbay, Gobabis, Kang. 18 Day www.escapetothewild.co.za 1 ITINERARY CAPRIVI, PANHANDLE, KUNENE Days Destination Summary Day 1 Johannesburg to Nata We will meet in Centurion and take a route to Nata Overnight Hotel at Elephant Sands Day 2 Nata to Katima Mulilo Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 3 Katima Mulilo Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 4 Katima Mulilo Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 5 Katima Mulilo Birding the route Overnight Hotel to Popa Falls Day 6 Popa Falls Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 7 Popa Falls Birding the route Overnight Hotel To Rundu Day 8 Rundu Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 9 Rundu Birding the route Overnight Hotel To Etosha Day 10 Etosha Birding the route Overnight Hotel To Kunene River Lodge Day 11 Kunene River Lodge Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 12 Kunene River Lodge Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 13 Kunene River Lodge Early morning departure to Kamanjab. Birding the route To Kamanjab Overnight Hotel Day 14 Kamanjab to Birding the route Overnight Hotel Walvisbay Day 15 Walvisbay Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 16 Walvisbay to Gobabis Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 17 Gobabis to Kang Birding the route Overnight Hotel Day 18 Kang to Johannesburg Drive back to Pretoria where the tour concludes. www.escapetothewild.co.za 2 Day 1: Johannesburg to Nata Drive to Nata in Botswana Collection Hotel and drive to Nata. The first stretch is a long drive to get to Botswana where we then begin birding seriously. Trip (+-825 km) Johannesburg to Nata about 8 – 9 hours Route - Johannesburg, Pretoria, Hammanskraal, Bela-Bela, Modimolle, Vaalwater, Lephalale, Ons Hoop, Ga-Seika, Gedroogte, Groblersbrug, Lerala, Maunatlala, Mogapinyana, Topisi, Serule, Tonata, Shashe Mooke, Tati Siding, Francistown, Mathangwane, Makaleng, Mosetse, Dukwi, Nata. Botswana Botswana is topographically flat, with up to 70 per cent of its territory being the Kalahari Desert . It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Images Nata Botswana Boulder Chat Nata Maans Booysen The route south to Nata is often referred to as the ‘game drive route', as there is always the chance of seeing wildlife of some sort along the way. North of Pandamatenga, Elephants are common, and Buffalo, Sable Antelope and Giraffe can be seen. Nata is on the main Nata-Francistown road. This is on the main tourist routes to the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Caprivi Strip in Namibia. Elephant Sands Overnight at the Elephant Sands Hotelwww.escapetothewild.co.za 3 Day 2: Nata to Katima Mulilo via Kusane The Nata Bird Sanctuary is the only protected reserve in Botswana . The bird list for the sanctuary is reported to number 165 bird species. The sanctuary is of international importance due to its population of 250 000 Lesser and Greater Flamingos , which visit the sanctuary every year during the winter to breed, after the rainy season when the water sources are full. During the summer after the first rains, the Nata Sanctuary can be a surprisingly rewarding stop for keen birders. This community project is on the northern edge of the pans, and gets Great White Pelicans from time to time along with 200 other species that have been recorded here. Nata Bird Sanctuary Bradfield’s Hornbill Burchell’s Sandgrouse Dusky Lark Southern Ground Hornbill Red-necked Falcon African Golden Oriole Racket-tailed Roller Brown Firefinch Bird photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Katima Mulilo is a town situated in the Caprivi strip and is the capital of the Zambezi Region , Namibia's far north-eastern extension into central Southern Africa. The nearest Namibian town to Katima Mulilo is Rundu , about 500 km Protea Zambezi River Lodge away. Overnight at the Protea Zambezi River Lodgewww.escapetothewild.co.za 4 Day 3 & 4 : Katima Mulilo Katima Mulilo - Zambezi River The wide, slow-flowing Zambezi River is edged with tall, lush trees, tropical birds and monkeys, with lolling hippos and crocs reminding everyone who's in charge of the waters. Elephants are frequent visitors on the river banks for a drink and a bath, and birders only have to take a short walk along the river's banks to tick-off a wide variety of bird species. Katima Mulilo Zambezi River Boat Jetty White-backed Night Heron Schalow’s Turaco White-breasted Cuckooshrike Coppery-tailed Coucal African Finfoot Yellow-throated Leaflove Pel’s Fishing Owl Western Banded Snake Eagle Bird photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at the Protea Zambezi River Lodge www.escapetothewild.co.za 5 Day 5 & 6 : Katima Mulilo to Popa Falls Popa Falls Near the little town of Divundu, some 200 kilometres east of Rundu, lies one of the highlights of the western Caprivi, the Popa Falls. They are actually rapids rather than waterfalls. Here the Okavango River breaks through a 4 metre high dark quartzite rock reef in its riverbed, which stretches over more than a kilometre in width. The rapids are particularly impressive in the dry season at lower water levels. The Popa Falls are surrounded by enchantingly beautiful riparian habitats. Popa Falls Okavango River Hartlaub’s Babbler African Hobby Dickenson’s Kestrel Greater Swamp Warbler Chirping Cisticola Long-toed Lapwing White-crowned Lapwing Rock Pratincole African Skimmer Rufous Bellied Heron Lesser Jacana Shelley’s Sunbird Bird photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at Hotel www.escapetothewild.co.za 6 Day 7 & 8 : Popa Falls / Rundu Rundu is the capital of the Kavango-East Region , northern Namibia , on the border with Angola on the banks of the Kavango River about 1 000 metres (3 300 feet) above sea level . Rundu, a sultry tropical outpost on the bluffs above the Okavango River is a major centre of activity for Namibia’s growing Angolan community. Although the town has little of specific interest for tourists, it is a fine place to break up the journey between the Caprivi Strip and Etosha. Rundu Souza’s Shrike Sharp-tailed Starling Rufous-bellied Tit Rosy-throated L ongclaw Greater Painted-snipe Lesser Moorhen Baillon’s Crake Lesser Jacana Senegal Coucal Yellow-billed Oxpecker Meyer’s Parrot Wood Pipit Bird photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at the Kaisosi River Lodge www.escapetothewild.co.za 7 Day 9 : Rundu to Etosha ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK is the gateway to northern Namibia and Ovamboland. It is Namibia’s prime wildlife location and home to a large variety of mammals and birds. Etosha means the ‘ great white area ‘ which refers to the large dried pan in the middle of the Etosha National Park. Etosha is any photographer’s dream, located in the a seasonally moist environment, albeit surrounded by magnificent dunes and golden grass plains and mopane vegetation which accounts for impressive biodiversity. Here, you’ll find four of the Big Five mammals (Buffalo is the only one not found in the park). Visitors can look forward to seeing Zebra, the rare Black-faced Impala, Oryx, Cheetah, Giraffe, Eland and Hyena. In terms of birdlife, it’s truly amazing to see how many birds thrive here. During the rainy season, one million Flamingo’s use Etosha as a breeding ground. Falcons, Harriers and the Egyptian Vulture are some wonderful birds to introduce yourself to. Etosha Bateleur Kori Bustard Black-faced Babbler Grey-headed Parrot Grey Kestrel Burchell’s Courser Pink-billed Lark Carp’s Tit Bird photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at the Sachsenheim Guest Farm www.escapetothewild.co.za 8 Day 10, 11 & 12 : Kunene River Lodge Kunene River Lodge is a Birder's dream! With the discovery of the first two Cinderella Waxbill nests in the wild, we usually achieve high success rates with sighting this elusive species . There are many other species of great interest to be found in the area including the rare Grey Kestrel which is resident nearby. Or what better way to start the day than to steer silently along the river at dawn with a knowledgeable guide pointing out - who knows what? Kunene River Lodge Luapula Cisticola Grey Kestrel White-browed Coucal Chestnut Weaver Bare-cheeked Babbler White-tailed Shrike Ruppell’s Parrot Pririt Batis Violet Wood Hoopoe Cinderella Waxbill Rufous-tailed Palm-thrush Angola Cave-chat Swamp Boubou Rosy-faced Lovebird Red-necked Spurfowl Bird photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Himba Lady Overnightwww.escapetothewild.co.za at Hotel 9 Day 13 : Kunene River Lodge to Kamanjab Early morning departure for Kamanjab +- 340 km through the Brandberg Mountain Range. Brandberg Mountain is located in former Damaraland , now Erongo , in the north-western Namib Desert , near the coast and covers an area of approximately 650 km². With its highest point, the Königstein (German for 'King's Stone') , standing at 2 573 m (8 442 ft) above sea level and located on the flat Namib gravel plains, on a clear day 'The Brandberg' can be seen from a great distance. There are various routes to the summit, the easiest (also steepest) being up the Ga'aseb river valley, but other routes include the Hungurob and Tsisab river valleys. The nearest settlement is Uis , roughly 30 km from the mountain. Brandberg Mountains White-throated Canary Ludwig’s Bustard Mountain Wheatear Pale-winged Starling Monteiro’s Hornbill Ruppell’s Korhaan Rockrunner Hartlaub’s Spurfowl Herero Chat White-throated Canary Damara Hornbill Double-banded Courser Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at the Alpec Lodge www.escapetothewild.co.za 10 Day 14 : Kumanjab to Walvis Bay Early morning departure to Walvis Bay. Walvis Bay meaning "Whale Bay", is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies.