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Birding the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park

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Birding the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park Namibia Birding the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park Namibia is a remarkable country of stark landscapes with the Namib Desert, one of the driest places on earth, extending right to the ocean at the Skeleton Coast. Dunes and gravel plains of the Namib eventually give way to bush and secondary woodland. Our tour starts in the capital city of Windhoek with a visit to Daan Viljoen Game Reserve. Swakopmund is situated on the Skeleton Coast, where the adjacent cold Benguela Current results in an area rich in seabirds and waders. Spitzkoppen is next on the agenda, holding the endemic Herero Chat. Our main birding region is Etosha National Park, the jewel of Namibia. Etosha, translated literally, means Great White Place - a reference to the vast pan that dominates the centre of the park. Our final destination is Waterberg Plateau National Park, a district of deciduous woodland surrounded by semi-dry acacia forest. Days 1-2: We fly to Johannesburg and connect with a flight to Windhoek, the cap- Dates ital of Namibia. Transfer to our accommo- Saturday July 24th – Sunday August dation for a one-night stay. On arrival we 8th 2021 make an initial visit to Daan Viljoen Game Leader: Mark Finn Reserve covering the rolling hills of Group Size: 8 Khomas Hochland. The main habitat is Species: 230-250 grassland dotted with small trees attracting a range of seed-eating birds. These may include Orange River and Red-billed faced Vultures which often perch in the top Francolins, Stark’s Lark, Rufous Sparrow, of Camel Thorn Trees. In the same habitat Green-winged Pytilia, Violet-eared and we may locate Rüppell’s Korhaan and Black-cheeked Waxbills, Shaft-tailed Double-banded Courser. Transfer to Whydah, Red-headed Finch, Scaly Swakopmund for a three-night stay. Weaver, White-throated Canary and Lark- like and Cape Buntings. Near watercourses Days 4-5: Rooibank is our destination. It is the trees are larger with a dense under- situated on the banks of the Kuiseb River, storey, attracting African Darter, African which is home to the localised Dune Lark. Black and Maccoa Ducks, South African Visits are also planned to the salt-works, Shelduck, Cape Shoveler and Hamerkop. Walvis Bay Lagoon, Guano Platform and Tree-loving species comprise Monteiro’s Paaltijies. On one morning we take a pelag- Hornbill, Grey Go-away-bird, Purple Roller, Acacia Pied Barbet, Crimson-breasted Gonolek, Marico Flycatcher, Southern Black and Ashy Tits and Groundscraper Thrush. Rocky hillsides with bushes hold Rockrunner, Mountain Wheatear and Familiar Chat. On our way out of the park, we may locate Three-banded Plover and Namaqua Sandgrouse. Day 3: Today we head west to the coastal town of Swakopmund, which is very Germanic in character. The Namib is an important breeding ground for Lappet- Female Lion Photo: Jo Finn ☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 41 Namibia Southern Red-Billed Hornbill Photo: Jo Finn ic trip into the Southern Atlantic Ocean, the birds within this region. Likely species with late July being an optimum time for include Common Ostrich, White-backed seabirds from the southern oceans. Birds Vulture, Tawny, Booted and Martial Eagles, we hope to see include Cape Cormorant, African Hawk-Eagle, Black-breasted Snake Cape Gannet, White-chinned Petrel, Sooty Eagle, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Ludwig’s, Shearwater and Shy and Black-browed Rüppell’s and Northern Black Korhaans, Albatrosses, along with scarcer species Double-banded Sandgrouse, Monotonous, notably Brown Skua, Northern and Karoo Long-billed, Spike-heeled, Red- Southern Giant Petrels, Yellow-nosed capped, Stark’s and Gray’s Larks and Albatross, Wilson’s Storm Petrel and Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark. Broad-billed Prion. Walvis Bay Lagoon is a Ramsar site supporting resident species Day 8: An early morning walk to look for such as Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Hartlaub’s Francolin before we travel north White-fronted Plover and the scarce to Etosha National Park in time for an after- Chestnut-banded Plover. A visit to Walvis noon’s birding and game drive. We have a Bay Sewage Works is expected to produce four-night stay in the Etosha area. Hottentot and Cape Teals, Red-billed Duck and Cape Shoveler and possibly early Days 9-11: Etosha National Park was returning migrants from Europe. designated in 1907. The Etosha Pan which dominates the park is 150km long and Days 6-7: Today we leave the coast and 70km wide and is dry for most of the year. drive east to Spitzkoppe, which rises 600m Two rivers run into the park along with var- above the surrounding plains. This is a reli- ious artesian wells and seepage of saline able spot for the endemic Herero Chat. and non-saline water. Consequently, this Rainfall in the arid Namib is extremely vari- attracts large numbers of birds and mam- able and this has an enormous effect on mals. We can cover Eastern, Central and 42 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495 Namibia Western Etosha and stay in each area for Paradise Whydah and Golden-breasted easy access. The eastern region receives and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings. the highest rainfall, much of it draining into Fischer’s Pan. The pan verges occasional- Days 13-15: Today we leave Etosha and ly hold African Openbill, Marabou and travel to Waterberg Plateau Park for a Saddle-billed Storks. The Andoni Plains three-night stay.The plateau itself rises 420 have Blue and Grey Crowned Cranes and metres above the surrounding countryside. Clapper Lark whilst sandy areas usually Sandstone cliffs dominate the side of the have Burchell’s Sandgrouse. In woodland plateau with the slopes being covered in areas we should see Emerald-spotted rocks. Waterberg attracts a high number of Wood-Dove, Crimson-breasted Boubou species due to its location where broad- and Black-faced Babbler. Verreaux’s Eagle- leafed woodland meets the Kalahari Owl is sometimes seen at Klein Namutoni. Desert. The cliffs at Waterberg hold the The camp itself has African Palm Swift and, most northerly Cape Vultures in Africa and at dusk, Rufous-cheeked Nightjar, Red- also support Peregrine Falcon and Rosy- billed, Swainson’s and Crested Francolins faced Lovebird. Various trails run through can be common here along with Red-crest- the area where Bradfield’s Hornbill, ed and Northern Black Korhaans. Central Freckled Nightjar and Short-toed Rock and Western Etosha is dominated by Thrush occur. We also take a four-wheel Mopane woodland supporting Southern drive trip onto the plateau looking for Coqui Red-billed Hornbill, White-crested Francolin and African Barred Owlet. Other Helmetshrike, White-crowned Shrike, Violet species we may see at Waterberg include Woodhoopoe and Carp’s Tit. It is also one Black-chested Prinia, Southern Pied-bab- of the best places to find Bare-cheeked bler, Pririt Batis, Pale-winged and Babbler. Other woodland species comprise Burchell’s Starlings, Black-cheeked Shikra, Meyer’s Parrot, Grey-backed Waxbill, White-breasted Sunbird and Cape Camaroptera and Familiar Chat. The scrub Bunting. mopane supports Monotonous and Fawn- coloured Larks. Among the raptors we Day 16: Travel to Windhoek where our should find Gabar Goshawk - which is often flight departs for Europe. If time permits, seen hassling seedeaters and Wattled we can make further visits to Daan Viljoen Starlings - and Lanner and Red-necked Game Reserve. Falcons. At night we can search for African Scops and Southern White-faced Owls. The Charitsaub and Salvadora Plains offer us a chance of Blue Crane. Desert species Prices thrive in drier areas particularly Double- banded Courser and Grey-backed Ground Price: £3,295 Sparrow-Lark. Scrubby bushes may have Single room: £250 Rufous-eared Warbler. Okaukuejo Camp Deposit: £350 has a number of trees with Acacia Pied *Air Fare: £1,100 Babbler and Burnt-necked Eremomela. At night the waterhole is floodlit allowing This holiday is fully inclusive of views of Namaqua and Double-banded flights, accommodation, meals, Sandgrouse coming to drink. The sur- transport, entrance and permit fees, rounding countryside has Sociable Weaver guidance and tips. colonies attracting Pygmy Falcons to nest. Not included: drinks, insurance and Day 12: We use a lodge outside the park items of a personal nature, and any today and travel towards Namutoni where fuel surcharges. we may find Secretarybird and Swainson’s Francolin. At Uris Lodge a walk around the *Please refer to our terms and extensive grounds for Familiar Chat, conditions relating to flights African Paradise Flycatcher, Long-tailed ☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 43.
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