Namibia, & - Etosha to the Victoria Falls!

Naturetrek Tour Report 24 February - 12 March 2017

Swainson's Spurfowl Malachite Kingfisher

Lilac-breasted Roller Rhino watching

Report and images by Neil Macleod & Charl Schoombee

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report , Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls!

Tour participants: Neil Macleod & Charl Schoombee (guides) with 16 Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Friday 24th February

The group were in flight to Windhoek.

Day 2 Saturday 25th February

We met at Windhoek airport and departed at 2.40pm. We drove the 320 kilometres to Waterberg and arrived just after 7pm at reception. The rooms were allocated and we settled in. We met for dinner at 8pm. We did not do a checklist for the day, but seen included: Wahlberg’s Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Little and White-rumped Swifts, Greater Striped Swallow, Shaft-tailed Wydah, Southern Masked Weaver, Scaly-feathered Weaver (also known as Scaly-feathered Finch), Marico and Rüppell’s Parrot. Mammals seen were: Warthog, Banded Mongoose, South African Galago (a Lesser Bushbaby), Impala, Southern Giraffe, Greater Kudu and Gemsbok.

Total distance: 320km

Day 3 Sunday 26th February

We all met in the road in front of our rooms at sunrise, 6.45am for a nature walk within the grounds and to look for some of the Namibian specials. We saw Violet Wood Hoopoe but missed seeing both Rock Runner and Hartlaub’s Francolin. A very slow and casual walk ended at the restaurant for breakfast. We met again at 9.15 and loaded our bags, before we continued the drive north to Etosha National Park. We had some good and mammal sightings. A huge thunderstorm arrived as we got to Okaukuejo in Etosha. Chaos! Once we gathered and re-grouped, we continued the drive to Halali. We experienced torential showers on the way to Halali and arrived there at 6.30pm. We checked into our rooms and met again at 7.30 to do our checklist, followed by dinner.

Total distance 330km

Day 4 Monday 27th February

Breakfast started at 6am and we departed on our early morning game drive at 7am. The African earth smelt fresh after the rains and many birds were perched out on top of shrubs and trees, singing away. We saw Sabota Lark, Spike-heeled Lark, Plain-backed Pipit, African Pipit, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Steppe Buzzard, Northern Black Korhaan, Red-crested Korhaan, Kori Bustard, Blue Crane, Violet-eared Waxbill, Melba Finch, Scaly- feathered Finch and Southern Masked Weaver. We also saw Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Burchell's Zebra, Springbok, Gemsbok, Greater Kudu, Yellow Mongoose and Ground Squirrels. We returned to our camp at 11.30 and some people opted to go to the camp waterhole before lunch at 12.30.

We gathered again at 3.30pm for our afternoon game drive. Just before we set out for our drive, we all had great views of Barn Owl and African Scoops Owl. We had great views of Black-faced Impala and a small bachelor herd of Greater Kudu. We saw Tawny Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Little Sparrowhawk, Red-billed and Swainson's

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!

Spurfowl, Dusky Lark, Violet-eared Waxbill, Melba Finch, Acacia Pied Barbet, Desert Cisticola, Sabota Lark, Black-chested Prinia, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Damara Red-billed, Grey and Yellow-billed Hornbills, Red-billed Duck, Egyptian Geese and Wood Sandpiper. We return to the camp at 6.10pm and meet to do the checklist at 7.30, followed by dinner.

Total distance: 90km

Day 5 Tuesday 28th February

We collected luggage at 7am and left the camp slightly after 8am, heading east towards our next destination, Mokuti Lodge. We got word of a pride of Lions in the vicinity and headed straight for that. We saw the pride lying below an acacia ...... and continued our journey through the park. Birds included Blue Crane, Kori Bustard, Northern Black Korhaan, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, African Spoonbill, Wooly-necked Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, hundreds of Black-necked Grebe, and Secretary Bird.

We had a great afternoon game drive starting at 4pm and we returned to our lodge at 7pm. We saw Giraffe, Oryx, Kudu, Springbok, Zebra, Hartebeest and three different Black Rhinoceros. A great day in Etosha National Park!

Total distance: 160km

Day 6 Wednesday 1st March

Breakfast started at 6am and we left the lodge at 7am for our morning game drive in the park. We took a slow drive through the park and saw all the usual mammals as well as birds. A soft drizzle set in for the first 30 minutes of the drive. We had great views of Desert Cisticola, Fan-tailed Warbler, Southern Pochard, Cape Shoveler, Red-billed Duck, Cape Teal, Grey Heron and Black-necked Grebe. We stopped at Fort Namutoni for a cup of coffee. We also saw a family of three White Rhinoceros before we headed back to the lodge for lunch. We enjoyed a short siesta after lunch before heading out back into the park at 4pm for our last game drive in Etosha.

Although there was rain predicted, our drive started off with sunshine. We had good views of a lot of the common species and we added Cinnamon-breasted as well as Golden-breasted Buntings to our list. We returned to our lodge at 7pm and met to do the checklist at 8pm. We added Spotted Hyena as well as Angolan Epauleted Fruit Bat to our mammal list.

Total distance: 120km

Day 7 Thursday 2nd March

We met for pre-breakfast coffee and tea and did a bird walk around the property, starting at 7pm. We saw: Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Meyer’s Parrot, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Palm Swift, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Grey Go-away-bird and Red-billed Hornbill. We had breakfast and loaded our luggage at 8.30, departing the lodge at 9am. We drove north and stopped to have lunch at Roy's Camp. We

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!

managed to have good views of Rosy-faced Lovebird, Black-faced Babbler, Common Scimitar, Emerald-spotted Dove and Green Wood Hoopoe before we departed and headed north to Rundu and the Kaisosi River Lodge. We saw Red-eyed Dove, Kurrichane Thrush, Allen's Gallinule, Hartlaub's Babbler, Pygmy Goose, African Crake, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose and African Jacana.

We checked into our rooms at 5.30 and met at 7pm to do the checklist and followed by dinner.

Total distance: 430km

Day 8 Friday 3rd March

We met on the deck at sunrise, had a cup of coffee and then took a short stroll through the gardens and property before we had breakfast. We stopped at the Rundu sewage works en route to Mahangu and had great views of Red Bishop, Malachite, Pied and Woodland Kingfishers, Black Heron, Slaty Egret, Little and Cattle Egrets, White-faced and Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Red-billed Duck, Osprey, and Blue-cheeked and Carmine Bee-eaters.

We arrived at Mahangu Lodge for lunch, which we had on the wooden deck overlooking the Okavango River. We saw Buffalo, Warthog, Impala and Greater Kudu feeding across the river, whilst we added Brown Firefinch to our bird list during lunch. We had a short siesta and met again at 4pm for a stroll through the gardens. Here we saw Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, Yellow White-eye, Spectacled Weaver, Black-backed Puffback, Blue Waxbill, Grey-backed Cameroptera, and both Meve’s and Burchell’s Starlings. We depart on an afternoon boat cruise at 5pm.

We enjoyed a slow, relaxing river cruise and we saw: Elephant, Buffalo, Greater Kudu, Waterbuck, Cape Clawless Otter and Hippo. Birds seen were: Little, Blue-cheeked, Carmine, White-fronted and European Bee- eaters, Giant, Pied and Woodland Kingfishers, hundreds of Village Weavers, Little Bittern, Allen's Gallinule, African Jacana, Meyer’s Parrot, African Fish Eagle, Water Thick-knee, African Wattled and Blacksmith Lapwings, Tawny-flanked Prinia and Coppery-tailed Coucal. We returned to the lodge at 7pm and met to do the checklist at 7.15 followed by dinner.

Total distance: 230km

Day 9 Saturday 4th March

We had breakfast at 7am and we left for the Mahangu Park at 8am. We saw Woodland and Pied Kingfishers, Lesser Striped Swallow, Mosque Swallow and Barn Swallow as we left the lodge. We also saw Black Cuckoo, Jacobin's Cuckoo, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Dark-capped Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, African Fish Eagle, White-backed Vulture and Saddle-billed Stork. For the mammals, Buffalo, Greater Kudu, Impala, Red Lechwe, Tsessebe, Blue Wildebeest, Reedbuck, Burchell’s Zebra, Southern Giraffe and Warthog were seen on the drive. We returned to the lodge at 12.30 and had lunch on the deck overlooking the river at 1.30. We left for our afternoon game drive at 4pm.

We returned to the Mahangu park and saw several mammal species, adding Sable Antelope to our list. Numerous

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!

birds are seen again, including: African Fish Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Saddle-billed Stork, Great Cattle and Little Egrets, Pygmy and Spur-winged Geese, Green-backed and Rufous-bellied Herons, Bateleur, Steppe Buzzard, Osprey, Red-billed Spurfowl, Swainson’s Spurfowl, African Jacana, Three-banded Plover, Blacksmith and Wattled Lapwings, Ruff, Water Thick-knee, Collared Pratincole, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Pearl-spotted Owlet, and Pied, Giant, Malachite, Woodland and Grey-headed Kingfishers. We returned to the lodge at 6.45 and met to do our checklist, followed by dinner on the wooden deck.

Total distance: 120km

Day 10 Sunday 5th March

Today we again had breakfast at 7am, and we departed towards Botswana for our day’s excursion just after 7.30am. At the border posts we saw: Grey-rumped Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow, House Martin, Yellow- fronted Tinkerbird, Magpie Shrike, Little, Blue-cheeked and Carmine Bee-eaters, and Copper Sunbird. We made the border crossing and drove to Drotsky's Cabins, where we had a cup of coffee/tea before we boarded our boats at 10am. We headed upstream in search of the Pel’s Owl. We have good views of Black-winged (formerly known as Black-shouldered) Kite, White-fronted, Little and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Spectacled, Village and Brown-throated Weavers, and Pied, Giant, Woodland and Malachite Kingfishers. We ended our boat trip with great views of two Pel’s Owls before we returned to Drotsky's for a wonderful and very tasty lunch. After lunch, we sat and lounged or birded in the garden for an hour before we started our return journey back to Mahangu Lodge.

Total distance: 120km

Day 11 Monday 6th March

We met on the deck before we departed on our morning breakfast cruise on the Okavango River at 7.30am. We saw Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodile and stunning views of two Spotted-necked Otters whilst having our breakfast on the boat. We saw Allen's Gallinule, Black Crake, and more Pied, Giant and Woodland Kingfishers. We had a picnic lunch en route and arrived at our overnight accommodation at 4.30pm. We checked into our rooms before we met to do a short walk on the property, where we saw Black-collared Barbet, Golden Weaver, Amethyst Sunbird and Pied Crow.

A huge storm and downpour occurred while we were doing the checklist. Unfortunately, it also managed to somehow take out the power supply to the town, but it was later restored whilst we were having dinner.

Total distance: 340km

Day 12 Tuesday 7th March

We met at 6.30am for a cup of coffee before we walked through the gardens in search of the Schalow ‘sTuraco which, unfortunately, we didn’t find. However, we did see White-crowned Lapwing, Bronze Manikin, Brown- headed Kingfisher, African Green Pigeon, White-browed Coucal and Golden Weaver, before we returned to

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!

have breakfast. We loaded up and left the hotel at 9am to drive to a known location for Schalow's Turaco, and we saw it, along with Wood Owl, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Yellow-bellied Greenbul and Tropical Boubou. We enjoyed a cup of coffee here before we set off towards the Namibian border. We saw Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, White-backed Vulture and Yellow-billed, Red-billed and Grey Hornbills. After leaving Namibia and before we went through passport control in Botswana, we stopped and had a quick picnic with coffee and tea. We saw Long-toed Lapwing, Blacksmith Lapwing, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Collared Pratincole, Spur- winged Geese, Egyptian Geese, Red-billed Duck and African Jacana.

We continued our drive and arrived at Chobe Safari Lodge at 1.30, in time for lunch. We checked into our rooms and departed on a nature drive at 4pm. Some light rain starts falling as we left the lodge but we had a great drive and saw a lot of new species and enjoyed some great views of many rare species. Birds included Striped, Woodland, Grey-headed and Brown-hooded Kingfishers, Ground Hornbill, Yellow-billed and Red-billed Hornbills, White-winged Widowbird, Three-banded Courser, African Crake, White-winged Tern and Diederik Cuckoo. We also saw Buffalo, Bushbuck, Chacma Baboon, Warthog, Greater Kudu and Impala.

We returned to the lodge at around 6pm and met to do the checklist at 7pm, followed by dinner.

Total distance: 120km

Day 13 Wednesday 8th March

Breakfast started at 7am and we departed for our morning boat cruise into Chobe National Park at 8am. Our local skipper and guide was Izack. We saw Blue-cheeked, Little and Carmine Bee-eaters, Pied, Giant, Malachite and Half-collared Kingfishers, Darter, Reed Cormorant, Great, Little and Cattle Egrets, Black Heron, Purple Heron, African Hawk-Eagle, African Fish Eagle, African Stonechat, Red Bishop, Spur-winged, Pygmy and Egyptian Geese, African Jacana and Allen's Gallinule. For the mammals, Buffalo, Red Lechwe, Impala, Vervet Monkey, Waterbuck, Puku and Hippo were seen.

We returned to the lodge at 11am and met on the riverfront for lunch at midday. After lunch, we had a short siesta whilst the African clouds built up to what looked to be thundershower. We met at 2.45pm and boarded our boat for our afternoon cruise into Chobe National Park. Some serious clouds were building up all around us and we had a heavy shower whilst out on the boat. We saw all the usual birds, but also added Rosy-breasted Longclaw and Glossy Ibis to our bird list, before returning to our lodge at 5.30, just in time before the next downpour. We met to do the checklist, followed by dinner.

Day 14 Thursday 9th March

Most of the group opted for an extra game drive into Chobe and departed the lodge at 6am, returning to have breakfast. We left the lodge around 10am and headed towards Zambia. We completed our border crossings without much hassle, although this still takes us just over two hours. Once in Zambia, we headed to the waterfront for lunch, and enjoyed stunning views of the Zambezi river and the spray of the Victoria falls. We visited the falls after lunch, before heading to our stunning lodge, situated 20 kilometres out of town, on the banks of the Zambezi River. New birds included Trumpeter Hornbill, Dickinson's Kestrel and Red-winged

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!

Starling. Total distance: 130km

Day 15 Friday 10th March

We met at 6.30am on the deck for a coffee before we did a short walk within the property. We saw African Finfoot, Trumpeter Hornbill, Red-faced Cisticola, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Blue Waxbill, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, African Reed Warbler, Puffback, Black-collared Barbet, Diederick Cuckoo, Cut-throat Finch, Brown Firefinch, Hadada Ibis, Osprey, Tropical Boubou, Terrestrial Brownbul, Hamerkop, Green-backed Heron, Red- eyed and Green-spotted Dove, and heard Red-chested and Emerald Cuckoo. We had breakfast at 7.30 on the deck, then drove towards town, the "ponds" and the gorge. En route we did some birding and saw: White- browed Sparrow-Weaver, White-backed Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk, Cattle Egret, Red Bishop, White-winged Widowbird, Barn Swallow, Little Swift, African Black Swift, Blue Waxbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Dusky Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Barn Owl and Red-winged Starling. We arrive for lunch at midday, ordered our food and spent time scanning the gorge and skies.

We had great views of Verraux's Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle, African Black Swift, Little Swift, Horus Swift, Mocking Cliff Chat and Barn Owl. We departed after lunch and arrived at our lodge just after 3.30pm. Our afternoon boat cruise departed at 4.30pm.

Total distance: 95km

Day 16 Saturday 11th March

We met on the deck for a coffee before we took a final walk through the gardens and returned to have breakfast. There was not much activity this morning and we soon packed our bags and headed for the Livingstone Museum. Later, we drove to the airport and said our good-byes after an amazing trip!

Day 17 Sunday 12th March

Arrival back in the UK.

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Tour Report Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls!

Species Lists

Birds (=recorded but not counted; H = heard only) February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 Common Ostrich Struthio camelus         2 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus  3 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis   4 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis   5 Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus          6 African Darter Anhinga rufa        7 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea     8 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala  9 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea   10 Great (White) Egret Ardea alba      11 Little Egret Egretta garzetta             12 Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret Ardea intermedia       13 Black Heron (Egret) Egretta ardesiaca    14 Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula     15 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis             16 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides       17 Striated (Green-backed) Heron Butorides striata       18 Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris      19 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 2 20 White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus 2 21 Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus   22 Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii  23 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta         24 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus   25 Open-billed Stork Anastomus lamelligerus   26 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 2  27 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer   28 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis  29 African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus    

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 30 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus    31 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash   32 African Spoonbill Platalea alba  33 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus   34 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor  35 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata          36 Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor   37 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus              38 Cape Teal Anas capensis   39 Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota  40 Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha        41 Cape Shoveler Anas smithii   42 Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma  43 African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus        44 Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa  45 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis        46 Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius   47 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus  48 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus         49 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius           50 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus  2    51 Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii 2 2 52 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax        53 Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 2  54 Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina  55 Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi      56 African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster  57 Ayres's Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus ayresii  58 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus  59 Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus       60 Black-breasted Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis    61 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus        

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 62 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer         63 Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo          64 Ovambo Sparrowhawk Accipiter ovampensis  65 Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus   66 Shikra (Little Banded Goshawk) Accipiter badius  67 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar    68 Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus       69 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates  70 African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus    71 Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus  72 African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) Polyboroides typus     73 Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus    74 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus  75 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus   76 Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera  77 Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus    78 Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides    79 Dickinson's Kestrel Falco dickinsoni  80 Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena    81 Red-billed Spurfowl Pternistis adspersus            82 Natal Spurfowl ( Francolin) Pternistis natalensis  83 Swainson's Spurfowl (Francolin) Peliperdix swainsonii     84 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris         85 Blue Crane Grus paradisea   4 86 African Rail Rallus caerulescens   87 African Crake Crex egregia 2   88 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris     89 Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni      90 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus   91 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata  92 African Finfoot Podica senegalensis  93 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori    

© Naturetrek April 17 3

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 94 Red-crested Korhaan L:ophotis ruficrista 2 95 Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis afraoides     96 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus         97 Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis  98 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius  99 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris     100 Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus  101 Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus     102 Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus             103 White-crowned Plover Vanellus albiceps    104 African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus       105 Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris      106 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos       107 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola           108 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis   109 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia   110 Sanderling Calidris alba  111 Little Stint Calidris minuta  112 Ruff Philomachus pugnax       113 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus    114 Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis 2  115 Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus         116 Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii  117 Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus    118 Three-banded Courser Rhinoptilus cinctus 2 119 Collared (Red-winged) Pratincole Glareola pratincola      120 Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni   121 Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis   122 Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus   123 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida    124 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus    125 Double-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles bicinctus 3

4 © Naturetrek April 17

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 126 Rock Dove Columba livia 'feral'     127 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata          128 Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens       129 Ring-necked (Cape Turtle) Dove Streptopelia capicola              130 Laughing Dove Spilpelia senegalensis             131 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis        132 Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos           133 African Green Pigeon Treron calvus   134 Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri       135 Rüppell's Parrot Poicephalus rueppellii   136 Rosy-Faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis   137 Schalow's Turaco Tauraco schalowi     138 Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor              139 Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus H       140 Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius  141 Levaillant's (Striped) Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii   142 Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus        143 African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus       H 144 Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas       145 Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius   H    146 Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus       147 White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus  148 Western Barn Owl Tyto alba H     149 African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii  150 African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis   151 Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum H  H  152 Pel's Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli 2 153 Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis H H  154 Common Swift Apus apus    155 African Black Swift Apus barbatus  156 Bradfield's Swift Apus bradfieldi  157 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer   

© Naturetrek April 17 5

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 158 Horus Swift Apus horus  159 Little Swift Apus affinis         160 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus           161 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba  162 Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus          163 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis          164 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima         165 Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata  166 Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus       167 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides         168 Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris   169 Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala    170 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti  171 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster         172 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus         173 Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides         174 White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides      175 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus          176 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus       177 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus              178 Purple Roller Coracias naevius      179 African Hoopoe Upupa africana     180 Green (Red-billed) Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus       181 Violet Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis  182 Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas     183 Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator  H   184 African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus             185 Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris          186 Damara Red-billed Hornbill Tockus damarensis   187 Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas           188 Bradfield's Hornbill Lophoceros bradfieldi    189 Monteiro's Hornbill Tockus monteiri 

6 © Naturetrek April 17

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 190 Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri 2 3 191 Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus     192 Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas    193 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus  194 Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii   195 Bennett's Woodpecker Campethera bennettii  196 Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni  197 Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina H   198 Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana     199 Cape Clapper Lark Mirafra apiata   200 Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota     201 Dusky Lark Pinarocorys nigricans  2 202 Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata   203 Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea   204 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucotis  205 Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix verticalis     206 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica             207 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii         208 Red-breasted Swallow Cercropis semirufa      209 Mosque Swallow Cercropis senegalensis     210 Greater Striped Swallow Cercropis cucullata    211 Lesser Striped Swallow Cercropis abyssinica       212 Rock Martin Ptyonprogne fuligula     213 Common House Martin Delichon urbica   214 Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga  215 Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola   216 Banded Martin Riparia cincta    217 Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava  218 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis              219 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus    220 African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus   221 Cape (Black) Crow Corvus capensis   

© Naturetrek April 17 7

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 222 Pied Crow Corvus albus       223 Ashy Tit Melaniparus cinerascens   224 Southern Black Tit Melaniparus niger     225 Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii       226 Black-faced Babbler Turdoides melanops  227 Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii       228 Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor   229 Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides gymnogenys  230 African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans       231 Dark-capped Bulbul (split) Pycnonotus tricolor        232 Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris    233 Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris          234 Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis  235 Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana   236 Groundscraper Thrush Turdus litsitsirupa    237 Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata    238 Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris  239 Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora  240 African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus   241 White-browed Robin-Chat (Heuglin's Robin) Cossypha heuglini         242 Collared Palm Thrush Cichladusa arquata   243 White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys    244 Kalahari Scrub Robin Cercotrichas paena    245 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina      246 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus  H H   H  247 African Reed ( Marsh) Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus  248 Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris   249 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus   250 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus       251 Chestnut-vented Warbler (Tit-Babbler) Sylvia subcaerulea    252 Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida   253 Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens  H H  

8 © Naturetrek April 17

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 254 Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis   255 Burnt-necked Eremomela Eremomela usticollis  256 Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata        257 Barred Wren-warbler Calamonastes fasciolatus 258 Zitting (Fan-tailed) Cisticola Cisticola juncidis    259 Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus    260 Tinkling Cisticola Cisticola rufilatus     H 261 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana    H 262 Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops  263 Luapula Cisticola Cisticola luapula  264 Chirping Cisticola Cisticola pipiens  265 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava      266 Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans     267 Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis  268 African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta  269 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata         270 Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens   271 Marico Flycatcher Melaenornis mariquensis          272 Chat Flycatcher Melaenornis infuscatus  273 Pririt Batis Batis pririt  274 African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis           275 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp         276 Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis       277 Westwern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava  278 African (Grassveld) Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus     279 Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys    280 Rosy-throated Longclaw Macronyx ameliae  281 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor           282 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio            283 Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus       284 Tropical Boubou Laniarius major   285 Swamp Boubou Laniarius bicolor     H

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 286 Crimson-breasted Shrike Laniarius atrococcineus      287 Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla       288 Brubru Nilaus afer   289 Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis    290 Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus  291 Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti   292 White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus  293 Retz's Helmetshrike Prionops retzii  294 Southern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens        295 Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea  296 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster    297 Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis        298 Meves's (Long-tailed) Starling Lamprotornis mevesii      299 Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens          300 Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus    301 Sharp-tailed Starling Lamprotornis acuticaudus  302 Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio   303 Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup  304 Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus      305 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus      306 Copper Sunbird cupreus    307 Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis      308 Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus     309 White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala    310 Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus    311 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis    312 Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina   313 Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris   314 Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis     315 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger             316 White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali              317 Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons 

10 © Naturetrek April 17

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 318 Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius  319 House Sparrow Passer domesticus  320 Great Sparrow Passer motitensis   321 Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus  322 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus            323 Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus  324 Yellow-throated Petronia (Sparrow) Gymnoris superciliaris  325 Scaly-feathered Weaver (Finch) Sporopipes squamifrons        326 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis      327 Village (Spotted-backed) Weaver Ploceus cucullatus      328 Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus   329 Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus         330 Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius     331 Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops      332 Southern Brown-throated W. Ploceus xanthopterus  333 Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps    334 Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea    335 Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix        336 Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer   337 Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris   338 White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus   339 Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba       340 Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia  341 Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula    342 Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis            343 Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus granatinus     344 Black-faced (Black-cheeked) W. Estrilda erythronotos  345 Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata   346 Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala   347 Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata   348 Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia            349 Long-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua paradisaea           

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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 350 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata    351 Black-throated Canary Crithagra atrogularis    352 Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris  353 Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris   354 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi  

Mammals 1 Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus      2 Vervet Monkey cercopithecus aethiops         3 South African Galago Galago moholi  4 Angolan Epauleted Fruit Bat Epomophorus angolensis   5 Cape Hare Lepus capensis  6 S. African Ground Squirrel Geosciurus inauris    7 Smith's Bush Squirrel ( Tree Sq.) Paraxerus cepapi           8 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas      9 African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis    10 Spotted-necked Otter Lutra maculicollis  11 Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo      12 Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguineus      13 Yellow Mongoose Cynictic penicillata  14 Selous's Mongoose Paracynictis Selousi  15 Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta  16 Lion Panthera leo  6 17 African Elephant Loxodonta africana     18 Burchell's Zebra Equus burchelli (quagga)        19 Browse (Black) Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis 3 20 Grass (White) Rhinoceros Cerathotherium simum 3 21 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius        22 Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus              23 Southern Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis         24 Cape Buffalo Syncerus caffer        25 Bush Buck Tragelaphus scriptus   

12 © Naturetrek April 17

Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report

February /March Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 26 Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros             27 Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia  28 Steinbuck Raphicerus campestris    29 Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus  30 Damaraland Dik-dik Rhynchotragus kirki damarensis   31 Southern Reedbuck Redunda arundinum   32 Puku Kobus vardoni  33 Red Lechwe Kobus leche   34 Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus    35 Springbuck Antidorcas marsupialis     36 Impala Aepyceros melampus           37 Black-faced Impala Aepyceros melampus petersi     38 Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus       39 Tsessebe Damaliscus lunatus  40 Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger    41 Gemsbok Oryx gazella      42 Red Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus    43 Bontebok Damaliscus pygargus dorcas  

Reptiles 1 Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus      2 Rock Monitor Varanus albigularis  3 Water Monitor Varanus niloticus     4 Striped Skink Mabuya striata  5 Rainbow Skink Mabuya quinquetaeniata   6 Chobe Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus chobiensis  7 Marsh Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa    8 Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis    9 Flap-neck Chamaeleon Chamaeleo dilepis  

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