Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls!
Naturetrek Tour Report 26 February - 12 March 2011
Spotted Hyena White Storks
White-fronted Bee-eater African Elephants
Report and images compiled by Neil MacLeod and Robbie Bergh
Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk
Tour Report Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls!
Tour Leaders: Neil MacLeod Robbie Bergh
Participants: John Turner Jeanna Turner Derek Toomer Jan Toomer Judith Lincoln David Lincoln Kate Crawford Sheila Wright Clive Adkin Sonia Adkin
Day 1 Saturday 26th February
Neil and Robbie met the group at the Windhoek International airport. We left the airport before 15:00 after some people exchanged some currency to local Namibian dollars. We explained that the day would be a travelling day. Numerous birds along the roadside en route to Waterberg Platue Park. Tawny Eagle, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Yellow billed and Black shouldered Kites, numerous Steppe Buzzards, Eurasian Bee-eaters, Cape Turtle, Laughing and Namaqua Dove, Lilac breasted, Eurasian and Purple Roller. We all had a good meal at the Waterberg restaurant and retired to our rooms.
Day 2 Sunday 27th February
We had a very successful morning walk and then continued on to breakfast. Birds that were seen in the walk included Yellow billed Hornbill, Grey, Monteiros and Bradfield’s Hornbills, Ruppels Parrot, Paradise Flycather, Violet Wood Hoopoe, stunning views of Rockrunner, Scarlet chested, Marico, White bellied and Dusky Sunbirds.
We then drove off to Etosha, Halali. En route we saw Tawny Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Secretary bird, Northern Black Korhaan and Kori Bustard. Mammals included Springbok, Burchell’s Zebra, Greater Kudu, Steenbok, Southern Giraffe, Gemsbok, Wildebeest, Black faced Impala, Red Hartebeest as well as Klipspringer in Waterberg before we left. Inside the park we all had excellent views of Rufous eared Warbler, Red-footed Kestrel, African Hobby, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Greater Kestrel, Red necked and Lanner Falcon. It started raining around 6pm, just before we reached Halali.
Day 3 Monday 28th February
Breakfast at 07:00, morning game drive at 08:00 till 12:00. The day started off with good views of Springbok, Red Hartebeest, Black faced Impala, Steenbok and Gemsbok. Birds included Brown Snake Eagle, Rock Kestrel, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Chestnut banded Plover, Kitlitz Plover, Cape and Red billed Teal, Sabota’s, Red capped and Rufous naped Larks.
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!
We were treated to a very nice White faced Scops Owl that was perched in a Mopane tree in the Halai camp grounds. The afternoon game drive included a sighting of a Black Rhinoceros, about 200 Abdims Storks as well as a group of around 2000 Springbok. (110 km’s)
Day 4 Tuesday 1st March
Game drive at sunrise. We had a very successful morning with good views of several Hyenas as well as a male lion that had just killed a Black faced Impala ram. Other mammals included, Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Oryx, Greater Kudu, Black faced Impala and Yellow Mongoose. Birds seen included Glossy Ibis, Ostrich, White Storks, Eurasian Bee-eaters, Brown hooded Kingfisher, Western Red footed and Greater Kestrel, Tawny Eagle and a very nice sighting of three Pale Chanting Goshawks. Gabar Goshawk, Shikra and several Lark species were also seen. We also found an African Scops Owl just after breakfast.
The afternoon game drive started at 16:00. Lion, Hyena, Black faced Impala, Steenbok, and Banded Mongoose were some of the mammals seen. Birds included African Hawk Eagle, Grey, Damara and Yellow-billed Hornbills, Pearl spotted Owl, Longbilled Crombec, Swainsons Francolin, White crowned and White helmet Shrikes, Namaqua and Cape Turtle Doves. We had good views of Marsh Terrapin, Flap-necked Chameleon and Etosha Agama.
Day 5 Wednesday 2nd March
We packed our bags and left Halali after breakfast. We travelled via most of the waterholes along the route to Namutoni and arrived at the camp at mid-day, in time for lunch. Birds en route: Blue Crane, Secretarybird, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, White backed and Lapped faced Vultures, Pale chanting and Gabar Goshawk, Western Red footed Kestrel, Sabota’s, Rufous naped and Red capped Larks, Red billed and Swainson’s Francolin, Striped Kingfisher, Three streaked Tchagra, Northern Black and Red crested Korhaan, Red billed and Cape Teal, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed and Little Egret, Grey Heron, Maccoa Duck, Southern Pochard and Cape Shovellers, Greenshank, Marsh, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Ruff, Three banded and Kitlitz Plovers, and Blacksmith and Crowned Lapwings. Mammals en route included; Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Zebra, Gemsbok, Greater Kudu, and Southern Giraffe. The highlight of the day was a sighting of a Cheetah with a cub seen close to the road lying under an Acacia. We left the park at 16:30 and continued our journey to Uris Lodge. Just before the lodge we had Red, Damara and Yellow-billed Hornbills, Ashy and Carp’s Tit, Paradise and Shaft tailed Wydah’s, Willow Warbler and Green winged Pitylia.
Day 6 Thursday 3rd March
Coffee and tea at 07:00. We enjoyed a bird walk around the grounds and what an exciting morning it turned out to be! We had good views for the whole group of Bare cheeked Babbler, Carp’s Tit, Grey Go away bird, Red eyed Bulbul, Spotted Flycatcher, Pearl spotted Owlet, Green winged Pitilia, Ashy Tit, Violet eared and Blue Waxbills, and Paradise and Shaft tailed Wydah’s.
We had breakfast and started with our long drive to Kaisosi River Lodge near Rundu. We saw Painted Snipe, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Jacobon Cuckoo, Wahlberg’s Eagle and Steppe Buzzard along the road.
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!
We stopped near Rundu and drove off into the bush to an area that was known to the guides to look for Rufous bellied Tit. We had excellent views of the following birds: Black Sunbird, White Yellow White eye, Yellow eyed Canaries, Blue and Violet eared Waxbills, Violet backed Starling, Golden breasted Bunting, and Pale (mouse coloured) Flycatcher. The water works at Rundu was exciting with good views of Black Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Rufous bellied Heron, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Green backed Heron, Hottentot Teal, Cape Teal, Red Bishop, Pied Kingfisher, Village Indigobird, Cut-throat Finch, Little and Blue cheeked Bee-eaters, Coppery tailed Coucal, White crowned, Red backed, Lesser Grey and Magpie shrikes, Red eyed, Cape Turtle, Laughing and Namaqua Doves, Open billed Stork and Reed Cormorants.
We arrived at Kaisosi Lodge at 18:00 and received a welcome drink and the good news that we were having a braai for dinner! We all checked into our rooms and gathered at the main building on the riverside deck for 19:30. A great day with a great ending on the banks of the Kavango River, looking over Angola at sunset…
Day 7 Friday 4th March
Coffee was at 06:30 with a short stroll on the property. Giant and Woodland Kingfishers, Reed Cormorants, Yellow-billed and Cattle Egrets, Rufous bellied and Green backed Herons, Village Weavers, Open billed Storks, Swamp Bou-bou, Hartlaub’s Babblers, Osprey and Black Crake. Other birds seen along the road to Mahango Safari Lodge included, Kurrichane Thrush, Black faced Babblers, Blue cheeked, Carmine and Little Bee-Eaters, Magpie, White crowned and Red backed Shrikes, Yellow billed Kites, Dark Chanting and Gabar Goshawk, Steppe Buzzards, Black Herons, Red billed and Cape Teal, Common Moorhen, African Jacana, Lesser Moorhen, Wood, Common and Marsh Sandpipers, Golden Weaver, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Red billed Oxpecker, African pied Wagtail, White fronted Bee-eaters, Red faced Mousebirds, and Coppery tailed Coucal.
We arrived at Mahango Safari Lodge at 16:00, after having lunch at Poppa Falls. Late afternoon we did a bird walk on the property covering three different habitats. Purple Banded Sunbird, Common Sandpiper, Green backed and Squacco Heron, Northern Grey-Headed Sparrow, Black Cuckoo, Open-Billed Stork, Meyer’s Parrot, Long-Tailed- and Burchells Starling, Coppery tailed Coucal, Pin tailed Wydah, Brown Firefinch, Water Thick-knee, Stonechat, Pied and Woodland Kingfisher, White faced Duck, Pygmy Geese, Golden and Spectacled Weaver and Terrestrial Brownbul. We also saw some Hippos in the river from the wooden deck. Dinner was served on the deck, overlooking the Okavango River.
Day 8 Saturday 5th March
An early morning start (06:00) in order to be at the entrance of Mahango Game Reserve. We entered the park just after sunrise and the first mammal for the day was Impala, followed by Red Lechwe, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Southern Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Waterbuck, Hippopotamus, Greater Kudu, Warthog, Chacma Baboons and Vervet Monkeys. Birds seen on the morning drive included, Saddle-billed Stork, Blue grey Flycatcher, Luapula Cisticola, African Pipit, Pygmy Goose, Spurwinged Goose, Rattling and Tinkling Cisticola’s, Golden Weavers, African Fish Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Pied, Giant, Woodland and Grey hooded Kingfishers, Blacksmith and Wattled Lapwings, Hammerkop, Red backed and Crimson breasted Shrikes, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Yellow- billed, Great white, Cattle and Little Egrets, Green backed and Squacco Herons, Open billed Storks, and Yellow- billed and Red-billed Oxpeckers. We returned to the lodge for a late breakfast at 09:30.
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!
Lunch was served on the deck at 13:00 and we departed to Mahangu Park (Bwabwata National Park) at 15:00 for another game drive. New birds seen were Black Tit, Marico Sunbird, Slaty Egret, Black Cuckoo Shrike, Orange breasted Bush Shrike, Yellow breasted Apalis, and African Crake. We also had good views of African Rock Python, Leopard Tortoise and Kalahari Tortoise.
Day 9 Sunday 6th March
Breakfast at 07:00. Departed to Botswana via Shakawe arriving at the lodge for lunch. The early morning treated us to excellent views of 2 Lesser Jacana’s as we left Mahangu Safari Lodge. Yellow fronted Tinkerbird, Arrow marked Babblers, White browed Scrub Robin, White browed Robin Chat, White bellied, Scarlet chested and Marico Sunbirds, Black collared Barbet, Lesser striped and Grey rumped Swallows, Bataleur, Martial and Lesser spotted Eagles, Black chested Snake Eagle, African Oriole, Green winged Pytilia, White fronted, Little and Carmine Bee- eaters, Woodland, Giant and Pied Kingfishers, Magpie Shrike, Lilac breasted and Thick billed Rollers were seen. Impala, Reedbuck and Bushbuck were the only mammals of the morning.
The afternoon boat trip delivered Fish Eagle, Osprey, Black shouldered Kite, African Marsh Harrier, Black Crake, White winged and Fan-tailed Widowbirds, Golden Weaver, Coppery tailed Coucal, White fronted, Little and Blue- cheeked Bee-eaters, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers. The highlight of the day was the absolute brilliant view we had of the Pel’s Fishing Owl. A thundershower was building up and we decided to head back to the lodge. We met at 19:00 to do the checklist and had our dinner.
Day 10 Monday 7th March
Early morning bird walk was at 06:30 followed by breakfast on the banks of the Okavango River. We hoped to see Narina Trogon and Wood Owl but had no luck. We did however have great views of Bushbuck, Collared Sunbird, Green Pigeon, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Little Sparrowhawk and Paradise Flycatcher.
We left at 09:00 and saw Woodland and Pied Kingfishers, Martial Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bataleur and Tawny Eagle, Shikra, Dark chanting Goshawk, Steppe Buzzard, African Golden Oriole, Carmine, Little and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Pygmy Goose, Red Bishop, Golden Weaver, Purple and Lilac breasted Rollers, Red billed, Yellow billed and Bradfield’s Hornbills, Magpie, Lesser grey and Red backed Shrikes, Red crested Korhaan, Yellow billed Kite, Grey Go-away bird, Tawny flanked Prinia, Lesser striped, Eurasian and Grey rumped Swallows. We filled up the vehicles at Divundu and took the long straight road to Katima Mulilo. We had a picnic lunch at Bum Hill! Arrived at Katima Mulilo and checked in at Zambezi River Lodge at 17:00.
Day 11 Tuesday 8th March
The group met at 6:30 for a pre-breakfast walk. We had good views of Bronze Manikin, Hammerkop, Black eyed Bulbul, Giant Kingfisher, Collared and Shelley’s Sunbird, White crowned Lapwing, and Northern Grey headed Sparrow.
The group had breakfast at 08:00 and we left Zambezi River Lodge at 09:30. We received good news that Schalow’s Turaco was seen and photographed by one of the clients.
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!
En route to the Mohembo borderpost we saw several Bataleur, Wahlbergs Eagle, Dark chanting Goshawk, Martial Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Yellow billed Kite, Lilac breasted, Purple and Thick billed Roller, Yellow billed, Red and Bradfield’s Hornbill, Red billed Buffalo Weavers, Magpie Shrike, Green Wood-hoopoe, Brown hooded and Woodland Kingfisher and several Flapped necked Chameleon’s.
Just after exiting Namibia we saw a group of about 50 Black Herons, all feeding together, Little, Yellow billed, Great white and Cattle Egrets. We also saw our first Elephants, a herd of about 20 come down to the water for a drink as well as a single Cape buffalo. Entering Botswana we saw a herd of 30 Sable Antelope, Warthog, Impala, Chacma Baboons, Vervet Monkeys and Southern Giraffe. We had a group of 5 Ground Hornbills feeding next to the road and stunning views for both vehicles. More Bataleur were seen as well as a good fly by view of a Martial Eagle.
We arrived at our lodge for lunch. An optional game drive into Chobe National Park was done by 6 clients. The remainder of the group went on a nature drive with the guides through Kasane and the surrounding area. We saw a herd of 50 Elephants. At one stage we were surrounded by the Elephants and they were only a few metres away from our vehicle. We spent about an hour with the elephant herd. Warthog, Chacma Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Impala and Tree Squirrel was also seen. We had great views of a Black Heron “hunting” with its typical and unique umbrella method. Other birds included African Spoonbill, Sacred Ibis, Kitlitz Plover, Great white, Little and Cattle Egrets, Comb billed Duck, Egyptian and Spur winged Geese, Jameson’s Fire Finch, Lesser masked and Golden Weaver, White winged Widowbird, Levailent’s Cuckoo, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Southern Grey headed Sparrow, African Jacana, Hartlaub’s and Arrow marked Babblers, Red faced Mousebirds, African Paradise Flycatcher, African Fish Eagle, Marabou and Open billed Storks, Shelly’s, Scarlet chested and Collared Sunbirds, and Green winged Pytilia.
The clients that went on the game drive arrived back at the lodge at 19:10. We all met for dinner at 20:00. The game drive group managed to add Puku Antelope, Yellow Wagtail as well as Yellow billed Stork to the checklist. They had a great experience with over 200 Elephants.
Day 12 Wednesday 9th March
Breakfast was served at 07:00. Our morning boat cruise into Chobe National Park started at 08:00 departing from the lodge. We had a good start to the morning with brilliant views of Yellow, Cape and Pied Wagtails, Thick billed and Lilac breasted Rollers, Grey hooded, Pied, Woodland, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Black throated Canary, Spectacled Weaver, Reed Cormorants, Darter, Pygmy Geese, Egyptian Geese, Open billed Stork, African Fish Eagle, Marabou Storks, Ground Hornbill, Blue cheeked, White fronted and Carmine Bee Eaters, and Water Thick knee, White crowned Lapwings, Violet back Starling, Red bishop and Fan tailed Widowbirds were seen very close to our boat. Other waders included Wood and Common Sandpipers, Ruff and Blacksmith Lapwings. We also had close range views of Impala, Greater Kudu, Hippo, Chacma Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Puku and a herd of about 20 African Elephants came down to the river to have a drink. We were only a couple of metres away from the elephants in the safety of our boat. What a wonderful experience to be facing the drinking elephants at ground (or water) level! Water Monitor and numerous Nile Crocodiles were also seen.
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!
The group met at the foyer at 15:20 for another afternoon boat cruise into the Chobe Park. More Elephants were seen and they treated us with excellent views and photo opportunities while they were drinking water and bathing. Greater Kudu, Waterbuck and Impala were also seen. Both Water Monitors and Nile Crocodile were seen again. Birds seen in the afternoon included Black crowned night Heron, Tawny-Flanked Prinia, Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Cattle, Little, and Yellow billed Egrets, Open-Billed Stork, Blacksmith & White Crowned Lapwings, Water Thick-Knee, and Hartlaub’s Babblers.
We took a lot of pictures of White-Fronted Bee-Eaters at their nesting site in an embankment. Blue-Cheeked Bee- Eaters, African Stonechats, Wire-tailed Swallows were flying all around us and occasionally settled on our boat for great and close up views. A beautiful sky with an even more beautiful rainbow was seen as we drove back to our lodge. The group met at 19:45 to do our checklist and to have a real African buffet dinner.
Day 13 Thursday 10th March
We had breakfast at 07:00 and did a bird walk within the property at 08:00. We departed after breakfast for Zambia. We crossed the border/river by ferry from Botswana to Zambia. After lunch we visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls. Although the river is much higher than normal, we experienced the Zambezi in full force! We had excellent views of the falls, whilst getting totally soaked from the spray. New birds for our list were Golden tailed Woodpecker, Crested Barbet, Red winged Starling and Trumpeter Hornbill.
Day 14 Friday 11th March
Before breakfast some people were on the wooden deck overlooking the Maramba River and we added White browed Coucal and Red billed Helmet Shrikes to our list. After breakfast, we travelled to the Victoria Falls area and did a very nice bird walk on the Victoria Falls hotel premises. We saw Yellow breasted Apalis, Village Weavers, Open billed Stork, Terrestrial Brownbul, Booted Eagle, Hooded Vulture, and White backed Vultures. A drive to the local “ponds” produced Little, Cattle and Yellow billed Egrets, Black headed and Grey Herons, Sacred Ibis, African Jacana, Long toed, Black smith and White crowned Lapwings, Common Moorhen and Paradise Wydah.
After lunch we did a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile, Hadeda Ibis, Water Thick-knee, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Open billed Storks and Wire tailed Swallows were seen. We ended our boat cruise on a high with extremely good views of 2 African Finfoot. We had dinner on the boat as the African sun was setting over the mighty Zambezi River.
Day 15 Saturday 12th March
We had breakfast at 08:00 and left the lodge at 09:30 and enjoyed a visit to the Livingstone Museum before we made our way to the airport.
On behalf of Robbie and myself, I would like to thank each and every-one for their input and for making this safari a wonderful experience and a great trip!
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Tour Report Falls!
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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 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 Ostrich Struthio camelus 2 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 3 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 4 White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 5 Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus 6 Darter Anhinga rufa 7 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 8 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 9 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 10 Great (White) Egret Egretta alba 11 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 12 Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia 13 Black Egret Egretta ardesiaca 14 Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula 15 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 16 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 17 Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus 18 Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris 19 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 20 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 21 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 22 Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii 23 Open-billed Stork Anastomus lamelligerus 24 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 25 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 26 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 27 Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 28 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 29 Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 30 African Spoonbill Platalea alba 31 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor 32 White-faced Duck Dendrocygna viduata 33 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus 34 South African Shelduck Tadorna cana 35 Cape Teal Anas capensis 36 Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota 37 Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha 38 Cape Shoveller Anas smithii 39 Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma 40 Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus 41 Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 42 Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa 43 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 44 Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius 3 45 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus 46 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus 47 Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus 48 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius 49 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus 50 Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii 2 51 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 52 Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 53 Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi 2 54 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 55 African Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster 56 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus 57 Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus 58 Black-breasted Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis 59 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus 60 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 61 Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 62 Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus 63 Little Banded Goshawk Accipiter badius 64 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar 65 Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus 66 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates 67 African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus 68 Gymnogene Polyboroides typus 69 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2 70 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 71 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 2 72 African Hobby Falco cuvierii 73 Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera 74 Western Red-footed Kestrel Falco vespertinus 75 Rock Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 76 Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides 77 Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus 1 78 Red-billed Francolin Peliperdix adspersus 79 Hartlaub's Francolin Pternistes hartlaubi H 80 Swainson's Francolin Peliperdix swainsonii 81 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 82 Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus 4 3 83 African Crake Crex egregia 84 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris 85 Lesser Gallinule Porphyrula alleni 86 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 87 Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata 88 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 89 African Finfoot Podica senegalensis 90 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori 91 Red-crested Korhaan Eupodotis ruficrista H 92 Northern Black Korhaan Eupodotis afraoides 93 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 94 Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis 95 Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis 2 1 96 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius 97 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 98 Chestnut-Banded Plover Charadrius pallidus 99 Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus 100 Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus 101 White-crowned Plover Vanellus albiceps 102 Wattled Plover Vanellus senegallus 103 Long-toed Plover Vanellus crassirostris 104 Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos 105 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 106 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 107 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus 108 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 109 Greenshank Tringa nebularia 110 Little Stint Calidris minuta 111 Ruff Philomachus pugnax 112 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 113 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 114 Spotted Dikkop Burhinus capensis 115 Water Dikkop Burhinus vermiculatus 116 Double-banded Courser Smutsornis africanus 117 Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus 118 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus 119 Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral' 120 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 121 African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens 122 Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola 123 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 124 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 125 Green-spotted Dove Turtur chalcospilos
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 126 African Green Pigeon Treron calva 127 Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri 128 Rüppell's Parrot Poicephalus rueppellii 129 Rosy-Faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis 130 Schalow's Lourie Tauraco schalowi 131 Grey Lourie Corythaixoides concolor 132 African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis 133 Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus 134 Levaillant's (Striped) Cuckoo Oxylophus levaillantii 135 Jacobin Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus 136 Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 137 Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus 138 White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus 139 Barn Owl Tyto alba H 140 Marsh Owl Asio capensis 141 African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis 142 White-faced Owl Otus leucotis 143 Pearl-spotted Owl Glaucidium perlatum H 144 Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus 145 Pel's Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli 146 Eurasian Swift Apus apus 147 Bradfield's Swift Apus bradfieldi 148 Little Swift Apus affinis 149 Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 150 White-backed Mousebird Colius colius 151 Red-faced Mousebird Colius indicus 152 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 153 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 154 Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata 155 Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 156 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 157 Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris
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Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 158 Grey-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala 159 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti 160 Eurasian Bee-eater Merops apiaster 161 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 162 Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides 163 White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides 164 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 165 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus 166 Eurasian Roller Coracias garrulus 167 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata 168 Purple Roller Coracias naevia 169 Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus 170 African Hoopoe Upupa africana 171 Red-billed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus 172 Violet Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis 173 Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 174 Trumpeter Hornbill Ceratogymna bucinator 175 Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus 176 Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus 177 Damara Hornbill Tockus damarensis 178 Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas 179 Bradfield's Hornbill Tockus bradfieldi 180 Monteiro's Hornbill Tockus monteiri 181 Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri 6 182 Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus 183 Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas 184 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus 185 Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 186 Bennett's Woodpecker Campethera bennettii 187 Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni 188 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens 189 Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus
6 © Naturetrek June 11
Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 190 Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana 191 Fawn-coloured Lark Mirafra africanoides 192 Sabota Lark Mirafra sabota 193 Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata 194 Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea 195 Grey-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix verticalis 196 Eurasian Swallow Hirundo rustica 197 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 198 Red-breasted Swallow Hirundo semirufa 199 Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis 200 Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cucullata 201 Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica 202 Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula 203 House Martin Delichon urbica 204 Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga 205 Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola 206 Banded Martin Riparia cincta 207 Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava 208 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 209 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 210 African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus 211 Black Crow Corvus capensis 212 Pied Crow Corvus albus 213 Ashy Tit Parus cinerascens 214 Southern Black Tit Parus niger 215 Carp's Black Tit Parus carpi 216 Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii 217 Black-faced Babbler Turdoides melanops 218 Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii 219 Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor 220 Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides gymnogenys 221 African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans
© Naturetrek June 11 7
Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 222 Black-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus 223 Terrestrial Bulbul Phyllastrephus terrestris 224 Yellow-bellied Bulbul Chlorocichla flaviventris 225 Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus 226 Groundscraper Thrush Psophocichla litsitsirupa 227 Short-toed Rock Thrush Monticola brevipes 228 Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata 229 Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris 230 Mocking Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 231 Stonechat Saxicola torquata 232 Heuglin's Robin Cossypha heuglini H H 233 White-browed Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys 234 Kalahari Robin Cercotrichas paena 235 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina 236 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 237 Eurasian Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 238 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 239 Chestnut-Vented Titbabbler Parisoma subcaeruleum 240 Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida 241 Rock Runner Achaetops pycnopygius 242 Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens 243 Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata 244 Barred (wren) warbler Calamonastes fasciolatus 245 Fan-tailed Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 246 Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus 247 Tinkling Cisticola Cisticola rufilatus 248 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chinianus 249 Black-backed Cisticola Cisticola galactotes 250 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 251 Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans 252 Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis 253 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
8 © Naturetrek June 11
Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 254 Blue-grey Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens 255 Marico Flycatcher Bradornis mariquensis 256 Pallid Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus 257 Chat Flycatcher Bradornis infuscatus 258 Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 259 Pririt Batis Batis pririt 260 African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 261 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 262 Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 263 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 264 African (Grassveld) Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 265 Buffy Pipit Anthus vaalensis 266 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 267 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 268 Long-tailed Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca 269 Swamp Boubou Laniarius bicolor 270 Crimson-breasted Boubou Laniarius atrococcineus 271 Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla 272 Brubru Nilaus afer 273 Three-streaked Tchagra Tchagra australis 274 Orange-breasted Bush Shrike Telophorus sulfureopectus 275 White Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus 276 Red-billed Helmetshrike Prionops retzii 277 White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens 278 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 279 Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis 280 Long-tailed Starling Lamprotornis mevesii 281 Cape Glossy Starling Lamprotornis nitens 282 Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus 283 Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 284 Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup 285 Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
© Naturetrek June 11 9
Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 286 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus 287 Marico Sunbird Nectarinia mariquensis 288 Purple-banded Sunbird Nectarinia bifasciata 289 Shelley's Sunbird Nectarinia shelleyi 290 White-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia talatala 291 Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fusca 292 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Nectarinia senegalensis 293 Black Sunbird Nectarinia amethystina 294 Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris 295 Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis 296 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger 297 White-browed Sparrowweaver Plocepasser mahali 298 Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons 299 Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius 300 House Sparrow Passer domesticus 301 Great Sparrow Passer motitensis 302 Nortehrn Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus 303 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus 304 Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes squamifrons 305 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis 306 Spotted-backed Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 307 Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus 308 Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius 309 Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops 310 Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps 311 Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea 312 Red Bishop Euplectes orix 313 Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne 314 White-winged Widow Euplectes albonotatus 315 Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba 316 Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia 317 Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula
10 © Naturetrek June 11
Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 318 Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 319 Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus granatinus 320 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 321 Black-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda erythronotos 322 Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata 323 Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala 324 Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus 325 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 326 Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia 327 Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea 328 Steel-blue Widowfinch Vidua chalybeata 329 Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus 330 Black-throated Canary Serinus atrogularis 331 Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris 332 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Mammals 1 Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus 2 Vervet Monkey cercopithecus aethiops 3 Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis 4 S. African Ground Squirrel Geosciurus inauris 5 Striped tree squirrel sp. 6 Smith's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi 7 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas 8 Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis 3 9 African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis 10 Suricate (Meerkat) Suricate suricatta 11 Yellow Mongoose Cynictic penicillata 12 Marsh Mongoose Atilax paludinosus 13 Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta 14 African Wild Cat Felis silvestris 15 Lion Panthera leo
© Naturetrek June 11 11
Namibia, Botswana & Zambia - Etosha to the Victoria Falls! Tour Report
February / March Common name Scientific name 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus 17 Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis 18 African Elephant Loxodonta Africana 19 Burchell's Zebra Equus (quagga) burchelli 20 Browse (Black) Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis 21 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius 22 Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus 23 Southern Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis 24 Cape Buffalo Syncerus caffer 25 Bush Buck Tragelaphus scriptus 26 Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros 27 Steinbuck Raphicerus campestris 28 Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 29 Damaraland Dik-dik Rhynchotragus kirki damarensis 30 Southern Reedbuck Redunda arundinum 31 Puku Kobus vardoni 32 Red Lechwe Kobus leche 33 Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus 34 Springbuck Antidorcas marsupialis 35 Impala Aepyceros melampus 36 Black-faced Impala Aepyceros melampus petersi 37 Red Hartebeest Alcelaphus caama 38 Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus 39 Roan Antelope Hippotragus equinus 40 Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger 41 Gemsbok Oryx gazella Reptiles Rainbow Skink Marsh Terrapin Flap Necked Chameleon Button Scaled Gecko Rock Monitor Striped Skink Water Mongoose Leopard Tortoise Rock Python Nile Crocodile Cape Dwarf Day Gecko Water Monitor
12 © Naturetrek June 11