Namibia: Birding the Deserts, Mountains, and Etosha Customized 16-day tour with Mass Audubon’s Sue MacCallum and Keith Barnes Nov 1 – 16, 2017

African Elephants enjoying a dust bath

Namibia’s size, diverse and radically different habitats, superb road infrastructure, and decades of tourism expertise make it a one of southern Africa’s most rewarding and birding-friendly countries.

Namibia is home to all three of southern Africa’s great desert and semi-desert systems: the Karoo in the south, the Kalahari in the east, and, the driest of the three, the Namib, sprawling along the west coast. These arid areas are home to almost all of the 14 near-endemics, including a host of Namibian escarpment specialties like the truly tremendous White-tailed Shrike. There are also the elusive Herero Chat, fascinating rock-loving Monteiro’s Hornbill, handsome Damara Rockrunner, elegant Bare-cheeked Babbler and noisy coveys of the near-endemic Hartlaub’s Francolin. Most escarpment specialties are fairly common, and easily seen if you visit the right localities. For the Ruppell’s Parrot and Violet Woodhoopoe, we’ll seek out them out by the rivers that cut through the desert.

But no one should go to Namibia just for the . It is among Africa’s best countries for big mammals with localized like the adorable Damara Dik-Dik and Black Mongoose. World-famous supports typical African mammals like , Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Impala, Warthog, and many others. Not surprisingly for such a dry country, Namibia is also very good for reptiles, and we hope to encounter a range of skinks, lizards, geckos, and snakes along the way.

This is a comfortable birding tour with excellent lodges and camps. However, there are a few long drives, often on rough roads. Most days we will wake up early to before the heat of the day. Walks will be generally short and easy on flat, though sometimes rocky, ground. We only bring groups to Namibia once every five to six years, so don’t miss it!

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The near-endemic White-tailed Shrike

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

November 1: Arrival in Windhoek

Your guides will meet you at Kutako Airport and take you to the Hotel Pension Onganga, about 45 minutes away.

Windhoek sits in an amphitheater of mountains in the rugged Khomas Hochland range. Excellent birding may be enjoyed on the outskirts of town. If your arrival time allows, we will explore a productive area of dry acacia woodland and rocky grassland around Avis Dam, a small reservoir that supplies fresh water to the city.

A number of central Namibian specialties may be found including Monteiro’s Hornbill, Carp’s Tit, Short-toed Rock-thrush, and the charismatic Rockrunner. Waterbird numbers (and water levels) vary although Maccoa Duck and South African Shelduck are usually present. Other spectacular and interesting species include Red- billed Francolin, Pearl-spotted Owl, White-backed Mousebird, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Pearl-breasted and South African Cliff Swallows, Ashy and Cape Penduline Tits, Mountain Chat, Desert Cisticola, Long- billed Pipit, Pririt Batis, Crimson-breasted Gonolek, Red-headed Finch, Violet-eared and Black-cheeked Waxbills, and Black-throated Canary. As dusk falls over Windhoek, the skies are infiltrated by the pale-bellied Striped Leaf-nosed Bat, the highlands’ largest bat.

Hotel: Hotel Pension Onganga (or similar) Drive time: About 45 minutes from the airport to the hotel. Walking: Perhaps an easy afternoon stroll from the hotel.

2 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 November 2: Travel from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, Namib Desert

A long but fascinating drive takes us from the Namibia highlands, down the escarpment, and into the vast Namib Desert. First thing in the morning, we will explore the Khomas Hochland, some 30 km west of the capital. This area offers a variety of habitats that range from dry thornveld to gallery woodland and grassland.

We will make acquaintance with many of the central Namibian specialties: Orange River Francolin, Monteiro’s Hornbill, and Rockrunner as well as more widespread and spectacular species including Gabar Goshawk, Mountain Chat, African Barred Warbler, and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. The morning ambles through spectacular scenic vistas across the Khomas Hochland and the escarpment that fringes the Namib Desert plains. Roadside birding is very rewarding and we might find Verreaux’s Eagle, Black-chested Snake-eagle, Pygmy Falcon, Pale Chanting-Goshawk, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Purple and Lilac-breasted Rollers, Southern -eating Chat, Marico and Chat Flycatchers, White-tailed Shrike, Sociable Weaver, Great Sparrow, and Lark-like Bunting.

Rüppell's Korhaan is a Namib Desert specialty.

The Khomas Hochland has a thriving population of Hartman’s Mountain , Kudu, and which are not difficult to locate. Not so the constantly moving herds of Eland, Duiker, and Klipspringer that are also often seen en route. The cliffs, rocks and crags along the way teem with colorful Namibian Rock Agamas, Spiny and Ground Agamas, shy Namibian Girdled Lizards, and the sexually dimorphic Namibian Rock Skink. All of the above are prey to the Zebra Snake, and the aggressive but rarely seen Spitting Cobra. Leopard Tortoises abound in the area, but are unpredictable to locate.

Along the drive, we may catch sight of stately herds of and Gemsbok heading down to the water for a drink. Blesbok and Hartebeest occur in smaller numbers. Roadside specialties in the arid highlands include the hyperactive Yellow Mongoose, the comical Southern African Ground Squirrel, and, with luck, a family of the intriguing and ever-curious Meerkats.

Hotel: Desert Homestead (or similar) Drive time: About 5 hours without stops. But this whole day will be spent on the road, making many stops Walking: Very little. Short sorties from the vehicle.

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The endemic Dune Lark in its world of sand

November 3: Sossusvlei Dune Landscapes, Then Travel to Swakopmund. We wake up early to head into Sossusvlei, and take in the wonder of its towering dunes at their best—in the soft early morning light. Carved over the eons by a river flowing out of the highlands, this narrow valley in the great Namib Sand Sea has some of the world’s most iconic desert landscapes. If you’ve seen a great photo of sand dunes in Namibia, it was probably taken here!

The landscape itself is the main attraction, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some wildlife as well. Not surprisingly, Namibia’s only true endemic, the Dune Lark, makes its home here There are also smaller creatures aplenty, such as the lightning-fast Shovel-snouted Lizards, well known for their “thermal dance”—performed to avoid overheating. Sitting next to a Nara bush will reveal a community that use it as a fortress against aerial predators: the vegetarian Desert Plated Lizard, perambulating tenebrionid , Striped Mice and Hairy-footed Gerbils carelessly feeding in hollowed Nara melons, hordes of Camponotus spp seeking sun-dried Nara seeds, Dung Beetles gathering dry plant material to line their breeding burrows, and, if we’re very lucky, a burrowed Side-winding Adder.

After thoroughly soaking in, and photographing, Sossusvlei’s dune landscapes, we’ll head north towards Swakopmund, looking, along the way for more desert fauna and fauna, like Springbok, Gemsbok, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, and Namib Desert Horses.

We’ll arrive in the afternoon at the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund. Although this area is known for its amazing wetlands, we will not neglect the desert birds. The dune fields south of Walvis Bay are home to Dune Larks, in case we missed them at Sossusvlei. Like many of the desert larks, its plumage coloration perfectly matches that of its environment: the iron-rich, deep ochre sands of the Namib. We will also keep a keen eye out for Orange River White-eye, Cape Penduline Tit, and Cape Sparrow.

Hotel: Hotel Pension Rapmund (or similar) Drive time: About 5-6 hours without stops. But after the morning in the dunes of Sossusvlei, most of this day will be spent on the road, making many stops along the way. Walking: A couple of short walks, totaling a couple of miles in Sossusvlei. Otherwise, only short sorties from the vehicle.

4 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 November 4: Birding Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

The marine coast, offshore guano islands, saltpans, and estuaries around Walvis Bay and Swakopmund teem with waterbirds. Migrant waders form huge flocks, thousands upon thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos feed along the fringes of the bay, and lines of marine cormorants (three regionally endemic species: Cape, Bank, and Crowned) stream out over the cold ocean in search of food. Great White Pelicans are prominent throughout the area and specialties of the pans include the localized Chestnut- banded Plover, Hartlaub’s Gull, and Damara Tern. The striking African Black Oystercatcher may be seen along the rocky shores and waders on the extensive mudflats in the lagoon include Common Ringed, Kittlitz’s, and Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, Marsh Sandpiper, Red Knot, Sanderling, Bar- tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, and Pied Avocet. Rarer visitors include Greater Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope.

Hotel: Hotel Pension Rapmund Drive time: Short drive of about 30 minutes from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay, and back. Walking: One dune walk of about 2 miles is a possible activity. This walk is flat, but the sand can make the going slow for some. This will otherwise be a very easy day, with little walking.

November 5: Travel from Walvis Bay to Spitzkoppe, Then to the Erongo Mountains

In the early morning we head towards for Spitzkoppe, a series of impressive granite inselbergs rising out of the desert plains. This is one of the premier sites in the country for Herero Chat, Namibia’s most elusive near-endemic, and we will require luck and patience to find this localized bird. Whilst searching around the base of the mountains, we may also find Augur Buzzard, the attractive Rosy-faced Lovebird, Bradfield’s Swift, Acacia Pied Barbet, Sabota and Karoo Long-billed Larks, Carp’s Tit, Layard’s Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Bokmakierie, Pale-winged Starling, White-browed Sparrow-weaver, White-throated Canary and Cape Bunting. The White-tailed Shrike, arguably Namibia’s most striking near-endemic, should also entertain us here. The surrounding gravel plains occasionally produce Ludwig’s and Burchell’s Courser, whilst Rüppell's Korhaan, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Stark’s Lark, and Grey-backed Sparrow-lark are more regular.

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We will continue heading north, searching for Burchell’s Courser en-route. We will require luck to find this nomadic and unpredictable species, although we should find the striking Northern Black Korhaan, Double-banded Courser and flocks of Stark’s and Spike-heeled Larks. Our destination for the night is a lodge situated in spectacular surroundings in the rugged Erongo Mountains. The floodlit water hole below the lodge is very good for Warthog, Greater Kudu, Freckled , and occasionally African Porcupine or even Leopard.

Wildlife highlights: Spitzkoppe is an iconic inselberg rising amidst the Namib peneplains and home to the diurnal and lightning-fast Round-eared Elephant Shrew. Each smooth granite boulder belongs to a Rock Dassie family eking out an existence off a trimmed and chewed-to-death, bonsai-like Rock Fig. Diurnal and abundant, Bolton’s Namib Day Geckos, Bibron’s Gecko, Bradfield’s Dwarf Gecko, and Namaqua Sand Lizard melt cryptically into a granite matrix. Wary of the sun and working from the shadows the impressively large Giant Plated Lizard bears up in the heat of the day.

Hotel: Erongo Wilderness Lodge Drive time: About 3.5 hours without stops. We will have an early to arrive at Spitzkoppe before the heat of the day. Walking: Short, easy walks on flat though sometimes rocky ground.

Hartlaub’s Francolins are raucous and loquacious

November 6: Erongo Wilderness Lodge We wake up early to continue exploring this fascinating area. Many of the special birds of this region occur in the immediate vicinity of the lodge and we will be watching for Verreaux's Eagle and Augur Buzzard overhead, and Short-toed Rock Thrush, Rockrunner, Hartlaub’s Francolin, and White-tailed Shrike in the surrounding boulders. Other possibilities are Gabar Goshawk, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, and Black- cheeked Waxbill. We may also drive a short distance, then walk down sandy river courses in search of Violet Woodhoopoes and Ruppell’s Parrots.

6 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 Wildlife highlights: This is one of the best sites in Namibia to catch a glimpse of a sunning Black Mongoose. The granite boulders around the lodge teem with Dassie Rats and Hyrax. The local troop of Chacma Baboons makes itself conspicuous every evening with their bed-tucking ritual. The myriad of boulders that surround the restaurant have all been at one stage a favorite sunning or grooming podium to the elusive local Leopard. The floodlit waterhole attracts a number of ungulates at night such as Mountain Zebra, Greater Kudu, Steenbok, Duiker, and the dainty Damara Dik-Dik. The lodge’s swimming pool transforms itself into a cacophonic auditorium of Marbled Rubber Frogs, Sand Frogs, and the odd toad letting their hormones “jam” away.

Hotel: Erongo Wilderness Lodge Drive time: Perhaps a short drive of about 20 minutes if we choose to visit a nearby riparian area. Walking: Short, easy walks on flat though sometimes rocky or sandy ground.

November 7: Erongo to Twyfelfontein and its Rock Engravings An early birding walk before breakfast. After breakfast we’ll leave towards Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, crossing the geologically diverse Damara plains. We will aim to arrive at Twyfelfontein mid-afternoon and spend most of the afternoon admiring the rock engravings at this site. There are over 2500 etchings exposed at Twyfelfontein dating back 1000 to 4000 years ago illustrating a remarkable diversity of mammal, birds and reptiles. (Time permitting, an optional drive in search of African Elephants and/or visit to the petrified forest may be arranged.)

Hotel: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (or similar) Drive time: About 4 hours: the scenery along the way is fascinating, with good chances for interesting wildlife sightings. Walking: Possibly a short and easy morning walk at Erongo. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, which requires a mostly flat, though rocky walk, of about two miles.

November 8: Twyfelfontein to Sesfontein

We start the day with an early morning walk to search for Bare-cheeked Babbler, a highly localized and odd local specialty bird. Depending on the desires of the group, we also have time for a second visit to the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

Himba mother and children

After our morning’s activities and breakfast we drive on to the remote Sesfontein area, into the homeland of the remarkable Himba people. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists living in one of the most extreme

7 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 environments on earth. They are famous for the application of the aromatic, orange otjize paste on their skin and hair as adornment and as protection from the harsh elements. The Himba, in common with other peoples living in extreme environments, practice bilateral descent: each tribe member belongs to two clans, one descending through the mother and one through the father. This cultural adaptation is to strengthen each individual’s access to resources and support.

Hotel: Khowarib Lodge (or similar) Drive time: About 3 hours: the scenery along the way is fascinating, with interesting wildlife sightings. Walking: Perhaps a short, though sandy, morning walk near Twyfelfontein. Otherwise, only short sorties from the vehicles, or around the lodge. Visiting a Himba village usually doesn’t entail walking very far.

A desert-adapted Black Rhino on the run

November 9-10: Sesfontein – Grootberg Conservancy

Today will require an early start in to use the cooler hours to locate the tracks and narrow down the whereabouts of the Black Rhino and/or African Elephants (if time and conditions allow). The activity entails riding in vehicles, accompanied by the sharpest trackers in the region and with special permission to enter one of the most inaccessible and most remote areas in Namibia. Here, we’ll slowly climb the rocky highways of the Grootberg Conservancy towards the legendary stronghold of the nearly extinct Black Rhino.

The excursion will take us through a red landscape of iron-rich dolerite and sandstone, never-ending plains, sweeping yellow hillsides (or green if it has rained) dotted by thousands of gigantic green Euphorbias. Most of Namibia's near-endemic birds are present.

At densely wooded rivers, we’ll concentrate our search efforts for rhinos and elephants. We’ll stop to admire and observe other wildlife like Giraffes, Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra. The predator population is the second largest in Namibia with over 100 Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown and Spotted Hyena present; however, we’ll need some luck to find them in the short time we’ll be here. The area is large, and the have become experts at passing unnoticed after decades of poaching, but our trackers are ex-poachers themselves, channeling their skills now in a positive direction, and an interesting game of hide-and-seek always unfolds.

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Hotel: Grootberg Lodge (or similar) Drive time: The drive from Sesfontein to Grootberg is about two hours. On our full day at Grootberg, we’ll spend much of the day tracking rhinos and/or elephants in vehicles. The amount of time we spend in the field depends on how long it takes to find these animals. Walking: Perhaps a short morning birding walk around Khowarib Lodge. Otherwise, only short sorties from the vehicles, or around Grootberg Lodge.

November 11: Grootberg to Etosha National Park (Okaukuejo).

This morning, we will depart from Grootberg, arriving at our accommodations in Etosha by the afternoon, where we will start exploring if time allows.

The vegetation near Okaukuejo offers Grey Go-away-bird, Hoopoe, Southern Yellow-billed and Red- billed Hornbills, Cardinal Woodpecker, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Wattled and Cape Glossy Starlings, Brubru, Marico, White-bellied and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Great Sparrow, and Green- winged Pytilia. A pair of Pygmy Falcons sometimes roosts in a well-known Sociable Weaver colony. In the evening, hundreds of Double-banded and Namaqua Sandgrouse come to drink at the floodlit waterhole at our lodge. Rufous-cheeked hawk insects attracted to the light; Barn Owls, Verreaux’s and Spotted Eagle-owls sometimes hunt in the vicinity.

Wildlife highlights: Large herds of , Springbok, Gemsbok, Burchell’s Zebra, and have to gamble their lives on a daily basis to reach the fresh waters of Okondeka, the watering hole and

9 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 restaurant of the Okondeka Lion pride. Small lenticular mounds dot the barren gravel plains of Okondeka and Adamax giving away the burrows of the Southern African Ground Squirrel. Okaukuejo, Gemsbokvlakte, and the new waterhole, Newbroni, all attract large elephant herds. The floodlit waterhole enables us to observe night-time visits by Giraffes, African Elephants, Warthogs, , and, sometimes, Wild Cats. Small-Spotted Genets and Black-backed Jackals are found right in camp.

Hotel: Okaukuejo Camp (or similar) Drive time: About 4 hours. Walking: Very little.

Fischer’s Pan at the eastern end of Etosha

November 12-15: Etosha National Park (Okaukuejo – Halali – Namutoni)

The word "Etosha" means the "great whiteness" of the enormous pan more evident than around the western camp of Okaukuejo. We will spend the next four days exploring this amazing wilderness area.

In the morning we will search the open grasslands and sparse Acacia savannah for birds such as Ostrich; Martial, Tawny, and Black-breasted Snake-eagle; Pale Chanting Goshawk; Lanner Falcon; Pygmy Falcon; Greater Kestrel; Kori Bustard; Northern Black Korhaan; Double-banded Courser; Grey- backed Finch-Lark; Spike-heeled, Red-capped, Pink-billed, and Sabota Larks; Southern Ant-eating Chat; Desert Cisticola; and Rufous-eared Warbler.

On one of the days we head eastwards to the rest camp at Halali, famous amongst birders as a site for Violet Woodhoopoe, a denizen of the taller Mopane woodland in the central part of the park. Other species in this area include the spectacular Bateleur, Little Sparrowhawk, Meyer’s Parrot, African Cuckoo, White- faced Owl, Fawn-colored Lark, flocks of inquisitive White Helmet-shrikes and Southern White- crowned Shrike. Here too, we will have an opportunity to spend time at a floodlit waterhole after dark. The evening’s pageant is again likely to commence with hundreds of Double-banded and Namaqua Sandgrouse flying in to drink, with later visitors including Rufous-cheeked Nightjars and many mammalian possibilities.

As we travel eastwards from Halali towards Namutoni the scenery becomes ever greener and the vegetation taller. We will be searching for a number of species that we may not have encountered yet: Red-billed Francolin, Red-crested Korhaan, Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Black-faced and Southern Pied Babblers, Kurrichane and Groundscraper Thrushes, White-browed Robin, Burnt-necked Eremomela, African 10 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 Barred Warbler, Chinspot Batis, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, and Blue Waxbill. African Scops and Pearl-spotted Owls are frequently found within the camps. Vultures are often numerous around Namutoni and may include Lappet-faced, White-headed, and African White-backed.

The shallow Fischer’s Pan lies to the north of Namutoni and is an eastern extension of the main Etosha Pan. Water levels vary tremendously, and the pan is sometimes completely dry. If water is present, we may find Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Saddle-billed and Yellow-billed Storks, Cape Shoveler, and South African Shelduck. Secretarybird, Kori Bustard, and Blue Crane are often present here, and we may also find Clapper Lark and the diminutive Desert Cisticola performing their display flights.

Wildlife highlights: The drive up to Halali takes us past Olifanstbad and Aus, two magnificent human-made waterholes popular with Eland, African Elephant, Black-faced Impala, Red Hartebeest, and Wildcat. Aus is arguably better for Lion, Warthog, Burchell’s Zebra, and Kudu. Scouring the edges of the pan, near Sueda and Salvadora, sometimes turns up the magnificent Cheetah.

Waterholes provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities

The Moringa waterhole at Halali Camp offers an even closer encounter with its night visitors as it’s closer to the water’s edge yet elevated, and the camp itself is smaller, making the experience a lot more personal. A Leopard occasionally passes by for a drink prior to hunting. Spotted Hyenas often weave in among Black Rhinos and Elephants drinking at the waterhole. Slender Mongoose will steal by for a drink too. Spotlighting in camp sometimes turns up Honey Badger, Small-Spotted Genet, and Bushbaby.

Heading towards Namutoni we will stop at the Goas waterhole, a preferred spot for Black-faced Impala and Red Hartebeest as well as Lion and Leopard. A quick and regular check of the road culverts can produce the odd Aardwolf, or resting snake, if we are very lucky. Around the Namutoni fortress there are six different prides of Lions and locating one of their kills is usually not too difficult. Leopard is again a possibility at Kalkheuwel and Dik-Dik Drive, named after the abundant mini-ungulates encountered here. At camp a family of Warthogs has become quite used to tourists and feed unperturbed on the lawns, similarly a 40-odd Banded Mongoose troop wriggles through the lawns and attend to any scraps left by picnickers. A Water Monitor can sometimes be spotted at the Namutoni waterhole.

Andoni, on the far northeastern corner of the park provides the iconic images of vast flat grasslands with hundreds of Blue Wildebeest, Springbok, Gemsbok, and zebra attracted to a natural spring. The restrooms at Andoni is a good place to look for the cryptic and diurnal Bark Gecko and the large Ovambo Skink.

11 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 Hotel: Okaukuejo Camp, Halali Camp, Namutoni Camp, and/or Mokuti Lodge, depending on availability. Drive time: We do not cover huge distances inside the park, but will spend most of our time in vehicles, as this is the best way to explore Etosha. Walking: Leaving the car is not allowed, except in a few authorized areas such as rest camps. Thus, we do very little walking during this portion of the tour.

November 16: Etosha NP to Windhoek Today is essentially a travel day. Once we have made it back to the capital, we shall transfer to the airport for late afternoon or evening international departure flights.

Hotel: For those who prefer to depart on a morning flight the next day (Nov. 17), we can arrange an extra night in a hotel in Windhoek. Drive time: About 4.5 hours on a paved road. Walking: Very little.

Blue Cranes (K. Bahrens) are in Etosha, but are not always seen. The population there is small they are not always in the area.

ABOUT YOUR GUIDES:

Sue MacCallum is Director of Mass Audubon’s South Shore Sanctuaries in Marshfield. During her twenty-five years with Mass Audubon, she has coordinated and led many natural history and birding trips. Her international trips include many visits to Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands, as well as the Amazon Basin in Peru and . Her many tours to the neotropics have sparked her fascination with tropical ecology, which she enjoys sharing. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a minor in botany.

Keith Barnes realized that he was no longer a scientist when a significant difference in the tail lengths of larks didn’t make a significant difference in his life! Turning his back on the Ivory Towers, he helped found Tropical Birding and now heads the Africa and Asia operations. He guides extensively on both continents. Before Keith was able to actually see the birds he wanted to, he sat in an office and wrote about them in various books for BirdLife International. He has recently published Birding with Ken and Christian. Keith is using Leica binoculars and a Swarovski scope, and guides tours just about everywhere

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

PRICE : $6800- based on double occupancy, Single supplement is $500

INCLUDED IN PRICE EXCLUDED:

Accommodations as noted in itinerary Flights Meals Visa fees and airport taxes All Park and reserve entrance fees Travel insurance Limited amount of bottled water/soft drinks Drinks, other than provided Land transportation Activities other than specified in the itinerary Guiding services Laundry, telephone and items of a personal nature. Tips for guides and drivers during tour Global Rescue Services for duration of tour

A Rosy-faced Lovebird in the Erongo Mountains

HOW TO BOOK: Please fill out the reservation form attached and send to Mass Audubon – Travel, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 with your deposit

RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS: Early applications are strongly encouraged. Trip rosters usually must be finalized 4 months before departure! All applications must be accompanied by a completed reservation form and a $1000-per- person deposit. Deposits can be by check or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). We reserve the right to decline your application. In the case of questionable health, we reserve the right to require a physician’s certification to affirm you are capable of the activities.

Final payment is due 95 days before the departure date. You will receive a final invoice. Final payment must be by check or money order, ONLY.

RATES: All tour prices are based on double occupancy. If you would like us to find you a roommate, we will do our best, but cannot guarantee a share. If we cannot find a share, you will need to pay the single supplement. Rates are based on the minimum number of travelers listed. All forms and fares are accurate at the time of publication (August 2016) but are subject to change at any time prior to departure. It is our policy to only pass on the actual amount of any increases in airfares or land costs such as those increases due to the devaluation of the dollar. Rarely, a price increase may be called for if the group falls below the minimum, as listed in the itinerary. 13 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504

ENTRY, EXIT, AND VISA REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are normally required. Bearers of U.S. passports who plan to visit Namibia for tourism for less than 90 days can obtain visas at the port of entry and do not need visas prior to entering the country. Passports must have at least six months of validity remaining beyond the traveler’s planned date of departure from Namibia.

We strongly encourage all travelers to or from Namibia via to have six or more unstamped visa pages in their passport. Visitors who do not have enough blank visa pages in their passport risk being denied entry in South Africa or in Namibia and returned to the United States at their own expense.

FLIGHTS: You, the traveler, are responsible for booking and paying for your own international flights. Once you reserve your space, we will provide you with suggested flights and tell you which flights our leaders will take. You may book flights directly with the airline or with a travel agent. Please be aware that most tickets are non- refundable, therefore you should not book your flight arrangements until you have checked with us to be sure the tour has the minimum number of participants for the trip to go. We ask that you provide us with your flight details so we can be sure to meet you at the airport upon your arrival.

PHOTOS: Mass Audubon reserves the right to make use of any photograph taken on the tour. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

TRIP INSURANCE: We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance within 2 weeks of your deposit. A brochure and application for optional trip cancellation, illness, and baggage insurance will be sent to you you’re your confirmation letter, but you can purchase insurance from any company. We suggest you review and compare policies on www.insuremytrip.com to find one that best suits your needs. Please check with your own health insurance to see if you will be covered for medical expenses overseas. (Note: Medicare will not cover you outside the U.S., nor will most Medicare supplements.) Mass Audubon does provide Global Rescue services as part of international tour prices, but coverage is limited.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you need to change your booking, you must inform us immediately in writing. All cancellations must be done in writing and are effective upon receipt in the Massachusetts Audubon Travel office:  Cancellations received up to 121 days will be refunded deposit less a $300- per-person fee.  Cancellations received between 120 and 91 days prior to departure will forfeit all deposits.  There are no refunds for cancellations after 90 days or less from departure.

We must adhere to these policies but know that sometimes emergencies can happen and travelers have to cancel their trip. Therefore we strongly urge all travelers to purchase trip cancellation insurance. You will be sent information from Mass Audubon Tours upon receipt of your deposit or you can review policies here: www.insuremytrip.com.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, group travel trips by their nature involve a certain amount of risk. Trip participants should understand that the domestic and international trips sponsored/operated by Massachusetts Audubon Society (Mass Audubon Tours) - hereafter collectively “M.A.S.” - involve known and unknown risks. M.A.S. assumes no responsibility for injuries, death, financial losses or damage to clients’ property caused by or occurring during participation in any of the travel trips sponsored/operated by M.A.S. Trip participants must assume responsibility for having sufficient skill and fitness to participate in the trips and activities offered or sponsored by M.A.S. Trip participants must also certify that they have no medical, mental or physical conditions which could interfere with their abilities to participate in the activities and/or trips they are participating in and they must assume and bear the cost of all risks that may be created, directly or indirectly, by any such condition. It is the responsibility of trip participants to have in place adequate insurance to cover any injury, damage or emergency transportation costs related to their travel and/or participation in trip activities and/or to bear the costs of such injury, damage or emergency transportation costs. Because of the risks associated with the travel trips sponsored by M.A.S. we urge all trip participants to supplement their own insurance with travel or vacation or emergency response types of insurance. M.A.S. requires that all trip participants acknowledge and assume these risks by reading and signing an M.A.S. Release and Waiver and Assumption of Risk contract prior to departure.

CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL: Travelers will be provided with an itinerary and trip preparation information. It is expected that travelers will read this information prior to trip departure. Travelers will be responsible for completing an application reservation form, including the personal information and a release of liability. Travelers will be expected to abide by the terms set for in the invoice. During the tour, travelers are asked to respect and follow the directions of their guide and leader.

PHOTO CREDITS: Tropical Birding, except where explicitly credited.

14 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 Mass Audubon Natural History Travel Trip Application Form for Namibia: Birding the Deserts, Mountains, and Etosha Nov 1 – 16, 2017

Name (1) ______

Nickname, if any, for name tag: ______

Name (2) ______

Nickname, if any, for name tag: ______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip: ______

Primary phone: ______Secondary phone: ______

Email address: ______

Room Preferences

I request single accommodations where available and will pay the single supplement. I would like to be assigned a roommate. If one is not available, I will pay the single supplement.

Deposit of $500

Please find my enclosed check (payable to “Massachusetts Audubon Society”) Please charge my credit card for the deposit of $500 pp

MasterCard Visa

Card #: ______Exp.: ______CVV/CVC:______

Signature:

______

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE NOTIFY:

Name: ______Relationship: ______

Primary phone: ______Secondary phone: ______

15 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504 Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Name: ______

I would like to participate in the birding and nature tour, Namibia: Birding the Deserts, Mountains, and Etosha Nov 1 – 16, 2017, (the “Tour”) organized by Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. (“Mass Audubon”). I am aware that participation in a Mass Audubon tour involves risk, including, but not limited to, the hazards of living in and traveling over unpredictable terrain often in remote areas without adequate medical facilities, exposure to disease and infection, being subject to the forces of nature, and travel by airplane and motor vehicle. In addition, I understand and acknowledge that, if I participate in the Tour, one or more of the risks described above or set forth below could result in or cause bodily injury or death to me or damage to personal property of mine: physical exertion; travel by foot, plane, train, auto, vans, bus, boat or other conveyance; consumption of food and beverages; civil unrest, terrorism, banditry, or criminal activity; high altitude; inadequate medical facilities or service.

I acknowledge that I have received and read carefully information describing the Tour, including, but not limited to, the Terms and Conditions and the paragraph in the Terms and Conditions entitled “Your Responsibility.”

I acknowledge that the enjoyment and excitement of touring is derived, at least in part, from the inherent risks incurred by travel and activity beyond the accepted safety and routine of life at home or work, and that part of the reason I have decided to participate in the Tour is to experience this enjoyment and excitement. I further acknowledge that I have had the opportunity to discuss with my medical provider the medical risks involved in the Tour. I have also had the opportunity to research the Tour and to understand fully the risks involved.

Therefore, notwithstanding the risks of participating in the Tour set forth and as described above, and in consideration of Mass Audubon permitting me to participate in the Tour: (1) I AGREE TO ASSUME AND ACCEPT ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOUR; AND (2) I HEREBY RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT AND AGREE NOT TO SUE, AND AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS, MASS AUDUBON AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASEES”), AND EACH OF THE RELEASEES, FROM AND AGAINST AND IN REGARD TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, SUITS, LOSSES, COSTS, DAMAGES, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ATTORNEYS’ FEES), AND ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF EVERY KIND AND DESCRIPTION, WHICH I SHALL OR MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASEES OR ANY ONE OR MORE OF THEM ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, MY PARTICIPATION IN THE TOUR.

I agree that this Release and Assumption of Risk shall be (a) binding upon me and my heirs, executors, legal representatives, successors, and assigns, and (b) deemed a contract made under seal under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of said Commonwealth without regard to its principles of conflict of laws.

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ, UNDERSTAND, AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK.

Signed: ______Date: ______

Name (Please Print) ______

16 Travel with Mass Audubon ~ 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773 ~ 800-289-9504