White-backed Vulture / Weissrückengeier am Luder
Hartlaub's Spurfolw / Hartlaubfrankolin auf Hobatere
African Skimmer / Afrikascherenschnabel
Rubinkehlpieper auf den Floodplains des Chobe
Halsband-Brachwalbe auf Fels im Okavango
Rüppels Parrot / Rüppellpapagei
Klaffschnabel mit Suesswasserschnecke
African Scops Owl / Afrika-Zwergohreule
Nilkrokodil am Ufer des Chobe
Zwerbienenfresser mit Schmetterling
Lechwe Moorantilope steht neben Sporengänsen
Malachite Kingfischer / Haubenzwergfischer
Retz's Helmetshrike / Dreifarben-Brillenvanga
Cape Glossy Starling / Rotschulter Glanzstar
Hornraben im Caprivi
Landschaftsfotografie auf dem Kwando
African Green Pigeon / Rotnasen-Grüntaube
Warblers & Pachyderms, a Birding Safari with Natural History
Guided birding tour as an individual trip in the theme of ornithology & nature photography in the north, north-east of Namibia to the Vic Falls.
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Overview
Why this trip can be described as ornithological AND photographic… as the intense search for birds, patiently staying in places of animal concentrations and the often shared interest in nature creates very good photo moments!
No one can lead this trip better than Leaflove Safari’s birding guides!
Lots of different animals and birds and the best possible opportunities to photograph and observe them. Variety and quantity of observations have been taken into account.
The particularly marked contrast between the arid Mopane savannah and the linear palm oasis of the Kunene in the west, the open grassy steppes of the pans and dense dry forests in the east of Etosha National Park; the water-rich Manketti forests and the mudflats, rivers and lagoons of the Caprivi shows, because of the different habitats, a variety of different animals and plants that hardly any other country in Africa can offer! As this trip covers Namibia’s species-rich habitats, you will be able to successfully fill your list of expectation.
Highlights
- For bird and photography enthusiasts
- Changing habitats, rich in biodiversity
- typical african wildlife with many elephants
Accommodation:
All lodges, guest farms and hotels on this trip offer you the necessary comfort of upper middle class – accommodation with “en suite” bathrooms. All accommodations are ideally situated for the benefit of good viewing and correct route logistics regarding Namibia’s long driving distances.
Map
Schedule:
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 & 2
arrive and settle in…
- Meet your tour guide at the airport.
- In the vehicle you will find a welcome pack with map & route description
- 2 nights on Namibia’s largest private game reserve, the Erindi Game Reserve
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- Locally guided Drive in open Game-viewer
Erindi Wildlife Protectorate
After picking you up from the airport, we embark on a journey through central northern Namibia, passing by the striking reddish Etjo mountain and hill formations that emerge amidst the lush acacia savannah.
Along the way, Red-crested Bustards capture our attention with their melodious whistles, prompting us to make regular stops for the delightful observation and photography of several roadside bird species.
The landscape here is marked by the remarkable mounds constructed by fungus termites, which can reach heights of up to 5 meters. As we drive, we’re treated to sightings of the majestic great kudu and the sturdy warthog, often seen foraging along the roadside. The charming steenbok, with their captivating features, also grace us with their presence.
Our journey continues to Erindi, where you’ll have your initial encounter with Namibia’s diverse and abundant wildlife. Located within a vast game reserve, Erindi offers open game drives that hold the promise of encountering not only various antelope species but also the iconic white rhino, graceful giraffes, and perhaps even the regal lion and majestic elephant.
Within the lodge’s garden, you’ll find excellent opportunities to capture stunning photographs of the Crimson Boubou and various Warblers, adding to the rich tapestry of your Namibian adventure.
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- Young Giraffe Bulls fighting at Erindi
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- Leoparden sind meist allein, hier jedoch Mutter mit Tochter
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- Der Sekretär, Sagittarius serpentarius, beim Nest auf dem Erindi
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- Rostbanderemomela, Eremomela usticollis, auf Insektenjagd in einer Lüderitzakazie
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- wir finden sie, die Vögel, für Dich!
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- Der Brubruwürger, Nilaus afer, imponiert mit seinem alt-telefonischem Ruf in der Kalahari.
Day 3 & 4
a babbler with naked ears…
- 2 nights ready for Namibian semi-endemics.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- 3x Locally guided Drives in open Game-viewers
Hobatere Concession
A truly “untouched” nature experience, where wildlife can still follow the daily rhythm of Africa. Expect encounters with endemic Hartmann’s mountain zebra, numerous antelope and giraffe. Lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants like to roam this area, being able to observe them is always a matter of luck (and a little experience).
We like to use this area for its birdlife, as Bare-cheeked Babblers, Little Sparrowhawk and African Scops Owlets are often seen in the garden.
During the midday rest, Rüppell’s parrots drink at the waterhole and you can photograph Carp’s Black Tit chirping away in surrounding Mopane trees.
Within the southern gorges, we strive for Kunene- and Hartlaub Francolin. On Night drives, Bronze-winged Courser and various Nightjars are a possible at certain times of the year.
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- Pirschfahrten werden auf Hobatere in offenen Pirschfahrzeugen angeboten mit lokalen Guides.
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- Am Wasserloch wurde auf Hobatere diese Löwenfamilie beobachtet.
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- Der Rüppellpagagei, Poicephalus rueppellii, ist ein Halb-Endemit Namibias und gefhört deshalb zu den Namibian Specials
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- Der Afrikawiedehopf, Upupa africana, gibt seinem Partner gern ein Brautgeschenk
Day 5 & 6
beautiful rump on a waxbill…
- 2 nights at a rustic lodge directly on the Kunene River at Ruacana.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- Locally guided expedition in search of Cave Chat and Cinderella Waxbill (Attention!) This trip requires some fitness as we scramble up the Zebra Mountains at 5:00am to find the Chat… if you are less fit, we will concentrate on the Waxbill and take an additional boat trip to see shorebirds.
Cinderella Waxbill and tribe of the Ova-Himba
To find the rare Cinderella Waxbill and the mysterious Cave Chat, we have to go to the north-western border river of Namibia, the Kunene.
Besides the picturesque landscape through which the palm grove of the Kunene runs, we see some bird species that are only found “up here”.
Here we hope to see, for example, the Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, the Red-necked Spurfowl ssp. afer, the Grey Kestrel (if we are very lucky), African Harrier Hawk and some bushveld birds.
If we wish, we could stop briefly in a Himba village to get an insight into the culture of this pastoral people.
Day 7, 8 & 9
Vultures and co….
- 1 night on Namibia’s Little Serengeti, the Andoni Plain at an impressive lodge.
- 2 nights at a good lodge situated in the eastern dry Terminalia-forest, directly adjacent to the park.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Comment:
Our Land Cruisers, specially converted for game viewing, have wide window seats and the sunroof opens at the watering holes. So you can comfortably take pictures sitting down or standing up.
Etoscha National Park
The drive through Ovamboland reveals indigenous villages in the “oshanas” (flood plains) of the north.
In the majestic baobab trees we look out for Mosque Swallows and might even find some Angolan Swallows.
We pass through Andoni Plains, a great hide-out for Pink-billed and Eastern Clapper Lark. At the artesian fountain an array of wetland waders and water related birds like Whiskered Tern can be observed.
“Great White Place”, Etosha National Park, is over 22 000 km/2 in size and one of the most wildlife-rich parks in Africa. Spotting a lion by the roadside or encountering a herd of elephants is exciting, but you should be aware that you will find a very barren landscape here, where the wildlife has to endure very hard times. The Etosha Agama and the Blue Crane arouse our interest, as do the impressive Termite mounts serving as territorial call-out points for Rufous-naped Larks. Amongst dense vegetation very small Damara Dik Dik Antelopes can be observed.
Grasslands, dry forests, floodplains and dens acacia scrub…the alternating habitat leads to an extensive biodiversity… So you will not only see many, but also many different birds and animals in this national park!
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- Der Schwarzgesicht-Drosselhäherling, Turdoides melanops, ist ein sehr begehrter Vogel, da er recht selten zu finden ist.
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- Der Mopanetoko, Tockus rufirostris, und der Damaratoko, Tockus damarensis, kreuzen sich am südlichen Etoscharande bei Halali
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- Die Sabotalerche, Calendulauda sabota, ist hier im Etoschapark mit der Unterart C.s.waibeli vertreten.
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- Die Strichelracke, Coracias naevius. rollender Balzflug in der Luft.
seasonal insider’s tip:
This additional programme can only be booked and is really worthwhile when there is water in the Naye Naye pans.
In good rainy years, the pans fill up and a short-term boom of life, lasting only a few months, populates the pans with thousands of different birds.
During the last bird count, there was also plenty of elephant contact and wild dogs snatched a warthog in front of the birder. So it’s worth it… but only if it has rained well and then only in the months of March to July!
3 – Day Supplementary programme
only after sufficient rains…
- 3 nights at a rustic lodge near the Naye Naye pans.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Bemerkung:
Our vehicles are set up photographer-friendly with a lever roof and have a special high-suspension. With four-wheel drive we move through the thick sand of this wilderness and are thus constantly on “expedition”.
The Naye Naye Pans in Bushmanland
The long way directly east brings us to Tsumkwe, the capital of Bushmanland.
In the next few days we want to explore the different pans of this natural and touristically untouched wilderness and take hundreds of photos of various water birds in a wonderful dry forest setting.
Of course, there is also the opportunity to visit bushmen, who certainly don’t mind photographing guests.
Particularly scenic are the gigantic baobab trees, on which, if you are lucky, you can photograph the leopard orchid, lets us try find one in flower.…
The elephant population in this area is shy, but with great luck we will meet wild dogs while we are looking for snipes.
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- Peliperdix coqui, aus dem Tswana Wort für Wachtel.
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- Poicephalus meyeri, nach Bernhard Meyer
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- Gyps africanus, ein typischer Afrikageier
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- Mirafra africana, sehr häufig im Buschmannland
Day 10 & 11
overwhelming Avifauna…
- 2 nights directly in the birder’s paradise Shakawe, where the Okavango panhandle shows many sought-after species. (located in Botswana)
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- Boat trip on the Okavango
- Game drive in the Mahango or Bwabwata National Park.
Kavango / Okavango
We visit the Mahango National Park. Although the park is not very big, the rare sable and roan antelopes, of course giraffes and often elephants, lechwe, waterbuck and also reedbuck can be found on the banks of the Okavango.
Amethyst sunbird, Brown- Jameson’s- and Red-billed Firefinches, White-browed Robin-Chat and Meyer’s Parrots can be found in the garden of the lodge. With a flat boat we look for African Skimmer, Open-billed Stork, Rufous-bellied Heron, Green-backed Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and many other new species. With a bit of luck we will meet very popular species like Slaty Egret and White-backed Night-Heron. It can be seen here, the Pel’s Fishing Owl!
We even have had sightings of Narina Trogon…
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- Cinnyricinclus leucogaster – weißer Bauch
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- Scotopelia peli – named after H.S.Pel governor of Gold Coast (Ghana)
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- Apaloderma narina – Blume in der Sprache der Khoi
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- Clamator levaillantii – nach Francois Levaillant
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- Rappenantilope im Mahangopark, eine bedrohte Tierart
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- Die Safarifahrzeuge von Leaflove Safari sind speziell für die Tier- und Vogelbeobachtung umgebaut worden.
Day 12 & 13
as from May you will see more mammals…
- 2 nights near the famous Nambwa Lagoon close to the famous Horseshoe evening.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- 1x Boatcruise on the Kwando
- 1x Locally guided Drive to Horseshoe Bend
Kwando in Caprivi Central, Bwabwata National Park
The Kwando/Linyanti/Liambezi alluvial river basin is characterised by wide reed belts, numerous lagoons and wide floodplains in the course of the river, which is why numerous and a great variety of game gathers here.
The waters are heavily populated with hippos, crocodiles and Nile monitor. A strong population of various antelope species, the contrasting Chapman zebra, buffalo and very many elephants quench their thirst on the banks of the Kwando. Particularly appealing in this wilderness are regular phyton sightings and an increasing number of leopard sightings.
We hope to see Racket-tailed Roller, various species of Oriole, Glossy Ibis, Tinkling- and obviously Chirping Cisticola, Green-capped Eremomela and many a other small branch-hopper.
On an early morning (or late afternoon – depending on the guide’s decision) boat trip we should see Lesser Jacana (we see the regular Jacana anyway) and Allen’s Gallinule. Also interesting are the various bee-eaters and kingfishers of this humid area. The Western Banded Snake Eagle frequents this area and has often been spotted by us. I just love Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird. Let me show you why…
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- Der Weißstirnspint kann wunderbar auf der Bootsfahrt ab Nambwa beobachtet werden. Hier frisst dieser einen Blue Emperor / Anax imperator
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- Bandschlangenadler, Circaetus cinerascens, können auf Bootsfahrten im südlichen Kwando gebiet gesehen werden.
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- Prionops retzii, der Dreifarben-Brillenvanga, benannt nach Adolf Retzius, bleibt eine seltene und wunderbare Beobachtung.
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- Aquila pomarina – aus Pommern, Deutschland
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- Coracias spatulatus – wie ein löffel, auf den Schwanz bezogen
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- Passer griseus – grau. Ein etwas seltener Sperling.
Day 14 & 15
the Namibian Okavango Delta…
- 2 nights at a sensationally located wilderness lodge in Nkasa Rupara National Park.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- 1x Locally guided Drive and Boat cruise to and on Linyanti
Black-bellied Bustard in Nkasa Rupara Park?
Various babblers will get every photographer out of bed in the early morning… on the game drives everyone hopes for Black-bellied Bustards and even Yellow-throated Sandgrouse. On the boat trip you see the African Fish Eagle anyway, but the Banded Snake Eagle remains a target want-to-see!
If you knew the Okavango Delta, you would not believe you’ve been spending your time somewhere other than this beautiful nature.
The huge floodplain of the Linyanti shows picture-book Africa with termite mounds, grassy steppes and small palm islands.
Pink-backed Pelicans can often be found in the lagoons and, with extreme luck, the guide spots a Three-banded Courser.
Animal density is not as high here as elsewhere, but the feeling of wilderness, created by wonderful sunsets and distant lion roars, is more real here than anywhere else.
We can even explore the history of David Livingstone by visiting a small museum…
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- Der Sumpfzistensänger, Cisticola pipiens, hat einen markanten Ruf, welcher typisch für die Sumpflandschaften des Caprivi ist.
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- Tockus bradfieldi – nach Rupert Bradfield, einem Farmer und Naturalist
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- Der Rotbauchreiher, Ardeola rufiventris, ist recht selten in ungestörten Moorlandschaften zu finden.
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- Sehr selten sieht man die Schwarzbauchtrappe, Lissotis lelanogaster, auf der Kasika Flooplain im Caprivi
Day 16
birding overload…
- 1 overnight stay at a beautiful lodge directly on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- Boat cruise on the Zambezi
Zambezi
The mighty Zambezi divides again and again, forming long linear islands and tributaries. The wildlife here has unfortunately been crowded out by the dense Lozi population, but on a boat trip you get wonderful photo opportunities of various turacos, water birds such as the rare African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher, Slaty Egret, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Eastern Nicator, Lesser Jacana and various bee-eaters. The Southern Carmine Bee-eater breeds on the banks of the Zambezi from August, an ornithological “have to see”.
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- Atimastillas flavicollis – gelbe Kehle
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- Microparra capensis – aus dem Kap
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- Centropus cepreicaudus – kupferschwänzig. Nicht mit Senegal zu verwechseln bitte.
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- im November werden Jungvögel gefüttert
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- Podica senegalensis – aus senegal. Ein scheues Tier, schwierig zu finden.
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- Der Karminspint, Merops nubicoides, brütet ab Ende August in den Uferbänken des Okavango, Kwando und Zambezi
Day 17, 18 & 19
… find the Longclaw
- 3 nights on the Kasika “Floodplain” directly opposite Sedudu Island, which is heavily populated with buffalo.
inclusive:
- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- Here the game drives are done by boat. The flat aluminium boats are very comfortable (you also have a lot of space) and are very stable and quiet, so they are great for wildlife viewing and photography.
Services NOT included:
US$ 50.- for visa and
US$ 30.- entrance fee to the falls (please bring separately)
Chobe National Park, Kasika in Caprivi East & Victoria Falls
Today we head for the Chobe River, the meeting-point of Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe offers of the densest wildlife population to be found in Africa. Over many kilometres, the Chobe River floods numerous shallow islands every year. Life “booms” here, because there is food for everyone.
Numerous elephants line the banks and you can sometimes even see them swimming; wonderful for photographers. The flat islands are grazed by buffalo, impala, the rare grass antelope “Puku” and Waterbuck, and lying Nile crocodiles come suspiciously close on the shore.
Flocks of numerous Open-billed Stork, Whistling Duck, Spur-winged Goose and Pratincole pass overhead during the boat cruise. Slaty Egret show themselves on the shore and the Black Heron impresses with its remarkable way of fishing by forming its wings into a bell. Kingfisher photography guaranteed!
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- Nettapus auritus – grüner Fleck am hals
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- Cisticola luapula – nach dem Luapula Fluß in Zambia&Kongo benannt
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- Haliaeetus vocifer
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- Der Afrikascherenschnabel, Rynchops flavirostris, brütet auf den schnee-weißen Sandbänken des Chobe.
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- Der Rötelpelikan, Pelecanus rufescens, ist äusserst selten und wenn, dann nur sehr scheu zu beobachten.
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- Lybius torquatus – mit Halsband. Hier an einer reifen Mango
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- Der Morgenrötel, Cichladusa arquata, ist nur auf einem sehr kleinen Gebiet am Chobe zu finden… wir wissen wo.
Day 20
rainforest… spray-forest…
- 1 overnight stay near Vic Falls at a beautiful lodge.
inclusive:
- Bed & Breakfast (dinner a la carte in the restaurant not included)
- Transfer to Hotel & to the airport
Victoria Falls and the unique spray rainforest biotope at the falls
David Livingstone in 1855: “The whole scene was extremely beautiful; the banks and islands dotted over the river are adorned with sylvan vegetation of great variety of colour and form…no one can imagine the beauty of the view from any thing witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”
A dense forest of Cape figs, ferns, water pears and large baobabs line this imposing bank at the Victoria Falls.
Trumpeter Hornbills feeds on the lush figs and berries and the green Schalow’s Turaco with its signal red wings calls harshly and thrills.
Secretly, the Thrush Nightingale swims in the undergrowth and the Bronze Mannikin flits among the ferns.
So far, over 470 bird species have been seen here, making it a hotspot of the finest nature…
Many artists live in Zimbabwe and you are sure to find one or two works of art or meet interesting people.
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- Die Victoria Falls am mächtigen Zambezi
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- Die Victoria Falls am mächtigen Zambezi
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- Ceryle rudis – in Folie, gemeint ist der Schnabel
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- Erythropygia quadrivirgata – viergestreift.
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- Tauraco schalowi – nach Hermann Schalow, einem deutschen Ornithologen
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- Der Trompeterhornvogel, Bucanistes bucinator, kann im Wald bei den Victoria Wasserfällen in den großen Ficus sur / capensis / Kapfeigen beobachtet werden.
Day 21
Hope to see you soon!
inclusive:
- Transfers to the chosen airport, as well as further transfers to accommodation or international airports.
Flight logistics in Africa
Vic Falls Airport is connected to a wide variety of Airports. We suggest connecting international flights via Johannesburg, Cape Town or Windhoek.
Prices for 2024
| Participants per vehicle | per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | 20'520.00 U$ |
| 2 Persons | 13'443.00 U$ |
| 3 Persons | 11'084.00 U$ |
| 4 Persons | 9'905.00 U$ |
| 5 Persons | 9'197.00 U$ |
| 6 Persons | 8'725.00 U$ |
| 7 Persons | 8'388.00 U$ |
| Single Room Supplement | 1'388.00 U$ |
Services included
- Transport in an safari-friendly 4-wheel drive Toyota Landcruiser with a pop-up roof
- Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
- Wide Window seat / single seat for each participant
- Accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Activities as indicated in the itinerary
- Entrance fees to National Parks and attractions as per itinerary
- Experienced trilingual tour guide
- Guided tour in English, guides can mostly also Afrikaans, German and often a local language
Services not included
- personal expenditure
- Beverages and tips
- International flights
We are happy to answer frequently asked questions in advance
How high is the risk of malaria?
In den Monaten Januar bis Mai sehr hoch und man sollte unbedingt Vorsorge treffen und sich vor Mückenstichen schützen. Die Monate Juni bis November sind kaum gefährlich, man sollte sich dennoch gut präventiv vor Mückenstichen schützen und/oder gar eine Prophylaxe einnehmen.
Can we get across the borders to and from Botswana and Zimbabwe without any problems?
Yes, please only check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return and that there are at least 4 free pages available.
We want to see migratory birds in a malaria-free period... is that possible?
The migratory birds arrive in the south again from September. October November would therefore be ideal to see e.g. the Carminspinte breeding without a great risk of malaria.
Migratory birds stay until March April, but from January to May the risk of malaria is quite high.
We would like to include the lagoon in Walvis Bay
Please use Walvis Bay as arrival airport and Vic Falls as departure airport. In this case we start the journey in Walvis Bay or Swakopmund.
An offer especially for you! Simply let us know your change requests in this form.
Fill out non-binding request for 'Acrocephalus & Pachyderm'
This Safari was last updated on 4. October 2023 @ 17:55.
