Archive for the ‘Namibia Safaris’ Category

Birding in Namibia, Birding Safaris Namibia, Birdwatching Tours

Although Namibia is majorly a desert country, it is an ideal territory for bird watchers. Bird watching safaris in Namibia are very quiet and full of adventure, involve tourists going to places and visiting various sites in search for birds. Namibia just like any other major birding place is a very interesting safari destination that has attracted hundreds of both bird watchers and professional photographers form all over the world. It has become a center for both qualified and armature birders who are challenging their birding expertise. Therefore what birders need to do is to prioritize on taking bird watching holiday packages that offer visiting many various bird spots.

birding in namibiaEtosha Birding Trips in Namibia

This National Park is one of the best wildlife Parks in Africa, with over 380 different species of birds. On just a single bird trail a proficient birder can view up to 200 bird species in the park such as the Secretary bird, , Chestnut Weaver, Black-winged Pratincole, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Stark’s Lark, , Monteiro’s Hornbill, Chestnut Weaver,  Ludwig’s Bustard, Pygmy Falcon and Red-necked Falcon, Rosy-faced Lovebird and the Kori Bustard. Other species to spot are: Caspian Plover, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Chestnut-banded Plover, Montagu’s Harrier, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Blue Crane, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Sociable Weaver and Carp’s Tit.

In the extreme west of the Etosha National Park are many Kalahari related species such as the Barred Wren-Warbler, Scaly-feathered Finch, Marico Flycatcher, Violet-eared Waxbill and Southern Pied Babbler. Also the Violet Wood-Hoopoe and the Green Wood-Hoopoe can be sighted but only by proficient birdes.

Along the Namib coast lays the Walvis Bay pond which is a natural anchorage and coastal wetland that is comprised of three major wetlands that make it an ideal stopover for migrating bird.  Some of the migrating birds found in this Bay include: the Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Parasitic Jaeger, White-chinned Petrel, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel and the Wilson’s Storm-Petrel.

Swakopmund Birding Tours in Namibia

Swakopmund is a deserted town found in the submerged region of Namibia. Tourists who are interested in watching birds will enjoy doing so a spot it being a stopover over for various migrating birds.the town has many sea birds like the African Black Oystercatcher, motley crew of Swift, Arctic and Black Terns, Arctic and Black Terns, Sandwich and the Kelp Gull.

As was published in the Gazette of 1st March, 1990, Mamili National Park is the largest wet land in the whole of Namibia. Its leafy vegetation has attracted a number of water birds, weavers, ducks and rails. Other species inhabiting in this park are the unique green eyed Slaty Egret, White-Fronted, African Open-Bill, Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eaters and the Black Herons. In the dry seasons, other species like ostriches, kori bustard, black-bellied bustard and the Denham’s are seen around this area. A professional birder can catch sight of the Grey Cisticola, , African Golden Oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, Green-Capped Eremomela, Trumpeter Hornbill,Crested Barbet, White-Browed, , African Goshawk, African Little Sparrowhawk and Red-Capped Robin-Chats.

This Island is found at the far east of the Caprivi Strip, surrounded by River Chobe, Rivers Zambezi and Kasai a natural channel. Some of the resident birds on this island are: Rosy-throated Longclaw, African Finfoot, White-crowned Lapwing, White-backed Night-Heron, Red-headed Quelea, Pel’s Fishing-Owl and the Half-collared Kingfisher. Others include: African Pygmy-Goose, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Swamp Nightjar, Little Bittern, Bat Hawk, Thrush Nightingale, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Olive Woodpecker, -backed Honey bird, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah and Meyer’s Parrot. Birding on Impalila Island is best done between the months of April and November, when the migrant birds are just arriving.

The Waterberg Plateau Park is a huge magnificent sandstone, laying in the central section of Namibia; 70 kilometers from Otjiwarongo town it is the only known breeding area for the Cape Vulture and Booted Eagle in the country..  It is a sanctuary to many rare bird species such as Rockrunner, Violet Wood-Hoopoe, Tinkling Cisticola Orange River Francolin, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl and theRufous-bellied Tit.

birding in Namibia

Katima Mulilo

This is a small town found in the Caprivi Strip on the shores of river Zambezi. Its verdant riverside vegetation acts as the best sanctuary for several birds including the O White-Backed Night-Heron, White-Backed Night-Heron, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Western-Banded Snake-Eagle and the Rufous-Bellied Heron. Other species are the Tropical Boubou, White-Browed Coucal and the African Golden Oriole.

 

Game Viewing in Namibia, Game Viewing Safaris

 

Etosha National Park Namibia safari

The actual flagship playground certainly is your Etosha Uganda Park: thirty,000 square kilometres involving salt pot, grasslands and furthermore open up wood land. Property for you to Africa’s dried spot experts, anticipate for you to find available away elephants along having dark-colored rhinos, significant kittens and cats (the idea significantly will be any great location regarding lion as well as cheetah) along with even more compact predators, furthermore many types of antelope starting from your stately gemsbok about the particular diminutive Damara dik-dik.

This tracks commonly blowing wind concerning waterholes where the match jostles pertaining to position although next to help nothing really surpasses the activity acknowledged for the particular massive, lasting waterholes in Etosha’s about three camps. Right here you are going to locate comfortable sitting ignoring your waterholes which can possibly be furthermore floodlit from evening in order to make available company a style involving Etosha’s bustling nightlife.

safari in Namibia

Waterberg Plateau Gemstone

This Waterberg Skill level Play ground comes together with a fully varied carry out fit viewing in that this creatures can possibly be found upon major regarding your plateau covered in spectacular grasslands along together with open up woodland. Current re-introduction workshops have noticed exceptional add ons with your mammal list collectively having white-colored rhinocerous, sable and roan antelope.

 

Caprivi Go having Habitat

Men and women company nobody sense they are missing famous Cameras mammals regarding illustration hippos with addition to buffalo might wish for you to devote a various days and nights in the a great deal a new great deal more watered Caprivi Remove exactly your position the particular numerous rivers along together with swamps help the particular water-dependent variety. Effort the Caprivi Sport Play ground in which you could in addition always be agreeably amazed to learn abundant crops and furthermore exclusive bird watching.

 

Damaraland

Wildlife safari toursThis specific durable spot is usually one connected with ruined foothills and additionally pea gravel plains, thorn wash and dry pond bedrooms – not the original selection intended for wildlife looking at you may believe. It’s on the other hand just one of your really best spots to determine the very dwindling in numbers cameras american rhino also because dry area-adapted ‘desert elephant’. You could be across the search for other dried out location experts such as gemsbok, brown leafy hyena, Cape fox and kudu.

Namibia Hunting Safari Packages,Trips, Outfitters and Farms

What animals you can expect to see in Namibia

 

Explore Namibia and see the unusual wildlife adaptations that these plants and animals have taken up in oreder to survive in this harsh desert environment. The large trees, small insect and different animals have all attempts to see that they survive by conserving some water.

Look at the Desert Elephants found in Damaraland that have adapted to exist without water for close to 4 days

The Terebrionid Beetles found in the Namib Desert accumulate fog to get water

namibia hunting safarisPhotograph the Oryx in Sossusvlei that regulate their temperature in their brains through passing it out through the capillaries

Damaraland is a breeding and growing ground for Gheckos and a dwelling of the biggest population of black Rhinos adapted to the desert in the world.

Observe the seals in the Cape Cross Seal Colony

Caprivi Strip is a green oasis with rivers plus wetland, just like Chobe as well as Okavango

 

What makes a safari to Namibia so unique?

 

Namibia is normally called the Land of Contrast and its diverse wildlife is not different. Visit Namibia to see the unspoiled and isolated landscapes. At first sight, you may see a searing and cruel landscape however; as you proceed with your voyage you will be fascinated by the unique adaptations taken on by wildlife to survive under these desert conditions.

Safari in Namibia

 

The Namib Desert is among the ancient deserts in the world covering an expanse of two thousand kilometer starting from south Angola besides the coast of Namibia extending to south western Africa. It is supposed that the desert began existing close to eighty thousand millions ago, although the most current change happened close to five thousand million years ago after the formation of the Benguela Current. The cold ocean winds blowing over this landmass holds little moisture resulting into minimal or no rainfall along the coastal area of Namibia. The resulting dry conditions necessitate the wildlife in this area to have special adaptations to be able to survive in these conditions.  Because moisture is very vital for life, plants like Nara plus the spiky Love Grass exploit the fog that rolls off the chilly Benguela Current which plants in the long run act as food to other species of wildlife.

The Oryx regulates its body temperature through running its blood in a capillary network prior to getting to the brain. The large ears of the Bat-ear Fox have a good network of blood veins that serve the same function. On the other hand the Ground Squirrel lifts its hairy tail t form a shady umbrella for its body. Most laughable about the wildlife is the Desert Lizard which appears to dance while alternating their feet off the very scorching desert sand in an effort of keeping cool.

The Camel Thorn is the biggest tree in the whole of the Namib Desert with very very deep roots helping it to absorb water from the depths of the earth. Its pods shaped like kidneys are nutritious and enjoyed by springboks plus other herbivores. The rough tree bark offers shelter for geckos, spiders, insects, skinks and scorpions. The branches are a habitat to several birds like Vultures, Sociable weavers and eagles.

The leading wildlife destination in Namibia

hunting trips namibia

It you want to watch the wildlife in Namibia in its full glory, then the perfect place to go is Etosha National Park. Established in 1907 as a game reserve by Fredrich Von Lindequist a governor, it covers approximately 2.26 million hectares and is among the biggest in Africa. The region holds the Big Five and other indigenous species like the Damara Dik Dik and the black-faced Impala.

Etosha means “place of mirage” or a “place of dry water” or even “large white area” because the park is mainly dominated by a massive Etosha Pan. The Namibia Wildlife Resorts an agency managed by the Namibian government has 3 lodges in Etosha National Park which are: Halali, Okaukuejo and Namutoni. Okaukuejo is popular for its flooded waterhole that is often visited by lions, black rhinos and elephants for a drink. There are numerous private reserves near this park like the Ongava Private Game Reserve plus the Onguma Private Game Reserve. The benefit of residing in any of these reserves is that you get the opportunity to see the animal on foot and also at night.

Damaraland & Kaokoland – North Western Namibia

 

From the wildlife point of view, the region called the kaokoveld is vital because of its somewhat healthy numbers of desert Elephants and black rhinos. The region is a real wilderness that has helped the desert black-rhinos to survive. Back in 1960, their population through Africa was estimated to be 100,000 but unfortunately, today there are close to 2600 left hence being an endangered species. The desert elephants are not different from the African elephants (Loxodonta africana)although they have well adapted to surving in the dry conditions in Kaokoveld  and can do without water for almost four days. The desert elephants have mastered how to eat sparingly through feeding on leaves, flowers, tubers, roots sedges and bulbs.

Atlantic Coast: Namibia, Skeleton Coast plus Swakopmund

 

Compared to the species of wildlife in the other parts of Namibia, the Atlantic shoreline is truly exceptional.

 

Outstandingly are the Cape Fur Seals that have a massive colony of between 80,000 to 100,000 members at Cape Cross adjacent to Swakopmund.  This is just one among the 6 breeding colonies of this species in South Africa plus the Namibian Mainland and is frequented by male seals while the territories are well demarcated and assertively defended. During their very first months, the seal pups are so vulnerable and draw brown hyenas plus jackals which come to feed on the pups.

The Skeleton Coast National Park which was named after the numerous shipwrecks from the ancient past is an impressive park. The waters in thus area are very nutritious and attract big populations of fish like the Cape Horse Mackerel, Pilchard, Hake and the Anchovy, which in turn draw birds that feed on them. The Heaviside Dolphins are another prevalent species in this area although they are restricted to the shallow waters along the coast. Fascinatingly, the very first correct scientific description of these dolphins was published in the year 1988.

Caprivi Strip Namibia: Okavango and Chobe all rolled into one

 

The Caprivi Strip is a very exceptional place in Namibia with a green assortment of trees plus floodplains in which the rivers never at any one time run dry. The strip is a panhandle that connect Namibia to 4 other countries an odd river convergence.

The wildlife in this area include: roan antelopes, Puku, African Buffalo, Red Lechwe, elephants  the impala and the Reed buck. It is the only locality in this country where you can view the Nile Crocodiles plus Hippos. The birdlife here is very fascinating, and is best seen in the forests and the water channels with more than four hundred bird species visible.