Namibia - Budget Endemics 2024 - 18 Jun 2024 - 28 Jun 2024 (11 days)
ZAR71,600
Tour price (Per person): ZAR71,600 * USD3,860 * GBP3,158 * EUR3,583 * AUD5,780
Our new Namibian Budget Endemics tour is targeted at only the most sought after and special birding to be found in Namibia. This compact 11-day safari will find not only a stunning array of endemic and near-endemic birds but will also take in the world-famous Etosha National Park and the array of great game to be found there.
We begin our journey in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital and an area that offers a superb introduction to the birds of this amazing country. Thereafter, we drive through the ancient Namib Desert, a land of enormous red dunes and inhospitable rocky desert. The cold Benguela Current is responsible for the rich upwelling along southern Africa’s west coast. Leaving the coast, we journey inland to the scenic Spitzkoppe and Namibia’s highest mountain - Brandberg. We spend time in the endemic-rich Erongo Mountains, our lodge conveniently located right in the heart of the action. We will then travel north to sample the impressive mammalian (and avian!) delights of Etosha National Park, before completing our journey beneath the amphitheatre of Waterberg Plateau National Park.
*2024 Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR71,600 * USD3,860 * GBP3,158 * EUR3,583 * AUD5,780
This private tour, organised by Rockjumper, allowed us to visit some fantastic areas in the country. Our main focus was on birds, with Pel's Fishing Owl and Shoebill high on our "would like to see" lists. We saw both of them really well, along with another 56 lifers. The Shoebill sighting will remain in our memories for many years, as we waded through the marsh to see both adults close to the nest, plus a well-grown youngster! The overall Bird List totalled some 320 species, along with 47 species of mammal. Highlights of the mammal sightings included an hour spent with a hunting Leopard, a couple of Lionesses with five cubs, a Cheetah with six cubs and sightings of four different Serval. The pace of the tour was excellent and staying for three nights in a small number of sites gave us the opportunity to really explore the different habitats. The accommodation throughout was fantastic. David Hoddinott was a fantastic leader and was aptly supported by the local guides.
Greg de Klerk was very considerate of individual needs. He is also extremely knowledgeable about ornithology, wildlife, geology, local cultures and languages. A fountain of helpful information. I would certainly travel with Greg again, and would recommend him to others.
Heinz Ortmann is a great guide, organizer and traveling companion.
The tour was fabulous and Heinz is a great guide. Our van was good with the "pop up" roof. The lodges we stayed at were very nice with good food. We even had a chance to try some wild game.
Julian Parsons is an exceptional bird and nature guide in many respects - you can be proud to have him on your team. I couldn’t ask for more in a birding and total naturalist guide. His organization, attention to details, interest in the participants were all top notch. All those things that make a birding trip successful Julian attended to with energy, and enthusiasm. He was an excellent driver and put safety as #1. The amount of driving on this tour it would have been nice to have a driver and a guide. It’s one thing to know the birds, wildlife, plants, trees, etc. It's quite another to teach and explain the species to others. Julian is an exceptional teacher. He was always keen to go the extra step to provide the details and the understandings of the species, i.e. its behaviors, how it feeds, migration information, and on and on. Julian’s knowledge of the natural world is encyclopedic. Like all good teachers you never felt any question was too small or too trivial to ask - it’s a gift to be able to put the participants at ease so they feel comfortable to ask questions. There are many positive adjectives I could use to describe Julian as a person and as a professional bird/nature guide - the list is long. At the top is his character and kindness - it seems to be part of his being. I was grateful to have Julian as my guide - I hope I was a fraction as good as a participant.