DAY 1: Collection ➝ Avis Dam ➝ Windhoek Sewage Works ➝ Daan Viljoen Reserve  
9 a.m. Collection airport/Windhoek hotel. Visit Avis Dam & Windhoek sewage works (excellent for birds). Stay Daan Viljoen Reserve which has over 200 birds and a wide variety of mammals. The best part without dangerous animals you can walk anywhere to get photos.
Stay: Daan Viljoen Reserve

Day 2: ➝ Walvis Bay
After breakfast we travel west through dramatic desert landscapes to the Atlantic coast, staying at Walvis Bay Lagoon, one of Southern Africa’s most important wetland systems, where you’ll photograph hundreds of flamingos at the lagoon. The sun sets behind the birds creating great photographic opportunities. Stay: Protea Hotel

Day 3: Marine Boat Cruise ➝ Sandwich Harbour
Sunrise lagoon shoot, followed by boat cruise with exceptional close-up pelican and seagull photo opportunities + other marine life. Exhilarating Sandwich Harbour 4×4 Dune experience. From Nov- March expect thousands of birds with a huge diversity of waders & marine birds. Stay: Protea Hotel

Day 4: Living Desert Tour ➝ Henties Bay
After breakfast we head to Swakopmund for a guided excursion tracking remarkable little desert adapted creatures. Following this, we continue north on a salt road, stopping at Mile 4 Saltworks. In summer it can exceptionally high bird densities .We continue past a shipwreck towards our accommodation at Henties Bay. Stay: Cape Cross Lodge 

DAY 5: Cape Cross Seal Colony ➝ Brandberg
We visit one of the world’s largest seal colonies (200 000 in Nov/Dec). Visiting such a large colony is a visceral experience, raw, loud, and incredibly smelly! But it’s highly photogenic with birds flitting between the seals, there is even chance of spotting a rare brown hyena. After we travel inland to the Brandberg at 2573m, Namibia’s highest mountain. We’ll stay at a lodge with meerkats and abundant birdlife and in the dry season desert elephant. Stay: White Lady Lodge Brandberg

DAY 6: Brandberg➝ Huab Lodge (Damaraland)

After a morning birding around the Brandberg, we travel further into Damaraland to Huab Lodge. This 20 000acre reserve has 210 recorded bird species with a number of near endemic specials like Rüppel’s parrot, southern violet wood-hoopoe, Monteiro’s hornbill, Carp’s tit, Barecheeked babbler, Damara rockrunner and the charismatic White tailed shrike. There is also a variety of antelope, giraffe and elephant in the reserve. The hide in camp is great for bird photography.

DAY 7, 8, 9 & 10: ➝ Etosha Game Reserve (4 nights)

After birding and breakfast, we pack up and head to Etosha, the “Great White Place,”. It spans over 22,000 km² and ranks among Africa’s top wildlife reserves. With wildlife largely accustomed to vehicles, the game viewing and photography opportunities are exceptional. Lions, elephant and giraffe are commonly seen, and it’s one of the best places to find the rare black rhino. For birders there are approx. 340 recorded species, many of the birds are relaxed, especially around camp and the vegetation is open allowing for easier photography.

Stay 3 different camps: 

Okaukuejo: (west) during the dry season (May- Nov) is famed for having one of the most prolific waterholes in Africa. In the wet summer wildlife moves away from the waterholes but it’s the best time for birding.

Halali: This central camp is set around a dolomite outcrop in mopane woodland and is best for birding, especially in summer, it also has a very productive waterhole in the dry season.

Namutoni: (East) has a different habitat, its surrounded by acacia thickets and water pans. During the wet season there is a migration of wildlife to this side of the park.

DAY 11 & 12: Etosha ➝ Mount Etjo Private Lodge

After breakfast, we leave Etosha driving approx. 3 hours south to the Erongo Region. We will get to Mount Etjo in time for lunch and afternoon safari in open topped vehicles.

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the Okonjati Game Reserve. One of the first private Game Reserves established in Namibia, It is home to all the big game (except buffalo) and is one of the best places in Namibia to photograph the endangered white rhino. With hundreds of bird species + a ground level hide it’s a fantastic photographer destination.

DAY 13: ➝ Transfer to Windhoek International Airport

After early breakfast we depart for a 3hour drive south to Windhoek Airport. Departing Flights are general late afternoon. Optionally an extra night can be added in Windhoek.

CAPRIVI STRIP 5 DAY OPTIONAL EXTENSION (FOR BIRDERS)

The North East in complete contract to the rest of Namibia is subtropical and attracts a entirely different set of birds. The Caprivi Strip is one of Namibia’s most productive birding regions, in summer top daily counts can reach almost 300 species. We’ll do boat cruises and visit the Bwabwata National Park (Mahongo section).

Stay: Nunda River Lodge & Kaisosi River Lodge
Extension rate from $3000 p/p