Namibia

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: December 5, 2026 | Arrival in Windhoek

Upon arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport, you will be transferred to River Crossing Lodge, set on a 6,500-hectare reserve just outside the capital.

Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, lies at the heart of the country, encircled by magnificent mountains, expansive valleys, and fertile farmlands. The landscape of the Greater Windhoek area surrounding this bustling city is characterized by vast valleys, thick Acacia scrub, schist hills, and golden savannah.

Arrange to arrive in Windhoek by noon today (or the day before), because this afternoon, we’ll explore the rocky slopes and wooded hills around Windhoek, which should yield Short-toed Thrush, White-tailed Shrike, Barred Warbler, and with some luck the elusive Rockrunner. Avis Dam provides an artificial wetland oasis for Bradfield’s and Palm swifts, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler, and Red-billed Teal, while the surrounding shrublands support Desert Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Black-chested Prinia, and Orange River Francolin.

Overnight: River Crossing Lodge

Day 2: December 6, 2026 │ Windhoek to Swakopmund

We will head to Avis Dam for early morning birding. Here we should see Orange River Francolin, Rockrunner, Bradfield’s and Palm Swifts, Rock Martin, Greater striped and Pearl-breasted Swallow. Wetland birds are also abundant, and South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler and Red-billed Teal are usually present.  In the shrub-lands surrounding the dam Desert Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Black-chested Prinia and a variety of seed-eaters are easily seen.

Leaving Windhoek, the road westward begins gently, winding through the rolling hills of the Khomas Hochland. As we climb toward the Bosua Pass, the landscape begins to shift—steeper, more rugged, with sweeping views that hint at the vastness beyond. At the summit, the world opens up. The descent is dramatic: a winding ribbon of gravel dropping into the plains below, flanked by granite ridges and golden grass. Continuing west, the landscape becomes increasingly lunar. The Moon Valley and Welwitschia Plains offer a stark beauty.

We will keep an eye out for Verreaux’s Eagles, Rock Kestrels, Pale-chanting Goshawks, Lapped-faced Vultures, Herero Chats, Rüppell’s Korhaan, Namaqua Sandgrouse and many more arid habitat specialists.

After checking into our B&B in Swakopmund, you will have the opportunity to explore the quaint town at your own leisure before meeting up with the rest of the group for dinner.

Overnight: Pension Rapmund, Swakopmund

Day 3: December 7, 2026 │ Walvis Bay Lagoon & Swakopmund

After breakfast we will head to Walvis Bay. The coast is characterized by a wide variety of Namib habitats:  Namib Desert dunes, coastal gravel plains, the Walvis Bay Lagoon, the ephemeral Kuiseb River Delta, and the Swakop river system. It is here where we will search for Namibia’s only true endemic, the Dune Lark before heading to the lagoon.

Walvis Bay Lagoon is one of the most important wetlands in southern Africa and is a Ramsar site. In December, the lagoon is full of life, with thousands of flamingos, including both Greater and Lesser Flamingos, feeding in the shallow water. We can also see many waders like Chestnut-banded Plovers, White-fronted Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, and Common Greenshanks. Large groups of terns, including Caspian Terns and Sandwich Terns, are also common. From Walvis Bay we will head back towards Swakopmund and continue birding the surrounding gravel plains and salt pans.

Key species we’ll look for today include Damara Tern, Dune Lark, Gray’s Lark, Tractrac Chat (pale form), Bank and Crowned Cormorant, Orange River White-eye, and Karoo Eremomela.

Overnight: Pension Rapmund, Swakopmund

Day 4: December 8, 2026 │ Swakopmund to Erongo Mountains

Leaving behind the coastal region we head inland towards the Erongo Mountains, characterized by mostly Pro-Namib vegetation types, Acacia scrub, and large granite inselbergs. This expanse of rugged wilderness serves as one of Namibia’s most popular tourist drawcards, attracting visitors with its spectacularly scenic landscapes, magnificent caves and rock painting sites, and its impressive array of wildlife species. These include, among others: rhino, elephant, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, kudu, warthog, mountain zebra, oryx, eland, springbok and over 200 species of birds.

We will keep our eyes peeled for Ludwig’s Bustard, Rüppell’s Korhaan, Karoo Eremomela as we drive along. If we have not found the Herero Chat by now, then we will make a concerted effort around Spitzkoppe, one of a series of impressive granite inselbergs  that rise steeply out of the desert plains.  It is at this imposing Batholith where we have our best chance of finding Herero Chat. On the way we may also encounter the rare and declining Burchell’s Courser and many other sandy desert species like Stark’s Lark and other strategic species like Karoo Long-billed Lark. On the plains surrounding these hills we should see Rüppell’s Korhaan,  Namaqua Sandgrouse, Chat Flycatcher and Karoo Chat,  Verreaux’s and Booted  Eagle, Augur Buzzard, African Hawk-Eagle and Lanner Falcon also occur in the hills as do Rosy-faced Lovebird, Carp’s and Ashy Tit, White-throated Canary, Layard’s Tit-Babbler,  White-tailed Shrike, Double-banded Courser, Starks, Sabota, Red-capped, Spike-heeled, Fawn-coloured and Rufous-naped Larks, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Mountain Wheatear, Pale-winged Starling, Bradfield’s Swift, Rockrunner,  Monteiro’s and Damara Red-billed Hornbill.

We will also have the opportunity today to view various thousand years-old bushman paintings.

Overnight: Ondudu Safari Lodge

Day 5: December 9, 2026 │ Erongo Mountains & San Living Museum

We’ll spend the morning birding the varied habitats of the Erongo Mountains, where possibilities include Rosy-faced Lovebird, White-tailed Shrike, Layard’s Tit-Babbler, and Rockrunner.

In the afternoon we visit the Ju/’Hoansi San Living Museum, where members of the San community demonstrate traditional skills such as fire-making, archery, and tracking. This initiative not only preserves cultural heritage but also provides an important source of income for local families, showing how people and conservation are linked here.

Overnight: Ondudu Safari Lodge

Day 6: December 10, 2026 │ Erongo to Etosha National Park (South)

We will embark on a pre-dawn walk. After breakfast we will head to Etosha National Park. Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. The Park is the flagship of Namibia’s conservation areas, teeming with large game and boasting about 380 species of birds. It will be our first opportunity to see four of the Big Five and an abundance of antelope, giraffe and other game.

Depending on time of arrival we may head into the park for afternoon birding and wildlife watching, or check into our hotel. We’ll gather for pre-dinner drinks in the courtyard where The Etosha Boys strum guitars and sing lively local songs.

Overnight: Etosha Village

Day 7: December 11, 2026 │ Etosha South

We will head into the park bright and early and spend the day in the western and southern sectors of the park in search of birds and mammals. This end of the park has large open grassland along the saline pan and is dispersed with Mopane woodland. The key bird species we will look for in this area include Secretarybird, Kori and Ludwig’s Bustard, Northern Black and Red-crested Korhaans, Glossy Starling, Yellow-bellied and Burnt-necked Eremomela, Fork-tailed Drongo, Blue Crane, Burchell’s and Double-banded Sandgrouse, Rüppell’s and Meyer’s Parrots (the east only), Alpine Swift, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Cape Shoveler, South African Shelduck, Green-winged Pytilia,  Sociable Weaver, Pygmy Falcon, Southern Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Violet-eared Waxbill, Red-headed Finches, Marsh and Barn Owls and Rufous-cheeked Nightjar around the lights, Shaft-tailed and Pin-Tailed Whydah, Grey-backed and Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks, Red-capped, Spike-heeled, Rufous-naped and Pink-billed Lark, Capped Wheatear, Scaly-feathered Finch, Red-necked and Lanner Falcons, Lappet-faced, White headed and White-backed Vultures, Double-banded and Temminck’s Coursers, Cardinal Woodpecker, Brubru, Crowned Lapwing, Ashy tit, Red-billed Quelea, Rufous-eared Warbler, Red-breasted Swallow, Greater Kestrel, Desert Cisticola, Water Thick-knee, Southern Ant-eating Chat, Pied and Black Crow, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Martial and Tawny Eagle, Southern Yellow-billed and Grey Hornbill.

Overnight: Etosha Village

Day 8: December 12, 2026 │ Etosha North

We will have another early start and venture into the Eastern part of the park. We will stop at Halali Camp for lunch where we will look for Violet Woodhoopoes, Bare-cheeked Babblers, Scops Owl and Pearl-spotted Owl. Key species around Halali include Crimson-breasted Shrike, Great Sparrow, Violet-eared Waxbill, Southern Pied Babbler, Red-headed Finch, Kori Bustard, Scaly-feathered Finch, Marico Flycatcher, Namaqua Dove, Blue Crane, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Violet Wood-Hoopoe, Pallid and Montagu’s Harrier, Little Sparrowhawk, Gabar Goshawk, Bateleur, White-crested Helmet Shrike, Southern White-crowned, Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes, Golden Breasted Bunting, Ground Scraper Thrush, Lanner Falcon, African  and Southern White-faced Scops-Owl, Lilac-breasted and Purple Rollers, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Long-billed Crombec, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher,  Grey-backed Camaroptera,  Martial Eagle, Mosque Swallow, Crested Francolin, Red headed Weaver, Carp’s Tit, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Rüppell’s Parrot and Burchell’s Starling and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater.

We then continue northward into a less-visited part of the park. This is prime habitat for both Black and White Rhinoceros and supports large herds of elephant. On the eastern and northern side of the park, we’ll look for Blue Crane, Temminck’s and Double-banded Courser, Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark, Eastern Clapper and Dusky Lark, Black-faced and Southern Pied Babbler, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Tawny Eagle, Rattling Cisticola, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Geese, Marico Flycatcher, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Banded and Sand Martin, Red-billed Hornbill, Marico, White-bellied and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler, Fawn-coloured Lark, Kurrichane Button-Quail, African Harrier-hawk, Violet and Black-cheeked Waxbill, African Golden Oriole, Gabar Goshawk, European Roller, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Southern White-crowned Shrike, African Paradise Flycatcher, Meyer’s Parrot, Violet-backed Starling, Crested Spurfowl, Caspian Plover, Emerald Spotted Wood dove, White -browed Scrub Robin and African Palm-Swift.

Overnight: Etosha King Nehale

Day 9: December 13, 2026 │ Etosha North

Another day in northern Etosha, where the broad pans provide vital breeding grounds for waterbirds. This is one of the most reliable places outside South Africa to find Blue Crane. We will spend time visiting the various watering holes. The area is particularly good for Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Elephant and Damara Dikdik.

Overnight: Etosha King Nehale

Day 10: December 14, 2026 │ Waterberg Plateau National Park

After a final game drive we leave the park and visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund, internationally recognized for its work to protect Namibia’s cheetahs. Through research, education, and programs such as livestock-guarding dogs, the organization has helped stabilize cheetah numbers in the country, while continuing to address the challenges of conserving a predator that requires vast open ranges.

After lunch here, we will continue on a short drive to our final destination, Waterberg Plateau National Park. Situated in north central Namibia and named for the springs that emanate from its foothills, the Waterberg Plateau National Park is a fascinating geological site featuring compressed sandstone crags, 200 million-year-old dinosaur footprints, and petrified sand dunes. The area’s natural water sources make it far more fertile than its environs, and the park is blessed with a plethora of plant and animal species, including leopards, rhinoceros, vultures, cheetahs, bush babies, ferns, and fig trees. The Waterberg Plateau National Park was created as a sanctuary for the rare and endangered species of the Caprivi. The high diversity of birdlife in this semi-arid region is due to the location of the Waterberg at the meeting point of broad-leafed woodland on northern Kalahari sandveld on top of the plateau and mixed thorn bush savannah below. A third habitat is provided by the cliffs and scree slopes.

The Acacia savanna and woodland here abound with birds and is one of the best sites in the country to see near-endemics such as Rüppell’s Parrot, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Violet Woodhoopoe, Rüppell’s Parrot, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Carp’s Tit and Rockrunner.  Hartlaub’s Spurfowl occurs on the boulder-strewn slopes above the camp, and an early start will offer a reasonable chance at seeing this difficult endemic. Other exciting endemics that you might encounter during your stay include Bradfield’s, Alpine, African Palm, Little, Common and White-rumped Swifts, Freckled Nightjar, Red-billed and Swainson’s Francolin, Bradfield’s, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey and Red-billed Hornbills. The Waterberg is also home to the last remaining population of Cape Vulture in Namibia, which breed on the northern side of the plateau. With luck you will see some of these magnificent birds as well as other raptors including African Hawk Eagle, Booted Eagle, Peregrine and Augur Buzzard.

Overnight: Waterberg Wilderness Lodge

Day 11: December 15, 2026 │ Departure from Windhoek

After breakfast we return to Windhoek for afternoon departures. Please be sure to book flights departing after 4 pm.