Our Botswana tours enter the heart of the Okavango Delta and Chobe
National Park, the Central Kalahari or Eastern Botswana.
Some of our trips also venture abroad and combine the Okavango Panhandle with Namibia's Namib desert or Zambia's Victoria Falls.
We hand-pick our accommodation to stay amidst the best birding areas, which we reach in air-conditioned vehicles.
Vast wilderness, game-studded swamps and enormous dry woodlands. Our tours explore one of the world's best places to witness specials of the Kalahari, grasslands, swamps and floodplains, among more than 580 bird species.
Large mammals are key here and include African Elephant, Leopard, Cheetah and African Wild Dog. In the hippo-rich Okavango region, we may even see the secretive and elegant Red Lechwe and Sitatunga.
In the Okavango, the desirable Pel's Fishing Owl and White-backed Night-Heron make our key birding targets. Other specials include Coppery-tailed Coucal,
Chirping and Luapula Cisticolas,
Long-toed Lapwing, Hartlaub's Babbler,
Brown Firefinch, African Skimmer,
Western Banded Snake Eagle, Lesser Jacana
and Slaty Egret.
In Eastern Botswana, we find top birds such as Short-clawed Lark, Boulder Chat
and Cape Vulture. And in Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Chobe National Park,
we aim for those specials such as Burchell's Sandgrouse, Olive-tree Warbler and Pallid Harrier.
Booking is easy with our online booking form and online 3-D secure credit card payment. The deposit is R2000, or about £110 or $180. You will receive confirmation and our tour information pack with practical information on what to expect and how to prepare for the tour.
Email us about availability: info@birdingafrica.com
Featured Leader: Tertius Gous
Tertius grew up in the bushveld in South Africa has birded widely across Africa. He now leads tours for Birding Africa in Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia and the Okavango, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia.
Besides birds, Tertius has a broad interest in all wildlife, especially mammals.
He is trained as a vet and volunteers his special skills for penguin conservation, and has travelled all the way to Tristan du Cunha to help save oiled penguins there.
He is also an accomplished and well-known bird photographer who has that rare balance between showing people good birds and sharing his photographic insights.
Tertius is our only guide to have shown clients both Green-breasted and African Pittas in one year!
'Again, my warmest thanks
for your [Joe's] fantastic performance as our Namibia-Botswanda
guide. I still wonder how you managed all that driving, bird-watching,
organizing, keeping a perfect mood - not possible to do better!'
H&H, Switzerland
'I cannot thank you [Joe] enough for this wonderful trip. I learned
a lot about the birds, the animals, the plants of Africa thanks
to your immense knowledge.I also appreciated your humour and wonderful
loving way of dealing with all creatures (including Swiss tourists).'
R. Derrer, Switserland
'Many thanks [Marje] for such a comprehensive set of information...
but then I'd expect nothing less after all of your previous hard
work and attention to detail!
'The trip was a huge success....”
“ Dalton was brilliant and an excellent travelling companion.
He enlivened the list with a huge fund of bird and animal tales...perfect."
JH, Oundle
For keen birders and mammal
enthusiasts. The tour focuses on endemic and near-endemic birds
as well as the Okavango region specials, like Pel's Fishing
Owl, Slaty Egret and White-backed Night Heron. Boat trips and
game walks in the Okavango area are generally included. We are
also able to spend a lot of time looking for other aspects of
wildlife such as mammals, frogs, geckos, butterflies and interesting
plants. We can customise any guided or self-drive itinerary
to suit to the keen birder, the wildlife enthusiast or both.
Photography
Many participants on our trips are amateur
wildlife photographers. And when we get excellent views of a
bird or mammal, some time is usually spent watching and photographing
it. However, this is not a photographic tour and once the majority
of the people have felt that they have absorbed the animal or
bird to their satisfaction, then we move on in search of the
next encounter. Thus, while the photographic opportunities are
very good, the group will only occasionally wait for somebody
who wants to spend even longer getting better photos.
Fitness
No fitness is required. The few walks
are generally in relatively flat areas with occasional small
inclines.
Timing
Good year round even though most productive
in summer. Malaria is prevalent.
Climate
Hot, especially in summer.
Comfort
A good standard of accommodation in
guest houses, lodges and tented camps.
Transport
We travel by four wheel drive vehicle.
To visit the Okavango Delta, we use charter aircraft, which
requires luggage to be packed in a soft bag, while not exceeding
20 kg including hand luggage.
Group Size
This depends on the specific tour. Please
enquire. Maximum 7 people on the Namibia Okavango tours.
African Elephant, African Buffalo, Lion,
Leopard, Cheetah, African Wild Dog. In the Okavango region,
there is a chance of seeing Red Lechwe, Sitatunga and Hippopotamus.
Booking
Your booking can be secured with a booking form and deposit. You will receive confirmation and our tour information pack with practical information
on what to expect and how to prepare for the tour. The balance
is due 150 days before the tour. Contact us to enquire about availability.
About Birding Africa
Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour
company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies,
botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's
and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home
continent. We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
