Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays
Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays
Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays
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Rockrunner<br />
African Elephants<br />
N A M I B I A<br />
Outline Itinerary<br />
Day 1 Depart London<br />
Day 2 Windhoek<br />
Days 3-4 Sossusvlei<br />
Days 5-6 Swakopmund<br />
Days 7-8 Damaraland<br />
Days 9-10 Okaukeujo Resort,<br />
Etosha National Park<br />
Days 11-12 Mushara Lodge,<br />
Etosha National Park<br />
Day 13 Erongo<br />
Day 14 Depart Windhoek<br />
Day 15 Arrive London<br />
Party Size<br />
Maximum of eight clients.<br />
from the Palearctic as well as holding local species.<br />
The gravel plains hold the endemic Gray’s Lark and<br />
the almost white ‘desert’ form of Tractrac Chat.<br />
Days 7 & 8<br />
We depart after breakfast, visiting Swakopmund<br />
Saltworks and the nearby lichen fields before<br />
heading into the Damaraland region of northwestern<br />
Namibia. Inland we pass Namibia’s highest<br />
mountain, the Brandberg, which peaks at 2,573 m<br />
and take time to bird watch and absorb the vastness<br />
of the scenery along the way. Damaraland is typified<br />
by displays of colour, magnificent table-topped<br />
mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking<br />
vegetation. Birds to see in the Damaraland region<br />
include White-tailed Shrike, Carp’s Tit, Burchell’s<br />
Starling, Chestnut Weaver, Violet Wood-hoopoe and<br />
perhaps Hartlaub’s Spurfowl. The next day, after an<br />
early breakfast, we take an exciting 4x4 excursion<br />
along the ephemeral Aba Huab River valley to<br />
explore this remarkable region and to search for<br />
game, including the elusive desert-adapted<br />
Elephants, if they are in the area. Later we can have<br />
a picnic lunch under the shade of a large Ana Tree<br />
– ideally watching a herd of elephant browsing<br />
nearby. Later we can visit the nearby attractions and<br />
geological sites of Twyfelfontein rock engravings<br />
(recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site),<br />
Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes.<br />
Days 9 & 10<br />
After breakfast we make our way east, via Khorixas<br />
and Outjo, to Etosha National Park where we stay<br />
for two nights at Okaukuejo Resort, stopping off to<br />
visit the Petrified Forest along the way. We can take<br />
a game drive to nearby waterholes before reaching<br />
the camp by sunset. This evening we can relax by<br />
Okaukuejo’s excellent floodlit waterhole where<br />
game comes and goes throughout the night. The<br />
park consists of grassland, woodland and<br />
savannah and boasts some 114 mammal and over<br />
340 bird species. Wildlife that we might see<br />
includes African Elephant, Lion, Giraffe, Blue<br />
Wildebeest, Eland, Kudu, Oryx (Gemsbok), Zebra,<br />
both Black and White Rhinoceros, Cheetah,<br />
Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger and<br />
Warthog, as well as the endemic Black-faced<br />
Impala. Birds to see in Etosha include Crimsonbreasted<br />
Shrike, Southern Pied Babbler,<br />
Rufous-eared Warbler, Red-necked Falcon, Stark’s<br />
Lark, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Spotted and<br />
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls, Pearl-spotted Owlet,<br />
African Pygmy-Falcon, Barred Wren-Warbler, Violeteared<br />
Waxbill and Shaft-tailed Whydah, among<br />
others. Our second day is spent on game drives<br />
within Etosha National Park, looking at the amazing<br />
array of birds and animals. As we are inside Etosha<br />
National Park we have the freedom to game drive<br />
and return to Okaukeujo for lunch and a siesta<br />
before going out during the late afternoon.<br />
Days 11 & 12<br />
Today we game drive our way across the park in an<br />
easterly direction to arrive at Mushara Bush Camp in<br />
the afternoon, visiting more waterholes en route.<br />
Lunch is taken at Halali Rest Camp. On arrival at<br />
Mushara we can explore the area around the camp.<br />
The next day we have a full day of exciting game<br />
viewing within the eastern section of Etosha<br />
National Park. Sandy scrub areas nearby are<br />
frequented by Rufous-naped, Fawn-coloured and<br />
Monotonous Larks, while Meyer’s Parrot may also<br />
be in this area as well as the scarce Black-faced<br />
Babbler. White-headed Vulture, Tawny Eagle,<br />
Bateleur, Gabar Goshawk and Secretarybird should<br />
also be seen. We also have a chance of seeing<br />
Leopard here, as well as perhaps Cheetah.<br />
Day 13<br />
After breakfast we make our way to the Erongo<br />
Mountains, stopping off to visit the Lake Otjikoto<br />
along the way. During the afternoon we arrive at<br />
Erongo Wilderness Lodge, located at the base of<br />
the granite formations, near the Erongo Mountains.<br />
Here we can enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and<br />
superb accommodation. We can look for Ruppell’s<br />
Parrot, White-tailed Shrike and Short-toed Rock-<br />
Thrush, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Violet Wood-hoopoe,<br />
Rockrunner and Damara Hornbill, among others.<br />
The late afternoon game drive will be a great finalé<br />
to a superb tour and on our return for dinner<br />
Freckled Nightjars should be calling.<br />
Days 14 & 15<br />
In the early morning we can look for Hartlaub’s<br />
Spurfowl. After breakfast we return to Windhoek<br />
Airport for our return flight to London (via Jo’burg),<br />
where we arrive next day.<br />
Accommodation<br />
Comfortable accommodation in twin/double<br />
and single rooms with private facilities has<br />
been arranged at all hotels, lodges and<br />
guesthouses.<br />
Transport<br />
By minibus<br />
Includes<br />
All flights, meals, accommodation, transport,<br />
entry fees, services of the leaders, airport<br />
taxes and tips.<br />
Gradings<br />
Good<br />
210<br />
Cool to Hot<br />
Low<br />
Special<br />
Moderate<br />
Excellent<br />
Moderate<br />
Scheduled<br />
Sociable Weavers<br />
To make a booking please call <strong>Ornitholidays</strong> on 01794 519445<br />
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