Namibia

Etosha & the Skeleton Coast

9 October to 25 October 2010

Leaders: Leon Marais and Simon Boyes

Maximum of 11 clients (two leaders with more than six clients).

Cost: £4,799 single room supplement £300

Namibia is a country of contrasts straddled between two deserts - the Namib Desert along its coastline, and the Kalahari in the eastern interior. It is a wild arid country offering superb birding and a whole host of Southern African endemics, many of which can be found relatively easily in Namibia, but nowhere else in Africa. Included amongst these are exciting species such as Damara and Monteiro's Hornbills, Herero Chat, White-tailed Shrike, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Ruppell's Parrot and many more. There are over 100 Southern African endemics in the country. There is a wide diversity of habitats and some spectacular scenery, ranging from the Namib Desert, isolated inselbergs and mountainous escarpments to open desert plains, woodland savanna and the flat expanse of the enormous Etosha Pan. There is also the Atlantic coastline and shallow tidal lagoons which attract vast numbers of waders, Greater and Lesser Flamingos and Great White Pelican. The tour includes areas with good mammal populations as well. We will look for Elephant, Black Rhinocerous, Lions, Giraffe and antelope such as Oryx, Black-faced Impala, Damara Dikdik and other dry region specialists. Close encounters with many of these mammals should provide some exciting moments.