Angola, Namibia and Botswana
14 nights or more
Angolan Highlands — Source of the Cuito & Cubango Rivers
Where to stay: Mobile camping
Habitat: Miombo woodland, seasonally flooded grasslands, papyrus-lined river springs
Birding Highlights
- Endemic & near-endemic miombo specialists:
- Miombo Pied Barbet, Rufous-bellied Tit, Böhm’s Flycatcher, Anchieta’s Sunbird, Miombo Scrub Robin
- River-source specialties:
- Black-faced Canary, Bocage’s Akalat, Red-throated Twinspot, Fülleborn’s Longclaw
- Raptors riding thermals over the escarpment:
- Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Bat Hawk, African Hawk-Eagle
- Wetland-associated birds in the headwaters:
- White-backed Duck, African Rail, White-headed Lapwing
Activities
- Walks along the Cuando & Cubango channels
- Mist-belt forest edge birding at sunrise
- Evening fireside sessions
- Morning and late-afternoon river cruises and floodplain drives
- Battlefield visit with historical overview & open-country birding
- Spotlighting for Pennant-winged Nightjar (seasonal)
- Optional night walks for African Wood Owl and Pel’s Flying Fox sightings
Luenga-Luiana National Park
Where to stay: Mobile camping along the Cuando (Kwando) River
Habitat: Mixed woodland, lush riverine forest, flood meadows, pans
Birding Highlights
- Southern Carmine Bee-eater colonies (season-dependent)
- African Skimmer, Rock Pratincole, Western Banded Snake Eagle
- Riverine specialists: Trumpeter Hornbill, African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron
- Wooded savanna species: Sharp-tailed Starling, Racket-tailed Roller, Meyer’s Parrot
- On the battlefields’ open plains: Temminck’s Courser, various Cisticolas, Montagu’s Harrier (in season)
Activities
- Walks along the Cuando channels
- Birding at sunrise
- Evening fireside sessions
- Morning and late afternoon drives
Namibia — Nkasa Rupara National Park
Where to stay: Nkasa Lupala or Jackalberry Camp
Birding Highlights
- Wetland specialties: Slaty Egret, African Pygmy Goose, Lesser Jacana, Coppery-tailed Coucal
- Rarities of the region: Rosy-throated Longclaw, Allen’s Gallinule (seasonal)
- Linyanti woodland species: Banded Parisoma, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Brown Firefinch
- Raptors along the channels: Long-crested Eagle, Shikra, Lanner Falcon
Activities
- Boat-based birding through labyrinthine channels
- Drives on floodplains with high waterbird densities
- Twilight excursions for Pel’s Fishing Owl and night herons
Botswana — Okavango Delta
Fly from Kasane into the Delta
Where to stay: Delta camp (water- and land-based experiences)
Habitat: Papyrus swamps, permanent lagoons, mopane woodland, floodplains
Birding Highlights
- Delta icons: Pel’s Fishing Owl, Slaty Egret, White-backed Night Heron, African Fish Eagle
- Reed & swamp species: Luapula Cisticola, Swamp Boubou, Greater Swamp Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher
- Floodplain waders & herons: Saddle-billed Stork, African Openbill, Goliath Heron
- Woodland birds: Brown-crowned Tchagra, Arnot’s Chat, Crimson-breasted Shrike
Activities
- Mokoro excursions for low-angle waterbird photography
- Motorboat outings through hippo channels
- Walking safaris focused on woodland species
- Optional night drives
Botswana — Makgadikgadi and Boteti River
Where to stay: Boteti River Lodge, Nxai Pan Camp, Nxai South Camp, Kaudia Camp Pan, Thamo Telele, Meno-a-Kwena, Jack’s Camp, Planet Baobab, Nata Lodge, Crocodile Camp, Sitatunga Camp
Habitat: Boteti River, thorn scrub, arid grasslands, salt pan edges
Birding Highlights
- Desert-edge and Kalahari species:
- Kori Bustard, Northern Black Korhaan, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Capped Wheatear, Sociable Weaver
- Raptors over the Boteti escarpment: Martial Eagle, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Secretary bird
- Water-associated species attracted to the Boteti: Yellow-billed Stork, African Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilt
- Pan-fringe specialties: Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Caspian Plover (in season), Crowned Lapwing
Activities
- Drives along the Boteti River for wetland–desert transition birding
- Excursions to the Makgadikgadi Pans (seasonally: flocks of flamingos)
- Walks with Zu/’hoansi trackers (cultural & ecological focus)
- Sunset viewing over the pans where the waters finally vanish
Angola
Botswana
Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe