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Namibia & Botswana - Bird Photography Tour (Small Group)

© African Elephant by Keith Valentine
Namibia & Botswana - Bird Photography Tour (Small Group) 2025

25 Sep 2025 - 11 Oct 2025 (17 days)

ZAR148,950 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

Tour price (Per person): ZAR148,950 * USD8,022 * GBP6,401 * EUR7,712 * AUD12,863

Single Supplement: ZAR14,500 * USD781 * GBP623 * EUR751 * AUD1,252

Namibia & Botswana - Bird Photography Tour (Small Group) 2026

24 Sep 2026 - 10 Oct 2026 (17 days)

ZAR154,900 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Ryan Tyrer

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): ZAR154,900 * USD8,343 * GBP6,657 * EUR8,020 * AUD13,377

From the lily-choked backwaters of the Okavango Panhandle, the flamingo-studded lagoons of Walvis Bay to the game-filled waterholes of Etosha and the breath-taking Victoria Falls, this tour provides one of the most thrilling photo tours imaginable, with incredible contrasts and an eco-tourism experience like no other!

This exciting overland safari is a birding and wildlife extravaganza, visiting some of the major highlights of three of Africa’s most remarkable countries, all offering vast areas of pristine wilderness. Birdlife abounds and we search for an impressive array of localized, as well as more widespread African species such as the sought-after Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane, Ludwig’s Bustard, Rüppell’s Korhaan, Secretarybird, Pel’s Fishing Owl (one of ten possible owls!), Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, the huge Coppery-tailed Coucal, Rüppell’s Parrot, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Rockrunner, Violet Wood Hoopoe, Bare-cheeked and Black-faced Babblers, Rosy-faced Lovebird, White-tailed Shrike, Herero Chat, Dune and Gray’s Larks, Violet-eared Waxbill – and so much more besides. What's more, we have time to observe and photograph mammals, large and small, ranging from elephant shrews to African Elephant, Fur Seals to Hippopotamus, as well as an exciting range of charismatic African big game including White and Black Rhinoceros, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Oryx, and African Buffalo.

The spectacular and dramatic scenery, quality mammal viewing, and exceptional birding provides for unmatched photo opportunities making this a photographic adventure not to be missed!

Highlights

  • Exploring Etosha National Park. Starkly scenic and holding a vast array of big game and dry country birds. One of Africa’s most famous protected areas.
  • Visting Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
  • Spending time on the water in small, motorised boats exploring the channels and backwaters of the magnificent Okavango Panhandle
  • Seeing and photographing many of Namibia’s endemic and near-endemic birds including Dune Lark, Rockrunner, Bare-cheeked Babbler, White-tailed Shrike, Ruppell’s Parrot, Violet Wood Hoopoe, Carp’s Tit, Ruppell’s Korhaan, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, and Herero Chat
  • Enjoy opportunities to photograph many iconic species of mammals such as Lion, African Elephant, White and Black Rhinoceros, Oryx, Giraffe, and even Cheetah and Leopard in completely different surroundings to East or South Africa in Etosha.
  • Experience the sheer expanse of the Namib Desert and see one of the oldest living plants on Earth, the famous Welwitschia


Top Birds

Ludwig’s & Kori Bustards; Rüppell’s & Northern Black Korhaans; Secretarybird; Pel’s Fishing Owl; Hartlaub’s & Red-billed Spurfowls; Rüppell’s Parrot; Monteiro’s, Damara Red-billed & Bradfield's Hornbills; Rockrunner; Violet Wood Hoopoe; Bare-cheeked, Southern Pied & Black-faced Babblers; Rosy-faced Lovebird; White-tailed Shrike; Herero Chat; chances for Shelley’s & Copper Sunbirds; Dune & Gray's Larks; African Skimmer(seasonal); Slaty Egret; Wattled Crane; Rock Pratincole (seasonal); Chestnut-banded Plover; Damara Tern; Cape, Bank & Crowned Cormorants; Burchell's & Double-banded Coursers; African Oystercatcher; Bradfield's Swift; Bokmakierie; Rufous-eared Warbler; South African Shelduck; Orange River White-eye; Dusky Sunbird; Cape Vulture; thousands of Lesser & Greater Flamingos.

Top Mammals

The “Big Five” (Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, Black and White Rhinoceroses, African Buffalo); Cheetah; Hartmann’s sub-species of Mountain Zebra; Plains Zebra; Common Warthog; Giraffe; Roan & Sable Antelope; Red Lechwe; Topi; Common Eland; Springbok; Meerkat; Honey Badger; Dassie Rat; Spotted-necked Otter; South African & Damara Ground Squirrels; African Wild Cat; Central African Large-spotted Genet.

Habitats Covered

Coastal estuaries, broad-leaved woodland, riverine forest, floodplains, grass plains, papyrus swamps, mountains, gravel and sandy deserts

Expected Climate

Temperatures are variable. Autumn/Winter (May to August) - can be warm during the day (reaching as much as 31°C / 88°F in the Caprivi). At night and in the early mornings it can, however, be very cold (as low as 5°C / 41°F in the central highlands of Namibia). Spring/Summer (September to April) - can be very high at this time of year, (reaching as much as 40°C / 104°F in the Caprivi).

Max Group Size

6 & 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Suitable for all birding / wildlife interest levels and mobility capabilities. Can be tiring due to long drives, climatic conditions. Our Bird Photo Tours are a hybrid between our Classic birding tours and dedicated photographic tours. You don’t have to be a professional photographer or have the biggest lens; this is for everyone with an interest in photography and birding. Whether you’re using a bridge camera or the latest body and prime lens, our aims are the same. • These tours are not aimed at seeing the most species possible on the route, rather taking time to photograph key targets and any other interesting species we may find. Naturally, the overall species list will be lower than a comparable birding focused tour. • Whilst we may use blinds, feeders and hide setups on some of these tours, we will not be spending an entire day nor even several hours fixed in one spot. • These tours are suitable for photographers who prefer opportunistic photography over entire days in a hide. • Our leaders will assist in helping everyone secure good photographic opportunities and advise as much as they can on camera setup. However, they are not professional photographic tour leaders.

Accommodation

Comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Undemanding. Most key species offer good visuals in open conditions. Birding is from roadside, forest edge & open habitats.

Photographic Opportunities

Good to excellent.

What our clients say about us

Gregory de Klerk
MM & EM, Namibia

Greg is an excellent guide with great people skills. We appreciated him very much.

Heinz Ortmann
LG - Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe

This was my first birding tour, and what a great introduction it was. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The birding, wildlife viewing and accomodation were excellent and the vehicle very comfortable. Our tour leader, Heinz, was knowledgable, enthusiastic and managed all the logistics very well. Heinz ensured all members of the group (with their differing birding abilities) enjoyed good birding. This trip exceeded my expections. Thanks for providing such a great experience!

André Bernon
SC, Namibia

Andre Bernon was a great leader, with great vision and bird finding skills. He also had excellent people skills, both with the participants and the various third parties that we dealt with. He maintained good humour and an even disposition throughout.

Julian Parsons
LH - NBZ 2022

The best part of the tour was our guide, Julian Parsons. He was extremely knowledgeable about the birds, mammals, and plants and trees. He also was very personable and inclusive, making sure everyone was able to see the wildlife. I would go on other tours he plans if they fit my schedule. So, definitely, do what is needed to keep him on your staff.

Julian Parsons
EL - Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe 2022

Julian Parsons is an exceptional bird and nature guide in many respects - you can be proud to have him on your team. I couldn’t ask for more in a birding and total naturalist guide. His organization, attention to details, interest in the participants were all top notch. All those things that make a birding trip successful Julian attended to with energy, and enthusiasm. He was an excellent driver and put safety as #1. The amount of driving on this tour it would have been nice to have a driver and a guide. It’s one thing to know the birds, wildlife, plants, trees, etc. It's quite another to teach and explain the species to others. Julian is an exceptional teacher. He was always keen to go the extra step to provide the details and the understandings of the species, i.e. its behaviors, how it feeds, migration information, and on and on. Julian’s knowledge of the natural world is encyclopedic. Like all good teachers you never felt any question was too small or too trivial to ask - it’s a gift to be able to put the participants at ease so they feel comfortable to ask questions. There are many positive adjectives I could use to describe Julian as a person and as a professional bird/nature guide - the list is long. At the top is his character and kindness - it seems to be part of his being. I was grateful to have Julian as my guide - I hope I was a fraction as good as a participant.

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