Think about a rustic with lots of people packed right into a tiny space. Assume Singapore, Hong Kong or The Netherlands. What would paradise appear to be for these individuals – retaining in thoughts Jean-Paul Sartre’s “l’enfer, c’est les autres“? Since “hell is different individuals“, paradise ought to be by definition “only a few individuals or none in any respect“. Welcome to Namibia – paradise for birders, loners and introverts. It’s a very empty nation therefore this specific Dutchman believes it’s heaven on earth.
Web claims a minimum of one endemic species and a complete species record of 688. Any cheap birder would be capable of see a minimum of 300 chook species in a single journey. Only one tiny problem – in contrast to Hong Kong, Singapore or The Netherlands – Namibia is huge. To see all of it, you have to weeks and weeks and drive hundreds of kilometers. I’ve been 3 times with my nation record (thanks, eBird) now standing at 253 species – each journey yielding a minimum of 150 species. These journeys all have been with household in tow, a deal with bushy animals and at a non-birder tempo.
Assuming you’ll spend a minimum of two weeks and ideally extra, let’s take a look at some doable spherical journeys. On my final journey in 2022, I had my whole household with me. My grandson was renamed Dexter of Damaraland as his native reputation most likely might have gotten him elected. Hey, stranger issues occur. Conserving each day journey restricted to not more than 300 km, we did a 2,000 km loop in 16 days. This being my third journey to the nation I had made a want record of solely 16 species I “wanted”. I noticed most of them and added Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Rufous-cheeked Nightjar, Stark’s Lark, Pink-billed Lark and Damara Tern to my life record. We additionally noticed a Brown Hyena attempting to steal a freshly killed Gemsbok from a really massive male Leopard, however there weren’t any birds on the scene, so I received’t bore you with the small print. The route took us from the airport in Windhoek via the Otjozondjupa area to our first cease: Okonjima Nature Reserve. Our second cease was on the jap facet of Etosha Nationwide Park at Onguma, then on the western facet in Okaukuejo. From there southwest to the coast and Swakopmund. We ended the journey in Sossusvlei and flew dwelling after a one-night keep in Windhoek to rinse the desert mud from our garments. This may have been a wonderful introduction to the nation (because it was for many of my household).
The primary journey, again in 2010, was simply my spouse and I. We drove a minimum of 10,000 kilometers in three weeks. The bridge at Kazungula solely existed on drawings, a lot of the roads weren’t but closed with tarmac, Zambian lorries have been absent and vacationers have been scarce. The main target was to see as lots of the Namibian specials whereas touring north via Etosha Nationwide Park and into the Caprivi Strip, and onwards to Zambia. We noticed a complete of 80 lifers, with stonkers like Damara Hornbill, Rockrunner, Rüppell’s Parrot, Meyer’s Parrot, Carp’s Tit, Violet Woodhoopoe, Souza’s Shrike and a full set of Okavango specials with Better Swamp Warbler and Lengthy-toed Lapwing as my favourites. What occurred once I was watching the wader could be learn right here.
Desert specials have been left for our second journey, six very lengthy years later after we noticed Dune Lark, Grey’s Lark, Herero Chat, and Rüppell’s Bustard. This journey received us so far as the Kunene River (Angola Cave Chat!) with sufficient journey to warrant a separate publish.
