Namibia, Botswana and Zambia: Aug 08—24, 2009

Pel's Fishing-Owl — Photo: Geoff Lockwood

A taste of Africa in three countries! A spectacular tour with superb game- and bird-viewing in some of Africa's special wild places—from the vastness of Etosha to the beautiful waterways of the Okavango, from the game-rich woodlands of Moremi to the mighty Victoria Falls, there is something for everyone!

Little-known, but among the last great wildlife strongholds on earth, Namibia and Botswana offer fabulous game-watching, a host of special birds, and abundant photographic opportunities. We stay at camps and lodges within prime wildlife habitat, traveling between them in small aircraft.

In Etosha National Park, each waterhole attracts an endless parade of creatures great and small. Much of our time will be spent at these spots, alert and ready for the next arrival: lion, zebra, springbok, and greater kudu, among many others. Elephants are common, visits from black rhinos and cheetahs still occur, and the bird life includes such species as Secretary-bird, Martial Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Blue Crane, Black Korhaan, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Pied and Bare-cheeked babblers, and Crimson-breasted Boubou, plus many endemics.

Shakawe, in far northwestern Botswana, finds us in one of the world's most pristine swamps, the Okavango River Delta. Our visit coincides with the receding of the annual flood as birds concentrate in the drying marshes and arrive to nest on the newly exposed sandbanks. Almost all of the African waterbirds can be seen here, including scarce ones like the Black Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, Pygmy Goose, and Wattled Crane. The evergreen groves in camp attract hordes of fruit-eating birds, while colorful bee-eaters and kingfishers nest in the banks. The wild yelp of the fish-eagle is our daily alarm clock; by night, we will search for the incredible Pel's Fishing-Owl.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience southern Africa as it was 50 years ago with its great mammal herds still intact, as well as an impressive variety of bird life.

Moderate to excellent accommodations; travel by small plane charters and game-viewing vehicles; limited walking; cool to cold mornings and evenings but beautifully mild-to-warm daytime temperatures.