ETOSHA DASH (3 Nights/4 Days)
This short tour gives one an insight into Namibia’s renowned National Park, the Etosha. It is a 22 270 km2 park with 114 mammal species and over 350 bird species. Etosha means “Great White Place” in local Oshindonga language, referring to the 4800 km2 salt pan that covers 23% of the park’s surface area. Mammals include Black and White Rhinoceros, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, African elephant, Plains and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebras, Southern Giraffe subs. angolensis, Eland, Gemsbok, African Wild Cat, Spotted and Brown Hyeana among other animals. It is quite unique in its own way because the concentration and diversity around waterholes in the dry season is magnificent, giving one a chance to see animal dramas unfolding as they make turns to quench their thirst. For birders, this 3-day tour may yield over 200 species on your list depending on the season.
TOUR SUMMARY
Day 1 | Etosha South | Afternoon Game Drive in Etosha National Park |
Day 2 | Etosha East | Full Day Game Drive, drive through the Park |
Day 3 | Etosha East | Morning and Afternoon Game Drive |
Day 4 | Windhoek | Drive Back to Windhoek |
THE ITINERARY
Day 1- Etosha South
Your guide will pick you up either after breakfast in your accommodation in Windhoek or from the airport. You will drive to the southern side of the Etosha National Park. Depending on time of arrival, we will check in and then proceed to do the afternoon game drive in our vehicle. We will either have lunch enroute to Etosha or upon arrival at the lodge before the afternoon game drive. Besides abundance of mammals, they are good chances of seeing bird species like Southern Pied and Bare-cheeked Babblers, Sociable Weaver, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Violet-eared Waxbill, Red-headed and Cut-throat Finches, Namaqua, Double-banded and Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Pygmy and Lanner Falcons, Pink-billed, Sabota and Spike-heeled Larks among other specials.
Day 2- Etosha East
We have a full day game drive in Etosha, driving from the southern to eastern parts of the park checking game around waterholes. Being a semi-arid area, the park is mainly dependent artificial waterholes and a small number of natural contact springs. Animals tend to be more concentrated around these waterholes. The eastern side tends to have more vegetation than the southern side hence a difference in bird diversity. We will have a lunch stop somewhere in the park and continue exploring the park.
Day 3- Etosha East
We will start an early morning game drive on the eastern part of Etosha, break for lunch, swimming pool or siesta around noon. We will then go back in the park for an afternoon game drive and continue searching for wildlife. For enthusiastic birders, during the rainy season the eastern part of the park may yield, Blue Crane, Great Crested Grebe and Black-necked Grebe, various Storks, Greater and Lesser Flamingoes when they come for breeding around the salt pans, Caspian Plover, Greater Painted Snipe and other waders. Some birds seen all year round include Red-capped, Fawn-coloured, Eastern Clapper and Stark’s Larks. Grey-backed and Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks are quite common as well. Double-banded and Temminck’s Coursers, Rufous-eared Warbler, Kori Bustard, Chestnut Weaver, Violet and Green Wood-Hoopoes, Carp’s Tit, Barred Wren-Warbler are among other specials birds to Etosha. Basically, besides the big mammals there so much flora and fauna to enjoy in your 3-night stay in the Etosha National Park.
Day 4- Windhoek
After breakfast, we will then depart for Windhoek, and this marks the end of your stay. Keep in mind all our itineraries can be customized to meet your specific needs and interests.