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Travel Africa Magazine

ISSUE 87


July/Sept 2019

Why Botswana?
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    Tanzania's tree climbing lions

    Tanzania’s northern safari circuit

    What is it really like to climb Dune 45 at Sossusvlei?

    What is it really like to climb Dune 45 at Sossusvlei?

    Into Mana Pools with John Stevens

    Into Mana Pools with John Stevens

    Elephants in Garamba National Park. Picture credit African Parks

    Dogged work in Garamba

    50 Reasons to visit KwaZulu-Natal

    50 Reasons to visit KwaZulu-Natal

    South Africa think different

    South Africa think different

    Lower Zambezi Valley

    Lower Zambezi Valley

    Dream catchers

    Dream catchers

    High-octane Uganda

    High-octane Uganda

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      Vintage art posters

      A rare vintage: capturing the essence of Africa

      Sketch for survival 2019

      Sketch for survival 2019

      Book reviews

      Book reviews

      CEO, African Albida Tourism, Ross Kennedy

      CEO, African Albida Tourism, Ross Kennedy

      Southern boy

      Southern boy

      “Potential is all you need”

      “Potential is all you need”

      8 essential Johnny Clegg songs

      8 essential Johnny Clegg songs

      “Don’t panic, everything will be okay”

      “Don’t panic, everything will be okay”

      Leading conservationists shortlisted

      Leading conservationists shortlisted

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        Tanzania's tree climbing lions

        Tanzania’s northern safari circuit

        What is it really like to climb Dune 45 at Sossusvlei?

        What is it really like to climb Dune 45 at Sossusvlei?

        Into Mana Pools with John Stevens

        Into Mana Pools with John Stevens

        Elephants in Garamba National Park. Picture credit African Parks

        Dogged work in Garamba

        50 Reasons to visit KwaZulu-Natal

        50 Reasons to visit KwaZulu-Natal

        South Africa think different

        South Africa think different

        Lower Zambezi Valley

        Lower Zambezi Valley

        Dream catchers

        Dream catchers

        High-octane Uganda

        High-octane Uganda

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          Vintage art posters

          A rare vintage: capturing the essence of Africa

          Sketch for survival 2019

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          Book reviews

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          CEO, African Albida Tourism, Ross Kennedy

          CEO, African Albida Tourism, Ross Kennedy

          Southern boy

          Southern boy

          “Potential is all you need”

          “Potential is all you need”

          8 essential Johnny Clegg songs

          8 essential Johnny Clegg songs

          “Don’t panic, everything will be okay”

          “Don’t panic, everything will be okay”

          Leading conservationists shortlisted

          Leading conservationists shortlisted

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          Birding hotspots in Namibia: in and around Windhoek

          Travel Africa by Travel Africa
          February 20, 2019
          0
          Birding hotspots in Namibia: in and around Windhoek

          Some people find it strange that I love my hometown of Windhoek so much. They say it is dry and drab, but I see it completely differently.

          It sits at 1700 metres above sea level (12th highest capital in the world) in the Khomas Highland plateau area between the Auas and Eros mountain ranges. It is home to about 400,000 people at a low density of only 63 per square kilometre and has over 300 sunny days per year.

          It is also very rich in avifauna, with over 300 species possible in and around Windhoek, many of them near-endemics of Namibia. So, if, like me, you are a keen birder, there are several key areas to visit to maximise your bird count here.

          The Daan Viljoen Game Park on the western side of the city provides excellent dry-country birding and could yield Monteiro’s Hornbill, Rockrunner, Carp’s Tit, Short-toed Rock-Thrush, Orange River Francolin and Barred Wren-Warbler. The park also hosts gemsbok, eland, greater kudu, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, giraffe and other antelope.

          East of the city is Avis Dam, a spot that should see you add Shaft-tailed Whydah, Violet-eared Waxbill, Rock Kestrel, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Desert Cisticola to your list. If there is water in the dam you could also see South African Shelduck, Red-billed Teal or other waders and warblers.

          The sewage works in the city is, as always, a productive, if somewhat strange, spot to visit. Only a birder would understand! Here you should see Maccoa Duck, Purple Heron, Common Moorhen or even Black-necked Grebe and Baillon’s Crake, if you are lucky.

          Another must-visit spot is the area around the strange ‘ice cream cone’ structure on the hill in the city centre. You can’t miss it! This is a good spot for White-tailed Shrike, Pririt Batis, Rosy-faced Lovebird (pictured above) and Chestnut Weaver.

          So you see, even in a supposedly dry and drab place like Windhoek, there is plenty of birding excitement to be had. That is why I love the city so much and am proud to call it home.

          With training in guiding and veterinary science, Nick Buys’ work in the field and passion for birds resulted in him setting up Nature Travel Namibia, through which he guides specialist trips around the country as well as the rest of Africa, www.naturetravelnamibia.com

          To see the pics below in full size, click on one of them and scroll through…

           

          1 of 10
          - +

          1. Monteiro's Hornbill

          2. Red-headed Finch

          3. Rockrunner

          4. Violet-eared Waxbill

          5. Avis Dam

          6. Avis Dam

          7. Sewage works

          8. Windhoek

          9. Windhoek

          10. Nick Buys

          Tags: Birding in Namibia
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