Namibia: 2009


Click on the small picture to see a larger, more detailed version. I toured Namibia in September 2009. Most of the photos were taken with a new Canon SLR camera (T1i, 15 Mpixels) with a new 100-400mm zoom lens, but I also use a Nikon point-and-shoot for both scenery and digiscoping. Some of the pictures are degraded by having been taken through vehicle windows and/or by being taken in low light when the camera switches into a noisy, high-speed mode. In all, I took 3300 pictures, using nearly 24 Gbytes of camera memory. Many of the pictures are very good and it is painful to reduce the numbers down even to the substantial number shown here.

I also visited Namibia in 2012 in the wet season.

The larger pictures are in many cases larger than can be seen on the usual computer screen. Some viewers (e.g., Firefox) will show the picture sized to fit the screen and offer a button to display at the full resolution. When so displayed, scroll bars or other means are needed to roam around the picture. Note that I have cropped almost all pictures displayed here - this new camera has a lot of pixels!

The trip was very enjoyable and was led by the Josele Saiz (Boletas Birdwatching Centre, Loporzano Spain, www.boletas.org) with an excellent local guide Charly Rhyn. Assisting them was Jan Hansen (dba Otus Asio Tours otusasiotours@bellsouth.net). Jan leads a variety of trips, all of which I would recommend. Jan has purchased a camera for digi-scoping and got a number of wonderful pictures.

Windhoek area

[Laughing Dove] [Fork-tailed Drongo] [African Pipit] [Lilac-breasted Roller] [Scaly-feathered Finch]

Laughing Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Pipit, Lilac-breasted Roller,
Scaly-feathered Finch, Windhoek Airport, September 2, 2009

[Southern Masked Weaver] [Black-faced Waxbill] [Cape Teal] [Red-billed Teal] [Comb Duck] [Great White Pelican] [White-breasted Cormorant]

Southern Masked Weaver, Black-faced Waxbill, Cape Teal, Red-billed Teal,
Comb Duck, Great White Pelican, White-breasted Cormorant,
Gammas Sewage Farm, Windhoek, September 2, 2009

[Yellow-bellied Ereomomela] [Pearl-spotted Owlet] [Hartman's Mountain Zebra] [Blue Wildebeast] [Swallow-tailed Bee-eater] [Dusky Sunbird] [White-browed Sparrow-Weaver]

Yellow-bellied Ereomomela, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Hartman's Mountain Zebra,
Blue Wildebeast at Daan Viljoen Game Park,
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Dusky Sunbird, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver at Avis Dam,
near Windhoek, September 3, 2009

[White-backed Mousebird] [African Fish-Eagle] [Green-winged Pytilia] [Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk]

White-backed Mousebird at Windhoek hotel,
African Fish-Eagle, Green-winged Pytilia, Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk,
along route north of Windhoek, September 4, 2009

Erindi Game Park

[Crocodile] [Hippopotamus] [Common Warthog] [Three-striped Mouse]

Crocodile, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Three-striped Mouse,
at Lodge, September 4, 2009

[Yellow-billed Hornbill] [Southern Grey-headed Sparrow] [Marabou Stork] [Lion] [Lion]

Yellow-billed Hornbill, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Marabou Stork, at Lodge
Lions on afternoon safari, September 4, 2009

[Tawny Eagle] [Crowned Lapwing] [African Spoonbill] [Giraffe] [Common Warthog]

Tawny Eagle, Crowned Lapwing, African Spoonbill with Egyptian Goose,
Giraffe with Blue Wildebeast, Common Warthog,
on morning safari, September 5, 2009

[Slender Mongoose] [Slender Mongoose] [Red-crested Korhaan] [Jan] [Charly & Josele]

Slender Mongoose, Red-crested Korhaan, Jan, Charly (left) with Josele,
on morning safari, September 5, 2009

[Blacksmith Lapwing] [White-backed Vulture] [White-backed Vulture] [Black-headed Heron] [Three-banded Plover]

Blacksmith Lapwing, White-backed Vulture, Black-headed Heron,
Three-banded Plover at Lodge, September 5, 2009

[Eland] [Grey Go-Away-Bird] [Acacia Pied Barbet] [Acacia Pied Barbet] [Wild Dog]

Eland, Grey Go-Away-Bird, Acacia Pied Barbet, Wild Dog,
at Lodge, September 5, 2009

[Lion] [Pygmy Falcon] [Rosy-faced Lovebird] [Helmeted Guineafowl]

Lion, Pygmy Falcon, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Helmeted Guineafowl,
afternoon safari, September 5, 2009

[Red-billed Francolin] [Little Grebe] [White-faced Duck]

Red-billed Francolin at Lodge, Little Grebe, White-faced Duck
with Egyptian Goose at sewage works on road north, September 6, 2009

Etosha National Park

[Springbuck] [Fiscal Shrike] [Spotted Hyena]

Springbuck, Fiscal Shrike, Spotted Hyena,
in western (near Okaukuijo Camp) area, September 6, 2009

[Common Ostrich] [Northern Black Korhaan] [Kori Bustard] [Gabar Goshawk] [Martial Eagle] [African Red-eyed Bulbul]

Common Ostrich, Northern Black Korhaan, Kori Bustard, Gabar Goshawk (black phase),
Martial Eagle, African Red-eyed Bulbul, in western area, September 7, 2009

[Spike-heeled Lark] [Sabota Lark] [Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark] [Double-banded Courser] [Double-banded Courser] [Namaqua Dove]

Spike-heeled Lark, Sabota Lark, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark,
Double-banded Courser, Namaqua Dove, in western area, September 7, 2009

[Springbuck] [Common Zebra] [Common Zebra] [Black-faced Impala] [Black-faced Impala] [Greater Kudu]

Springbuck, Common Zebra (Burchell's), Black-faced Impala, Greater Kudu,
in western area, September 7, 2009

[Sociable Weaver] [Pied Crow] [Crimson-breasted Shrike] [Cape Glossy Starling]

Sociable Weaver, Pied Crow, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cape Glossy Starling,
Okaukuijo Camp, September 7, 2009

[Namaqua Sandgrouse] [Burchell's Courser] [Spotted Thick-knee] [Lion] [Lion] [South African Ground Squirrel]

Namaqua Sandgrouse, Burchell's Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Lions,
South African Ground Squirrel, in western area, September 7, 2009

[Giraffe] [Giraffe] [Yellow Mongoose] [Yellow Mongoose] [Yellow Mongoose]

Giraffe, Yellow Mongoose, in western area, September 7, 2009

[Crimson-breasted Shrike] [Cape Glossy Starling] [African Red-eyed Bulbul] [African Hoopoe] [Cardinal Woodpecker]

Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cape Glossy Starling, African Red-eyed Bulbul, African Hoopoe,
Cardinal Woodpecker, Okaukuijo Camp, September 8, 2009

[Southern Oryx (Gemsbok)] [Common Zebra] [Blue Wildebeast] [Black-backed Jackal]

Southern Oryx (Gemsbok), Common Zebra (Burchell's), Blue Wildebeast (Gnu), Black-backed Jackal,
Okaukuijo Camp, September 8, 2009

[Chat Flycacher] [White-crowned Shrike] [Lion] [African Scops Owl] [Lappet-faced Vulture] [Purple Roller]

Chat Flycacher, White-crowned Shrike, Lion (after missed kill), African Scops Owl (at Hilali Camp),
Lappet-faced Vulture, Purple Roller, Okaukuijo to Namutoni Camps, September 8, 2009

[African Elephant] [African Elephant] [African Elephant] [African Elephant] [African Elephant]

African Elephants (right-most by Nolan Pope as matriarch checks us out)
Okaukuijo to Namutoni Camps (western to eastern sides), September 8, 2009

[Painted Snipe] [Red-necked Falcon] [Blue Waxbill] [Blue Waxbill] [Banded Mongoose]

Painted Snipe, Red-necked Falcon, Blue Waxbill, Banded Mongoose,
Namutoni Camp, September 9, 2009

[Desert Cisticola] [Secretarybird] [Tawny Eagle] [Lilac-breasted Roller] [Red-billed Quelea]

Desert Cisticola, Secretarybird, Tawny Eagle, Lilac-breasted Roller,
Red-billed Quelea (with Southern Grey-headed and Great Sparrows, Red-headed Finch),
eastern side (near Namutoni Camp), September 9, 2009

[Greater Kudu] [Greater Kudu] [Southern Oryx (Gemsbok)] [Giraffe] [Giraffe] [Giraffe]

Greater Kudu, Southern Oryx (Gemsbok), Giraffe,
eastern side (near Namutoni Camp), September 9, 2009

[Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk] [White-crested Helmet Shrike] [White-backed Vulture] [Damara Dikdik]

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, White-crested Helmet Shrike (at Mushara Lodge),
White-backed Vulture, Damara Dikdik, eastern side (near Namutoni Camp), September 9, 2009

Caprivi Strip

[Green-winged Pytilia] [Pearl-spotted Owlet]

Green-winged Pytilia, Pearl-spotted Owlet, approaching Rundu, September 10, 2009

[White-browed Robin-Chat] [Hartlaub's Babler] [Little Bee-eater] [Black Crake] [Kurrichane Thrush] [Yellow-bellied Greenbul]

White-browed Robin-Chat, Hartlaub's Babler, Little Bee-eater, Black Crake,
Kurrichane Thrush, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Nkwazi Lodge, Rundu, September 11, 2009

[Jan] [Family compound] [Yellow-billed Oxpecker]

Jan with local children at their family compound, Red- and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers,
road from Nunda Lodge to Mahango Game park, September 12, 2009

[Sable Antelope] [Common Warthog] [Common Warthog] [Common Impala] [Lechwe] [Lechwe]

Sable Antelope, Common Warthog (with Red-billed Oxpeckers), Common Impala,
Lechwe, Mahango Game Park (south side) , September 12, 2009

[Jan] [Crimson-breasted Shrike] [Double-banded Sandgrouse] [Hippopotamus] [Carmine Bee-eater] [Red-crested Korhaan]

Jan, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Hippopotamus, Carmine Bee-eater,
Red-crested Korhaan, Mahango Game Park (south side) , September 12, 2009

[Common Bulbul] [Black Tit] [Vervet Monkey] [Vervet Monkey] [Tsessebe] [African Elephant]

Common Bulbul at Nunda Lodge, Black Tit, Vervet Monkey, Tsessebe, African Elephant,,
Mahango Game Park (south side) , September 12, 2009

[Grey-backed Cameroptera] [Swamp Boubou] [Meeve's Starling] [Meeve's Starling] [White-browed Scrub Robin] [Marico Sunbird]

Grey-backed Cameroptera, Swamp Boubou, Meeve's Starling, White-browed Scrub Robin,
Marico Sunbird, Nunda Lodge, September 13, 2009

[Saddle-billed Stork] [Open-billed Stork] [Goliath Heron] [African Harrier-Hawk] [Sacred Ibis]

Saddle-billed Stork, Open-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, African Harrier-Hawk, Sacred Ibis,
Mahango Game Park (north side) , September 13, 2009

[African Jacana] [Senegal Coucal] [White-faced Duck] [Spur-winged Goose]

African Jacana, Senegal Coucal, White-faced Duck with Spur-winged Goose,
Mahango Game Park (north side) , September 13, 2009

[Giant Kingfisher] [Pied Kingfisher] [Pied Kingfisher] [Malachite Kingfisher] [Malachite Kingfisher] [Rock Pratincole]

Giant, Pied, and Malachite Kingfishers, Rock Pratincole,
river trip from Nunda Lodge, September 13, 2009

[Crocodile] [Water Thick-knee] [Red-eyed Dove] [Coppery-tailed Coucal] [Hippopotamus] [Hippopotamus]

Crocodile, Water Thick-knee, Red-eyed Dove, Coppery-tailed Coucal,
Hippopotamus, river trip from Nunda Lodge, September 13, 2009

Waterberg National Park

[Waterberg Plateau] [Groundscraper Thrush] [Laughing Dove] [Damara Dikdik] [Damara Dikdik] [Damara Dikdik]

Waterberg Plateau, Groundscraper Thrush, Laughing Dove, Damara Dikdik,
Waterberg National Park, September 14, 2009

[Hartlaub's Francolin] [Hartlaub's Francolin] [Rockrunner] [Purple Roller] [Lesser Striped Swallow]

Hartlaub's Francolin, Rockrunner, Purple Roller, Lesser Striped Swallow,
Waterberg National Park, September 15, 2009

[Chacma Baboon] [South African Ground Squirrel] [South African Ground Squirrel] [Swallow-tailed Bee-eater] [Ruppel's Parrot] [Ruppel's Parrot]

Chacma Baboon, South African Ground Squirrel, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater,
Ruppel's Parrot, Waterberg National Park, September 15, 2009

[White-browed Scrub Robin] [Grey-backed Cameroptera] [Banded Mongoose] [Banded Mongoose] [African Grey Hornbill]

White-browed Scrub Robin, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Banded Mongoose, September 15, 2009;
African Grey Hornbill, September 16, 2009

[Roan Antelope] [Roan Antelope] [Sable Antelope] [Buffalo] [Buffalo]

Roan and Sable Antelope, Buffalo, on top of Waterberg Plateau, September 15, 2009

Eric W. Greisen
egreisen@nrao.edu