Observer les oiseaux en Namibie

From desert dunes to flamingos in the ocean, Namibia is an interesting and unusual country in which to bird, an example of unspoilt nature. It is a country of extremes, with some of the tallest sand dunes in the World, and with an avifauna going from penguins to flamingos.
Namibia, with its wide variety of habitats, ranging from extreme desert to thorntree savanna to subtropical riverine and swamp habitats, understandably has a lot to offer in the way of birds, and, with a well developed network of roads, most of the region is easily accessible.
Among the 680 bird species of birds one can find in Namibia, nearly 100 species are endemic. With a well-planned itinerary, one can see many, if not most, of these birds in a relatively short time, as well as an impressive number of other African animal and bird specialities.
Namibia is the first country in the world to include within its constitution the protection of the environment and sustainable utilization of wildlife. As evidence of this unique conservation, about 15% of the democratic country is national parks.
In this article, we introduce you the main birding areas of the country, including naturally the world-famous Etosha National park. And we publish a detailed report of a birding trip guided by Valéry Schollaert (Le Voyage d’Ornithologie) in February 2003.
The photos are presented with the courtesy of Edouard Tesnière, Yvonnic Lhomer (www.ypix.org) and Bruno Tredez (Bruno.tredez.com).