Situated along Africa's mostinhospitable coastline, Namibia is awild and spectacular country of desertlandscapes and deep blue skies. The nameNamib is a Hottentot word meaning 'greatplains', epitomised by the magnificentEtosha Pan, whose amazing wildlifespectacles we have all seen so many timeson television. To the east of Etosha lies thegreat Kalahari Desert, whilst to the west isthe beautiful Namib Desert which stretchesalong the full length of the country'scoastline. Namibia is truly vast: three timesthe size of its colonist, Germany, yet with apopulation of less than two million! Notsurprisingly its wildlife has suffered less atthe hands of man than in most other African countries, and such endangeredspecies as the Black Rhinoceros still retain a viable toehold.Namibia's scenery is varied and full of contrasts. It is a land of towering brickred sand dunes-the tallest on earth-of deep canyons, shimmering plains, highmountains and plateaux, and endlessbushland. Along the appropriately namedSkeleton Coast-the grave of so manyships -the cold Benguela Current sweepsnorthward, transporting plankton-richAntarctic waters into warm subtropicalregions. It is this current that has createdthe Namib Desert, since the Benguela's lowtemperature prevents evaporation andassures an incredibly low rainfall in theregion. Yet, if the Benguela limits theland-based flora and fauna, itsnutrient-packed waters are a haven for fish,seals and seabirds.Although Namibia was colonised byGermany from 1894, and presents a German flavour and architecture in its townseven today, modern Namibia still boasts therich indigenous cultures of its tribes-theBushmen, Himbas, Hereros, Ovambos andDamara. Thus it makes a most interestingcountry through which to travel, and inwhich to enjoy unique habitats and afabulous range of mammal and birdspecies, many of which are endemic.Our holiday begins in Windhoek, Namibia'scapital, from where we will drive to theNamib Naukluft National Park for a stay oftwo nights. Here the Naukluft Mountainsand the world's highest sand dunesconspire to offer some of the finest sceneryin Africa. Amongst them we will find somewonderful walking, such drought-tolerantmammals as Hartmann's Mountain Zebra,Gemsbok and Springbok, and an excellentrange of desert birds, including BlackEagle, Ludwig's Bustard, Rosy-facedLovebird, Bokmakierie and Dune Lark.The long drive to Walvis Bay, at thesouthern end of the Skeleton Coast, is unique in its utter desolation. We will crossthe dry Kuiseb Canyon, the remarkableMoonland, and arid plains where greatflocks of Ostrich and herds of Hartmann'sMountain Zebra roam. We will spend threenights in Walvis Bay in order to fully explorethe surrounding mudflats, marshes anddeserts. The bay holds one of the highestconcentrations of waders in southern Africa,and is also home to thousands of Greaterand Lesser Flamingoes, White Pelicans,grebes, ducks, gulls, terns and, quite often,vagrant American species into the bargain!If the weather permits, we will also set out tosea for a morning to look for the excitingpelagic species that feed offshore. We willalso venture inland in search of the peculiarWelwitschia mirabilis,a remarkable desertplant that lives for as long as 2,000 years!En route to the spectacular wilderness ofDamaraland, we will stop on the SkeletonCoast to look at the Cape Cross seal colonyand in the beautiful valley of Twyfelfontein toenjoy its wealth of rock art. Damaraland is anunpeopled wilderness of rolling, bush-covered hills and plateaux. Here we will stayin a comfortable tented camp and explorethis unique environment, hoping for a chanceencounter with the region's Black Rhino, Lionor 'desert' Elephant, and some outstandingbirding. At night we will have an opportunityto go spotlighting in search of some of theregion's nocturnal mammals such asAardwolf, Bat-eared Fox and Honey Badger. Covering 22,000 square kilometres, Etoshais one of the finest parks in Africa, and oneof the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth.At its heart is the Etosha salt pan, anenormous shallow depression-over 100kilometres across-with numerousperennial springs around its edges, whichattract large concentrations of birds andmammals.This is one of the last places inthe world where Elephant and Black Rhinomay both be seen, plus predators such asLion, Cheetah and Leopard, and antelopesranging in size from the giant Eland to thediminutive Damara Dik-dik. We will nowspend four full days enjoying the best of thepark's wildlife.We will break our drive back to Windhoekwith a night at the Waterberg Plateau Park.Rising almost 200 metres above thesurrounding bush, the Waterberg Plateau ishome to a tremendous variety of birds. Over200 species have been recorded and theseinclude Hartlaub's Francolin (a Namibianendemic), Black Eagle, Bradfield's Hornbill,Rüppell's Parrot, Rock Runner, Grey-backedBleating Warbler and the beautiful AfricanParadise Flycatcher.Namibia's Etosha Pan & Skeleton CoastA 17-day wildlife safari in search of the birds and mammals of Namibia's desert habitats including the Etosha Pan, the Namib Desert, the Waterberg Mountains, Damaraland and the Skeleton Coast. Friday 4th November - Sunday 20th November 2011 Cost: £5,495Friday 2nd November - Sunday 18th November 2012 Cost: £5,495Outline itineraryDay 1 Depart London. Day 2 Arrive Windhoek andtransfer to NamibDesert. Day 3/4 Sossusvlei and Sesriem,Namib Naukluft NationalPark. Day 5/7 Walvis Bay. Day 8/9 Damaraland. Day 10 Andersson's Camp. Day 11/14Etosha National Park. Day 15 Waterberg Plateau.Day 16Depart Windhoek. Day 17Arrive London.AccommodationComfortable chalets, lodges andpermanent tented camps, most withprivate facilities.FoodAll included in the price.GradingGrade A. A mix of gentle bird andgame-viewing walks and drives. FocusBirds and mammals. LeaderRob Mileto or Rob Murray, pluslocal guide(s). Single room supplement£750.Web quick search: NAM02168Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryANGOLABOTSWANAKAOKOLANDETOSHANATIONAL PARKNAMUTONITSUMEBWATERBERGDAMARALANDPLATEAUSKELETON COAST PARKOKAUKUEJOANDERSSON'SCAMPWINDHOEKNAUKLUFTSESRIEMSOSSUSVLEINAMIB-NAUKLUFTNATIONAL PARKWALVIS BAYSWAKOPMUNDCAPE CROSSATLANTIC OCEANNAMIBIADunes of the Namib Naukluft National ParkGreater Kudu and GemsbokNorthern Black Korhaan

In colonial times, the spectacular beauty ofRwanda's rolling, mountainous landscapeearned it the title 'The Land of a ThousandHills'. Following independence, this smallCentral African nation leapt to fame as theland of 'Gorillas in the Mist', adopted homeof Dian Fossey and the most importantrefuge for the rare Mountain Gorilla. Asrecently as the late 1980s, Rwanda was apopular holiday destination; Gorilla-trackingin the Virungas was the country's premierattraction, supplemented by game-viewingin Akagera National Park, the incrediblebiodiversity of the Nyungwe Forest and thebeauty of Lake Kivu. Then came 1994 andthe appalling genocide that caused Rwandato leap from the glossy travel supplementsto front page news. Whilst the Rwandans willnever forget this terrible period of suffering,they are a resilient people who have rebuilttheir lives and their country over the pastdecade and are now poised to restore theirhomeland to its rightful place amongst theworld's finest wildlife destinations. TheMountain Gorillas are still there, and areevery bit as awe-inspiring, as are theElephants of Akagera and the primates ofNyungwe. Rwanda is also one of Africa'stop birdwatching destinations, home to anincredible 670 species. Indeed, this wildlifeparadise remains, despite all that it hasbeen through, a truly welcoming countrywhose attractions are complemented bysimple but comfortable facilities, good foodand a rich cultural heritage. We begin our holiday with a flight to Kigali,Rwanda's bustling capital city. From here wehead north-east to the rolling grasslandsand papyrus swamps of Akagera NationalPark. Covering approximately 90,000hectares, this is an archetypal Africansavannah landscape of tangled acaciawoodland interspersed with opengrasslands and reed-fringed swamps. Hereroam many of the big game animals that weso associate with Africa, including Elephant,Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra and Eland along withthe rare Sable Antelope. The elusiveSitatunga Antelope lives in the densePapyrus swamps of the southern portion ofthe park, a habitat it shares with perhaps themost bizarre of all birds, the enormousShoebill Stork. Both of these wetlanddenizens are elusive and difficult to find, butas we explore the park by vehicle, on footand by boat we may just be lucky! We are,however, assured of a wealth of otherwildlife and birdlife, perhaps includingDenham's Bustard, Violet-tipped Courser,Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel and the verylocalised Red-faced Barbet.Leaving Akagera, we now drive to the south-western corner of Rwanda, to the diversemontane forests of Nyungwe. This is thelargest tract of montane forest left in Africaand is home to over 200 species of birds,23 of them endemic to this 'CentralRefugium' region. Within the park also live23 species of primate, including severaltroops of habituated Ruwenzori (Angola)Colobus which are easily seen as they movethrough the canopy in large troops whichcan number several hundred strong.L'Hoest's Monkeys are also frequentlyobserved, but it will take a degree of luck tospot the Chimpanzees which also inhabitNyungwe. Although we will certainly spendtime tracking these shy apes, and willprobably hear their eerie calls driftingthrough the forests, fortune will need to bewith us if we are to catch sight of theanimals themselves. However we fare withthe Chimps, there is still a wealth of otherwildlife to enjoy. Birds such as thespectacular Great Blue Turaco are a common sight and live alongside Cassin's Hawk-eagle, Bar-tailedTrogon, Elliott's Woodpecker, RwenzoriBatis, Red-throated Alethe, Rwenzori Turacoand many, many more. Finally, we head north, past Lake Kivu, tothe mystical forested mountains of theVirunga Volcanoes and the Parc Nationaldes Volcans. Here we will spend three daysexploring these lush cloudforests and willundertake one of the most moving andthrilling wildlife experiences this planet hasto offer - a face-to-face encounter with aMountain Gorilla! It was here that DianFossey brought the plight of the Gorilla tothe world's attention in the 1970s, and it washere that she was buried in 1985. Herlegacy lives on, however, and the Gorillas ofthe Virungas now number in excess of 400individuals, double the population of 30years ago. On one of our days we willsearch for, and then spend time with, one ofthe habituated Mountain Gorilla groups. Theforests here are more open than those ofneighbouring Uganda and the Gorillas aregenerally easier to find and watch. Anencounter with such a powerful but gentleanimal, so similar to us in many ways, is avery poignant experience that is impossibleto put into words, but one that will live in thememory for ever and provide a fitting finaleto our time in Rwanda. Rwanda's Forests & MountainsA 14-day mammal and birdwatching holiday to the forests and mountains of Rwanda insearch of Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees and a wealth of other animal and birdlife. Tuesday 4th September - Monday 17th September Cost: £3,995Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationRWANDAUGANDABURUNDITANZANIADEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OFTHE CONGOKIGALINYUNGWENATIONALPARKGISENYIPARC NATIONALDES VOLCANSLAKEKIVUAKAGERANATIONALPARKOutline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2/4Akagera National Park.Day 5Kigali.Day 6/8Nyungwe National Park.Day 9Lake Kivu.Day 10/12Parc National desVolcans.Day 13Depart Kigali.Day 14Arrive London.AccommodationA combination of comfortable, butsimple hotels and lodges, most withprivate facilities.FoodAll included in the price.GradingGrade B. A traditional mammal andbirdwatching safari with leisurelywalking in the forest reserves. Theday's Mountain Gorilla-tracking canbe very strenuous, however, but isan experience not to be missed!FocusMountain Gorillas, primates, othermammals and birds.LeaderCliff Waller, plus local guides.Single room supplement£695.Gorilla permitUS $500 (subject to change).Chimp permitUS $90 (subject to change).Web quick search: RWA01169Kigali MarketShoebillMountain Gorilla