Rufous-bellied heron
Birds of Namibia
Introduction: Rufous-bellied heron (Ardeola rufiventris) favour flooded grasslands and dense fringing vegetation and reedbeds. Observed mainly singly or in small groups, they roost communally and will head for cover in dense vegetation when disturbed.
Distribution Caprivi wetlands, Chobe/Zambezi Rivers, Okavango Delta, Kaudom Game Park, Etosha National Park, Hardap Dam.
Diet: Either stands still and waits or walks slowly in search of insects and worms, fish and amphibians.
Description Rufiventris is Latin for 'red-bellied'. Head, neck and back dark slate grey. The back has long, slate-grey plumes. Flight feathers dark grey below, underwing coverts rufous-brown. Often confused with slaty egret and black heron, both have dark, slender bills and blackish-grey wings and belly.
Breeding: Females lay 1 to 4 eggs in April or September on a shallow platform of short twigs and reed stems, incubated for around 20 days.
Size: 39cm. Weight: 300g.
African Odyssey
22 Days - Visits everything between the Fish River Canyon (in the south) to the Caprivi Strip (in the north) and still has time to head to Victoria Falls. the complete Namibia package, ideal for the first time visitor
Combination Safari
20 Days - the 14 day Experience Safari followed by the Delta & Falls - could also be called the best of Namibia & Botswana
Namibian Experience Safari
14 Days - When we first designed a Namibian trip this was the itinerary, and it still works brilliantly.
Namibia Family Safari
13 days - Aimed specifically at the family market, this safari visits all the major sites on the country, but tries to set a more leisurely pace
