White-backed night-heron
Birds of Namibia
Introduction: White-backed night-herons (Gorsachius leuconotus) inhabit clear and slow-moving perennial rivers and streams with overhanging vegetation, in both woodland and forested regions. Occasionally reedbeds, lakes and dams are favoured.
Distribution Lower Orange River and Fish River, lower Kunene River, although most concentrations can be observed in the Caprivi/Kwando River region.
Diet: Stands motionless or walks along shoreline for small fish, amphibians, insects, molluscs and crustaceans.
Description Medium-sized, stocky looking heron with large head and eyes and a stout bill. Rufous coloured neck, dark brown neck with a conspicuous white patch forming in flight from with white scapulars. Leuconotus is Greek for 'white back'.
Breeding: A stick platform lined with leaves, reed stems and grass is usually well-hidden in tree or shrub where the female lay 2 to 4 eggs year-round except for June.
Size: 55cm. Weight: 440g.
Welwitschia Self Drive
3 Days - Get away to Swakopmund on the coast - includes sandboarding on the Namib Dunes as well as a dolphin cruise
Acacia Self Drive
8 Days - Combines a visit to Etosha National Park, with some time at Swakopmund and then the dunes at Sossusvlei
Marula Self Dive
9 Days - Southern Namibia: Fish River, Luderitz, Sossusvlei with some self catering accommodation.
Camelthorn Self Drive
10 Days - The classic northern and central Namibia trip. Includes Waterberg Plateau, Etosha National Park, rock art in Damaraland, Cape Cross & Swakopmund and ends with two night near the dunes at Sossusvlei.
Jackalberry Self Drive
10 Days - A combination of Namibia & Botswana. Highlights include game viewing in the Etosha Park & a trip in a traditional dug out canoe in the Okavango Delta Panhandle.
Quiver tree Self Drive
14 Days - Two weeks worth of travel allow you to visit everything that is included in the Camelthorn Self Drive but add the vast expanses of southern Namibia to your itinerary, Additional stops include Luderitz, the Fish River Canyon and a night in the Kalahari Desert
Makalani Self Drive
20 Days - This includes Waterberg, Etosha, a visit to the densely populated Owamboland region on the Angolan border, Kaokoland and the nomadic Himba People, rock art and desert elephants in Damaraland, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Luderitz, the Fish River and Kalahari.
