Trip Reports

“We have just returned from a 19 day trip to Madagascar organised and crafted by the Batis Birding Team. The service and hours they put into crafting this very exciting and adventurous program was amazing. They carefully researched various wildlife(lemurs, Sifaka’s etc) and birding options to give us the best possible exposure. And did they deliver, from organising flights, convenient stop-over accommodation in Johannesburg to all arrangements with a really reliable and fantastic ground operator in Madagascar. The Batis Birding Teams attention to detail and continual updating of the group was incredible and highly appreciated. Thanks Team Batis Birding.”

-Russell V

“A friend and I just returned from an 18-day wildlife/birding/photography tour to Namibia. We travelled through the Namib Desert, the coast around Swakopmund, Etosha National Park and ended up at different lodges in the Caprivi Strip, with several days birding on the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers. The whole trip was organized by Batis Birding, and guided by Sean Braine. Nicki, who did the organizing, was incredibly precise, prompt, flexible and helpful including sorting out details of accommodation before and after the ‘official’ trip. Sean was a brilliant guide. Having spent his whole childhood in the Namibian bush he is extremely knowledgeable about Namibia’s birds and other wildlife. As a photographer himself, he knows precisely how to position a vehicle to get the best shot and how to use various lighting opportunities to optimal effect. He knows the country, and the birds, so well that he can find the species you are looking for with amazing regularity. With Sean, we found a pair of the elusive caracal, saw three aardwolf and managed to get great shots of great birds like Racket-tailed Roller, Schalow’s Turaco, Black Heron, Red-necked Falcon and many others. Namibia is an awe-inspiring country, physically stunning and immensely varied. Batis Birding planned and executed an incredible trip for us, perfect in every respect. I/we would recommend them whole-heartedly as the best possible company to ensure you enjoy this remarkable location to the fullest.”

– KevInB1949

“From my first contact, Berenike Behrens was instrumental in planning an 18-day guided Namibia safari, working out the itinerary I proposed, finding the best accommodations throughout, and often being able to confirm the specific units I requested. Our guide, Sean Braine, met us on our arrival at Hosea Kutako Airport and presented us with a detailed trip portfolio, including bird and mammal checklists. He pointed out mammals, birds, and plants while driving to the Kalahari. On our first night in the Namib, he used a UV light to reveal a tiny scorpion between the bricks of a walkway at our lodge. He found a Namib web-footed gecko at Sossusvlei and showed us the endemic dune lark. He located desert-adapted elephant and black rhino in Damaraland and showed us isolated rock engravings. He found Cinderella waxbills at Kunene River Lodge. In addition to a number of black rhinoceros, several with calves, he found a white rhinoceros in Etosha where we also saw a cheetah, an African wildcat, and honey badgers. I doubt that we could have found a driver/guide more familiar with Namibia and its wildlife than Sean Braine.”

– afriCATracks