Namibia Safari Tours and More
Nature Travel Namibia is an owner-run safari company based in Windhoek in Namibia that offers Namibia Safari Tours. The company was founded in 2009 by Nick Buys, a passionate wildlife and conservation veterinarian. With a dedicated team of consultants and guides, we are committed to making your Namibia Safari Tour dreams come true!
Nature Travel Namibia mainly focuses on creating personalised custom made private safari tours, focusing specifically on our clients’ interests, preferences and budget. We offer several types of safaris which include specialist safaris like birdwatching, conservation, photographic and active safaris.
On our private safaris, our clients have the luxury of determining the pace of their own safari, deciding how much time they want to spend at a sighting or attraction.
Our Nature Travel guides are all very well qualified and have extensive knowledge of wildlife, nature, birdlife and culture. Depending on our client’s specific interests, we match them with the best suitable guide where possible. Our guides are all trained in first aid and Nature Travel Namibia offers emergency evacuation cover.
We also offer group safaris and with these safaris, we keep the groups to 6 people or less. This is to ensure an exclusive and personal safari experience.
Nature Travel Namibia works with many different lodges and can offer clients accommodation ranging from luxurious to mid-range and budget. We prefer to discuss the client’s specific interests and expectations for a safari with the client telephonically where possible to ensure we offer them the best possible itinerary that will match their preferences.
Our Guides:
Nature Travel was founded by Nick Buys, a passionate wildlife and conservation veterinarian. Nick was born and raised in the beautiful country of Namibia, a privilege that made Africa and its wildlife a concrete part of his childhood. His passion for the birds and other wildlife of this beautiful country led to his decision to follow a career in wildlife. He has worked with several carnivores and endangered species conservation organisations as well as wildlife research and community projects. Nick leads personalised birding and wildlife tours across the globe, sharing his passion for nature with his clients who become friends for life.
Marc was born in South Africa and spends most of his days leading birding and wildlife tours across Africa, to countries such as Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda and Madagascar. He also leads birding tours all over the world including Spain, India, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica. Marc is a keen wildlife photographer and enjoys sharing his passion for birding and wildlife with all who come to marvel at his wonderful office in nature. He is actively involved in research projects and is continually adding data to the Southern African Bird Atlas project; while also being involved in the monitoring of African Wild Dog within the Kruger National Park.
Previous was born and raised in rural Zimbabwe. He holds an honours degree in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. Meeting people and taking them on safari is his passion and he has a special interest in wildlife conservation. Previous is a keen photographer and loves sharing his knowledge with his clients. He leads wildlife and conservation tours across Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Nature Travel Namibia is registered with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) Registration number: TSO 00479 and the Tour and Safari Association of Namibia (TASA)
Rockrunner
One of Namibia’s near-endemic bird species, is the striking terrestrial babbler-like Rockrunner. The Rockrunner is a beautiful bird, with the chest peppered black and white, heavily streaked dark back, tawny flanks and rump, and a rufous belly. The face is similarly richly striped and patterned. It's behaviour of hopping or flying short distances from boulder to boulder aids in identification. The Rockrunner is high on our targetlist on all our Namibia Safaris.
Pel's Fishing Owl
One of the top target birds in Africa for keen “twitchers” from all over the world is the Pel’s Fishing Owl. It is one of the largest owl species in the world and boasts a rich rufous colour with distinctive black eyes. In Namibia the best place to see these elusive and highly-prized birds is in the water-rich Caprivi strip of the northeastern part of the country, as they prefer riverine forests with large trees.
Monteiro's Hornbill
The Monteiro’s Hornbill is highly prized for birders visiting Namibia. It is one of the country’s 17 or so near-endemic species. It is smallish hornbill, with upper parts dark grey/brown and a white belly, along with white-spotted wing coverts. The eyes are black and the large beak is a deep red colour. It prefers dry scrub and open savannah, typically in rocky or hilly areas. The Monteiro's Hornbill feeds almost exclusively on insects and other small arthropods, and will only eat seeds and flowers in extreme circumstances
Leopard
The Leopard is many wildlife lovers’ favourite member of Africa’s famed Big Five mammals. It is very elusive and normally difficult to find feline. The Leopard, with its rosette-marked fur pattern that is unique to each individual, is a powerfully built and elegant cat. It is known as an excellent and clever hunter, able to adapt its behaviour and hunting techniques according to its habitat and available prey. In Namibia is it best seen in Etosha National Park and in the Caprivi Strip in the northeast of the country.
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra
One of the most plentiful species of mammals that you are likely to see on safari in Africa is the Plains Zebra Equus quagga. However, not many people know that in Namibia you will see an entirely different species of “striped donkey”, the Mountain Zebra. The subspecies that occurs in western Namibia is called Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae). As the name suggests, the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra prefers rugged mountainous areas and arid environments, so Namibia is the perfect habitat for it!
Gemsbok
No other animal embodies the spirit of the Namibian desert like the Gemsbok. The beautiful Gemsbok, sometimes called the Oryx, is a large antelope with striking black and white markings on the face and legs, black side stripes on the flanks and a long black tail. Both bulls and cows have horns. It has adapted to living in deserts where there is almost no water to drink. They get almost all their water requirements from the food they eat. We love seeing these amazing antelope on safari in Namibia!
Dune Lark
The Dune Lark is the only true endemic found in the country of Namibia. This sandy coloured lark survives in this harsh environment without any water, instead getting everything it needs to survive from seeds and insects found in the sparsely vegetated areas between the dunes in the desert. It is a notoriously difficult species to find. The Dune Lark is one of our target species on all of our birding tours in Namibia. A very special bird to tick off your list!
Cheetah
The elegant Cheetah can run at 110 kilometres per hour, making them the fastest land animal on the planet. Namibia is home to the world’s largest remaining Cheetah population (25% of the total global population), with 90% of its Cheetahs living on livestock farmlands where conflict with humans is the greatest threat. Spotting a Cheetah in the wild is a privilege we love to share with our guests on safari in Namibia.
Black Rhinoceros
One of the most fascinating mammal species that have adapted to the harsh environment of Namibia, is the desert adapted rhino, or as it is more scientifically known, the southwestern subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros. These specially adapted individuals can withstand scorching heat but can also cope with the below freezing temperatures common after dark in Namibia’s arid regions. It is a real privilege to see them on safari.
African Elephant
The desert adapted African Elephants of Namibia, although not a recognised subspecies, have shown remarkable resilience in surviving the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Namib desert. They have adapted to their dry, semi-desert environment by having a smaller body mass with proportionally longer legs and seemingly larger feet than other elephants. Their physical attributes allow them to cross many miles of desert to reach water. We love seeing these gentle giants in their natural habitat on our safaris.
Nick Buys, owner and head guide, was born and raised in the beautiful country of Namibia, a privilege that made Africa and its wildlife a concrete part of his childhood. His passion for birds and other wildlife of this beautiful country led to his decision to follow a career in wildlife. After completing his Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Pretoria, he worked extensively in the Caprivi region where he was involved in various wildlife research and community projects. He has worked with several carnivore and endangered species conservation organisations and is experienced in conservation tourism in Namibia.
Based on his background and experience he includes a conservation aspect into all wildlife and birding safaris and he has created a few conservation safaris where you can get a behind the scenes look at wildlife conservation and the idea is that by doing the safari you make an active contribution to conservation in Africa and across the globe.
Nick has also founded the Nature Travel Wildlife Conservation and Veterinary Trust. (https://naturetraveltrust.com/) His veterinary background together with experience at other conservation organisations and in conservation tourism allowed him to form his own conclusion on what he believes is the way forward in tourism in this part of the world. There are several great conservation organisations in Namibia all doing fantastic work but with this trust we really believe that we can contribute where there is a real conservation need and continue to help preserve the wildlife and habitat of this amazing and beautiful country.
The Big Five and More
Namibia Safari Tour
After hearing about my sister's safari experience with Nature Travel Namibia and Nick Buys, as her guide, I booked the same tour for my wife and I. On my "bucket list" was the Big 5. Any guide who guarantees you to see the Big 5 , may need to take you to a zoo in Africa. I have been on two safaris with Nature Travel Namibia and both times I was able to experience close encounters with the Big 5 in the wild. Besides the Big 5 we also recorded over180 sightings of different types of birds. For the cost of this tour my wife and I got more than our money's worth, and I highly recommended Nature Travel Namibia.
A must Safari for all visitors to Namibia
Namibia Safari Tour
In one word - Amazing! This was the second safari trip we did with Nick Buys and Nature Travel and we chose to visit his home country of Namibia. He set up an itinerary that was amazing.
Nick was a superb guide and is a mine of information when on the this trip. The sights we saw were magnificent and the wildlife we saw was first class. The amazing sight of seeing elephants extract water from the dry river beds was a special highlight. The Rhino walk was another highlight. In total we saw so much wildlife it would take too long to highlight them all in this review except to say we were thrilled to have seen so many animals and birds.
The accommodation Nature Travel booked for us was exceptional and we enjoyed some luxurious lodges and hotels during our trip and after a long days out viewing nature these accommodations made for an exceptional safari.
Having twice travelled with Nature Travel we can highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Namibia. In our view they are the best operators to use when planning a safari to Africa.
11 Fabulous Days in Namibia
Namibia Safari Tour
My first trip to Africa was filled with wonder and amazement. I had always wanted to see the Big 5 and Nature Travel Namibia and Nick Buys, our guide worked tirelessly to make my dreams come true. My favorite animal is the elephant, especially the babies and we enjoyed many hours watching large herds of elephant playing in the watering hole at Etoshia National Park. I have only fond memories of my trip to Namibia and I highly recommend the Nature Travel Namibia Team.
Diverse and Beautiful
Namibia Safari Tour
I had read and heard so much about Namibia and was excited to finally visit this diverse and beautiful country. The Nature Travel Namibia team planned the perfect trip. Our guide Nick Buys was exceptional with his knowledge of animal behavior and the country, therefore our animal encounters and cultural experiences far exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend Nature Travel Namibia.
Best company- HANDS DOWN
Namibia Safari Tour
Our trip with Nature Travel was, hands down, the best and most memorable adventure we have been on. I cannot say enough about this company - from the initial inquiry all the way through the trip and even follow-up afterwards, they were attentive to our needs and goals, detailed and dependable for seamless booking and execution of the plan, shared in our enthusiasm for wildlife and ensured we had everything we needed. I felt very safe and secure with them, and the driver/tour guide we had was PHENOMENAL. He felt more like a friend than just a guide, and his own excitement was palpable with every sighting and experience, even though he is an experienced tour guide.
All in all, if you want to have the experience of a lifetime with a professional, friendly and dependable company - look no further. Nature Travel is a leader in their field - we have even booked additional travel with them and look forward to even more in the future!
Memorable Experience
Namibia Safari Tour
My husband and I are seasoned travelers, having visited all seven continents, and we consider our trip to Namibia with Nick Buys to be one of the most memorable ever.
Everything was very well planned, the accommodations, meals, and vehicles were first rate. My husband and I always like to try new foods, and on this trip we got to eat Angel Fish and Kudu! The roads were great, and even the gravel roads were smooth with no big bumps.
The dunes at Sossusvlei were more magnificent than could ever be imagined, so tall that the people on top could barely be seen.
The wildlife in Namibia is abundant. We saw all of the Big Five (including two species of rhino), and many ungulates, snakes and lizards, not to mention the birds. Nick not only knows the wildlife well, he is exceptional at spotting it.
My husband mentioned to me that before we left home he wondered why I so wanted to visit Namibia, but by the time we had finished our visit, he understood quite well.
Blown away...
Namibia Safari Tour
Nick and his team are definitely the “go-to” of the safari industry! Nature Travel Namibia (NTN) put together a tailor-made safari for us (by us, I mean a group of friends travelling from both UK and Australia). Nick diligently answered all emails, answering our many questions. The NTN team listen to what you want, create the prefect Itinerary, and even managed to accommodate some extra places we wanted to see, that were more remote.
We were lucky enough to have the wonderful Kit as a guide, who’s knowledge can’t be surpassed. (He’s also rather good at choosing wine with dinner).
I can’t thank Nick and the NTN team enough for creating a spectacular trip, and creating wonderful memories.
I can’t wait to get back to Nam!🇳🇦
Extraoedinary experience.
Namibia Safari Tour
I've been to Africa 6 times visiting 9 countries. The trip with Namibia Safari Tours was the very best. Nick Buys was raised in Namibia and has superior knowledge of the terrain, birds, animals, and local cultures. He has also travelled to many other parts of the continent and excels there as well.
His personal touch made my visit all the more memorable. He was very accommodating, allowing for my input and choices when there were options.
He's a very open, friendly personality who works with his customers to create the best possible experience. I signed up late but he managed to book everything to my great satisfaction. Every lodge he provided was top notch with wonderful meals and accommodations.
I have recommended him to several other friends who were equally pleased. I will definitely go on another tour with his company
Excellent Experience all around!
Namibia Safari Tour
After a trip to South Africa in 2017, we were looking for another visit to Africa. in our search for a tour that would interest us, we found Nature Travel Namibia and booked our trip. Everything, start to finish, went excellent. From the communication during the planning phase to the drop off at the end, our guide, Previous, took great care of us and went the extra mile to find the wildlife we were looking for.
I would highly recommend this company as well as a trip in the Namibia/Botswana area, you won't regret it!
Excellent
Conservation Safari Tour in Namibia
While this is not the exact same trip , we have travelled with Nature Travel Namibia twice before and both trips were exceptional. The review that follows was a save the Rhino expedition in 2019, In 2018 we were approached by Nick Buys of Nature Travel Namibia to see if we would be interested in participating in a unique new safari opportunity - Save the Rhino Walking Safari. The safari would give us the opportunity to track one of the most endangered African Mammal Species, the black Rhino, and to learn first hand the conservation measures being undertaken in Namibia. Having travelled with Nature Travel Namibia a few years ago, and experiencing a great safari at that time, we did not hesitate sign up for this journey, and again we had an exceptional experience. In preparation for the trip, the team at Nature Travel Namibia, were very prompt in responding to any questions we had, assisting us with booking pre and post accommodation in Windhoek and providing a good summary of the safari. On arrival in Windhoek the transfer process was seamless our guesthouse. We were picked up as scheduled on the first day of the safari and had a pleasant day drive to the Palmwag Lodge where two nights were spent prior to the start of the safari. The lodge is quite comfortable with great staff and tasty food. While at the lodge we visited the Save the Rhino Trust office location to learn more about their activities and history. The next six days were spent in the Palmwag Concession, in which the itinerary would be varied and could change depending upon what we encountered. We would occasionally walk, a few times we came across fresh tracks, would then track the Rhino, and were successful in locating the Rhinos. From a safe distance would observe this grand animal in its natural habitat. At other times during the day we would be on a game drive in the open air Toyota Land Cruiser. We came across, lions, elephants, springbok, zebra, oryx, giraffes, during our drives and walking experiences. The accommodation for six nights was camping - absolutely stellar - under the light of a full moon! For 4 of the nights we were completely alone, on the last couple of nights the campsite was more traditional with showers(!) and only a couple of other campers. The bedding provided was comfortable and it was easy to sleep. Breakfasts and lunches were straightforward and the dinners were always prepared over an open campfire and consisted of a variety of meats / game or chicken - always very delicious. The team that accompanied us on the journey was all great. This small group adventure was a memorable experience and Nature Travel Namibia did not disappoint!
Adventure and Conservation In One? Sign Me Up!
Conservation Safari Tour in Namibia
Though I haven't done this particular trip (yet!), I have been on two Nature Travel Namibia tours, and I am convinced they are the best in the business. Last year, I contacted Nick Buys, the founder of Nature Travel Namibia and told him exactly what I hoped to do and he created an itinerary specifically designed to my desires that far exceeded my expectations. Nick and his entire team were so professional and easy to work with, and they gave me the adventure of a lifetime camping in the Caprivi Strip. Traveling with Nick was like getting shown around a new part of the world with an old friend who knows everything about the place. I could have spent months in the Caprivi and never found some of the off-the-beaten-track places Nick took us straight to. Nick is so knowledgeable about African wildlife, and he is an especially talented ornithologist. I will never forget the eight days I spent with Nick in the Caprivi Strip for as long as I live. The NTN team is passionate about conservation, so this trip is sure to provide both an unforgettable adventure, as well as a great way to do your part to protect African wildlife. I couldn't recommend them more.
Excellent trip
Conservation Safari Tour in Namibia
We had a fabulous time in Namibia exploring the wilder parts of the country. It wasn't the exact trip that is on offer here (I went ion a trip in June 2019) so this is a general review of Nature Travel Nambia. Our trip was really a once in a lifetime experience and Nick, our leader, was amazing. His knowledge of, and passion for, Namibia and its wildlife, made the trip a truly memorable one. Excellent arrangements, equipment, vehicles etc etc. Couldn't find fault with any of it. If you're going to travel with Nature Travel Namibia you are in for a treat. If the photo is still on the slideshow I can see as I write this, I'm the one with the green rucksack taking a photo of the indentation in the sand created by a sleeping rhino!
Stunning
Birding Namibia, Botswana and Zambia Tour
This was an absolutely amazing trip. We have travelled with this company before and were so impressed we came back again. Marc Cronje our guide is excellent - he is so knowledgeable and experienced in the bush. His enthusiasm in infectious and you cant help but become enthralled with these wonderful countries. We added to our bird and mammals lists everyday. Nothing is too much trouble, right from the initial planning to making sure it all goes to plan on daily basis. It was our second trip to Etosha and we are planning the third. We recommended this company to friends of ours and we travelled together and had the time of our lives. The variety of environments allows a wide variety of all wildlife to be seen with excellent views. Small tours are better as they can be tailor made for your specific requests and having done both small and large group we will only now choose small group and with this company for all our African travel and birding in other countries. We are in the process of planning the next 3 trips with Nick and Marc.
Namibia & Botswana with Nick & Marc June/July 2019
Birding Namibia, Botswana and Zambia Tour
On all counts my safari in June/July 2019 was a most interesting, worthwhile field trip with excellent, knowledgable guides. Nick was with me for the first part of the trip and Marc for the rest. Although emphasis was on finding and photographing southern African birds, we saw plenty of game. Accommodations and food at all our stops was superb. I have spent a lot of the past, nearly forty years, living and traveling in Africa, a lot of it on safari. I have to say my time with Nature Travel Namibia has to be one of the most memorable and pleasant safaris I have experienced. Nick also planned and led a field trip to Madagascar for myself and close friends in Oct 2018. It too has to rank in the top five birding safaris I have been on. I highly recommend without reservation Nick and his staff. I should also mention that in both southern Africa and Madagascar I got to see (and in some cases photograph) many of the endemic species on our target lists. Thanks again to the experience, knowledge, and dedication of both Nick and Marc.
Zambia, Botswana and Namibia with Nature Travel Birding
Birding Namibia, Botswana and Zambia Tour
November of 2018 a group of birding acquaintances decided to go on a 14 day trip to Botswana, Zambia and Namibia with Nature Travel Birding. Four of us had traveled with our guide before and had good birding times so we convinced two more birding buds to join in for a total of six. Our guide, Nick, knew where to find the birds and wildlife. He also knows animal behavior and could tell us what was going on at the waterholes. The birds and mammals we saw were dreams answered. Two of us used his company again this year, 2020, as well, for a wonderful trip to Ghana.
Best trip ever!
Birding Namibia, Botswana and Zambia Tour
We took Nick's safari in 2017 and it was absolutely awesome! The countries are beautiful, the wildlife bountiful and the guide knowledgeable. Our accommodations were great - clean, scenic and lovely in every way. Nick is a master at finding and pointing out birds and other wildlife. I highly recommend this trip!
Fantastic Trip!!
Birding Namibia, Botswana and Zambia Tour
I embarked on my trip to Namibia in Jan '19 having previously used Nick and Nature Travel Birding for an excellent trip to Ghana.
The trip started in the Caprivi on the border with Botswana and continued throughout much of the rest of Namibia. There was fantastic birding to be had with excellent views and photo opportunities throughout the trip. Etosha was excellent and a highlight with great mammals as well as birds.
Nick was a tremendous guide, extremely knowledgeable and really made sure the trip went well. There was a general flexibility and genial atmosphere to the whole trip with Nick being patient and accommodating to get those extra couple of photos. The accommodation, food and itinerary were spot on.
I wouldn't hesitate to reconsider Nature Travel Birding and continue to plan future trips with Nick and team.
Trip of a lifetime!
Birding Namibia, Botswana and Zambia Tour
My husband and I traveled to Namibia/Botswana/Zambia in 2016 and used this company for a private 14-day birding trip. Nick, our guide, was excellent at spotting the birds and finding us all the specialties. His enthusiasm and passion for the birds and animals was impressive and made our stay memorable. We have continued to hire this company and Nick for another three trips to Africa and India. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who has a passion for nature and adventure. This company is professional, reliable and accommodating.
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