While Namibia is not as wildlife rich as neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, it homes more than a few magnificent bird and animal species to keep the most intrepid traveller entertained. There’s the desert-adapted elephants and lions, black and white rhino, and an abundance of giraffe, all of which have adapted to the arid terrain and hostile landscapes that make Namibia so very beautiful – yet difficult to thrive in.

As most of the larger animals spend their days travelling from one watering hole to the next, they can be difficult to spot, even in National Parks such as Etosha, but if there is one special creature that you are almost guaranteed to see during your Namibia self-drive holiday or escorted tour adventure, it would have to be the spectacular Social Weaver Bird.

Often described as the world’s most proficient engineers, Social Weaver Birds of Southern Africa build the most extraordinary nest structures, with cylindrical downward facing entrances that are virtually inaccessible by snakes and other hungry predators. Visible on almost every tree, these nests range from tiny pods to huge golden structures, yet their design in always the same.

Built by a community of sociable weaver birds (which is how they got their name), these magnificent nests are made up of grass, twigs, leaves and just about anything else these clever little birds can get their beaks on to create an exquisite and elaborate nest structure that can home up to 400 birds and easily take over an entire tree.

Clever indeed, the Social Weaver Birds are weaving their magic all over Southern Africa, so why not head on down below the equator this winter and take a look for yourself!