Namibian Photographic Guided Safari

You will be met by your guide on arrival in Windhoek and handed your travel package. Chat with your guide about what lies ahead and get to know each other.

When you’re there: Take a city tour of Windhoek with your guide (if time allows). Then spend the rest of the day relaxing at your own leisure. If you need anything in town, arrange with your guide. For dinner, you can head into town for a bite to eat at a restaurant in Windhoek. Let your guide recommend his favourite spot. He’ll make the reservation too. Smashing.

After breakfast, travel south to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert for the next two nights.

On the way: The vegetation changes from acacia savannah to desert shrub and then open landscapes, hills and passes … as you head south-west. Stopping at scenic sites, giant sociable weaver nests, watch some wildlife like Chacma baboon, springbok, oryx and ostrich makes the drive part of the holiday. Namibia is a country where the journey is often more important and interesting than the actual destination. You’ll be thinking… Wow look at that. Ooh, I want to capture that. The best part is that you can. Just give your guide a shout, if he doesn’t stop their first. Snap away.

When you’re there: Plan to enter Sossusvlei before sunrise to arrive at the dunes with the clearest light and to beat the rush of people who enter an hour later. Dead pan is a photographer’s dream with its flat floor of sheer white, gnarled petrified acacias and the towering red dunes behind. The deep blue sky and clear light are essential ingredients. The view from the top is also sensational – rewarding that hefty trek through the soft sand.

The key here is staying inside the park, especially for photography. You’ll be staying in one of only two lodges where this is possible.

A five-hour drive north takes you through the gradual change from mountains and dunes to rolling grass-covered hills with scattered acacia trees to the industrial port, Walvis Bay.

On the way: Look out for the endemic Hartmann’s mountain zebra. Stop at Solitaire, about 80km from Sesriem for some home-made bread and an ice cold drink. Enjoy the views over the Kuiseb Canyon. A good place to stretch your legs or to find a shady picnic spots. You might be lucky to see springbok and pure-bred wild ostrich across the vast gravel plains of the Namib. Detour via the lunar landscape; look out for the Welwitschia plant. Your guide will discuss the possible routes with you. Go see whatever interests you most.

When you’re there: Visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon – a RAMSAR wetlands site – where thousands of flamingoes, pelicans and numerous waders feed in the nutrient-rich shallows; restaurants, shops and attractions in Swakopmund; spend an extra day making the most of the cool air and refreshing sea. Great photo ops at every turn.

Among the many organised activities, we recommend a discovery of the living desert – take your macro lens; a scenic flight over Skeleton Coast; a comfortable and fascinating boat cruise of Walvis Bay where you meet dolphins, sea lions, pelicans and terns; and paragliding or quad biking for an exciting dunes experience.

If you would like to capture an endless landscape where the dunes roll into the sea, then go on a Sandwich Harbour tour. This is highly recommended and a worthy activity for the day.

Damaraland has picturesque granite outcrops; dolerite dykes that have been carved over aeons; rolling grass-covered hills; tree-studded riverbeds and endless open skies that make this area one of the most scenic regions of Namibia. Contrasting panoramic views in every direction. The drive to Spitzkoppe takes up to five hours because there is much to see and do along the way.

On the way: Photo ops abound en route including along the Skeleton Coast to Cape Cross – the largest breeding cape fur seal colony in the world (the stench of 100,000 seals can be rather overwhelming: take a handkerchief to cover your nose); fascinating lichen fields and a salt pan that is an excellent birding spot.

When you’re there: Spend some time taking pictures of the incredible Spitzkoppe Mountain and landscape of the surrounds. Enjoy a guided tour to some archaeological sites see Bushman rock art. Set up your tripod at sunrise to capture the sun as it rises at the Rock Arch. Spectacular.

You will be about half way between the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park, the drive is a scenic few hours through more of Damaraland’s singular beauty. The drive to Etosha’s southern gate will take 5-6 hours.

On the way: A quick stopover in the small town of Outjo (the bakery is amazing) and take a picture of the Ugab Terrace. The Petrified Forest is also enroute. It’s not really a forest if you will, but more a chance to view and capture the 280 million year old petrified tree trunks.

When you’re there: You might have time for an afternoon game drive and your second day is set aside for a full day of game drives in the park. Etosha has an estimated 250 lions, 300 rhinos, 2,500 giraffes, 6,000 zebras, 20,000 springbok and 2,000 elephants. This on top of a large number of lesser and common plains herds, and abundant birds makes game viewing in Etosha something special. Every where you look an animal or bird poses for that perfect picture. Mind you even the scenery is beautiful and worthy of a photo.

Staying inside the park means you have all night access to the floodlit waterhole and the Okaukuejo waterhole is known to be one of the best on this side of the park. You’re also staying in a premier waterhole chalet so the waterhole is right there, just a short walk and by short walk we mean a few steps to be exact.

On the way: The drive through Etosha National Park to your next lodge on the eastern side of Etosha is a scenic few hours of game driving. The drive can take anything from 2 hours depending on how often you stop for game viewing – if you see a lot of wildlife you might spend a full day.

While you’re there: More time for game viewing. Hooray. More time for photos and to possibly capture that exciting catch on hunt. You never know what’s about to happen. That’s the thrill of the wild. The thrill of safari. Watch. Wait. Snap. Snap. Snap.

The drive to the Waterberg area will take about four hours. You’re on your way to the private Okonjima Reserve.

On the way: Visit the world’s largest meteorite; have picnic lunch at Lake Otjikoto or Lake Guinas.

When you’re there: Aim to arrive by 2pm to enjoy the afternoon excursions. Here is your chance to capture some pictures of leopards and cheetahs up close at The AfriCat Foundation.

*Your stay includes 2 scheduled camp activities on the private Okonjima Reserve. Discuss your activity scheduled on arrival.

Rise early for a quick snack before joining the morning activity, which will be to visit the AfriCat Foundation or for a drive in the large animal enclosure, which is more a game reserve. From there you head back to the lodge for a delicious Namibian breakfast before departure. The drive to Windhoek Airport for your return flight is short and comfortable on paved roads. The journey should take about three hours.

On the way: Stop at Okahandja to collect some trinkets and gifts for your loved ones back home. This is the largest wood carvers market in Namibia.

Bid your guide (now friend) farewell. You’re off home with brilliant memories and loads of pictures to edit. We can’t wait to see your best shots.