Namibia Fully Guided Photography Tour – 12 Days

The adventure begins as soon as you touch ground at Hosea Kutako International Airport (N.B: Make sure to your flight arrives before 10H00 in order to make the drive to Sossusvlei). Our friendly guide will be waiting for you at the arrival gates. Catch your first glimpses of Windhoek through the car window as we make our way through the capital. First stop is a short City tour, we will visit the Christus Kirche, Alte Feste, Tintenpalast and Katatura. Exiting the city on the C28 district road, we make our way to the Namib Desert via the Komashochland. Our first photo session will be the infamous Von Liebig Haus also known as the ‘Ghost House’. This abandoned building still displays the signs of wealth and class of its former occupants’ glory days and makes for some macabre photo opportunities. After a quick lunch at either Spreetshoogte Pass or Remhoogte Pass we will make our way to our final destination of the day; Sossusvlei.

With our lunch packs and coffee ready, we rise early to watch as the colours change over the dunes. The changing light conditions make for multiple photo opportunities with different aperture settings. The contrasting colours of the dunes and skeleton trees set an almost apocalyptic type scene. It’s easy to understand why they used this as the film set for movies like The Cell. The Big Daddy Dune is the tallest dune in Sossusvlei. The 250m climb to the top is worth it once you witness the panoramic view over the desert. Explore the Sesriem Canyon is a 30 meter (100feet) deep canyon carved out by the Tsauchab River.

Today we will make our way to the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund. Along the way we will stop over at the small trading post called Solitaire, this settlement hosts the only fuelling station in that area, a small general store and bakery in the vast Namib Desert. After a short break, we make our way en-route to the Tiras & Namib Naukluft Mountains where we will stop for some beautiful photo opportunities and stretch our legs. On our route, we might encounter wild animals like Mountain Zebra, Oryx, Ostrich, Springbuck and with a bit of luck Spotted Hyena, Cheetah and Giraffe. Upon arrival at Swakopmund, we will do a quick orientation tour before heading over to our B&B to freshen up and unwind. We recommend an early dinner at the famous Kückie’s Pub (dinner at the client’s expense).

After breakfast depart for Walvis Bay, where you will take part on a boat cruise on the lagoon where you might see 2 types of Dolphins, Mola Mola (Sunfish) Cape Fur seals, and in spring humpbacked whales. On the boat, you will be able to enjoy fresh Oysters from the local Oyster farms. We return to Swakopmund around lunchtime. Spend the afternoon at leisure.

The day begins with an Eco Dune Tour which takes place along the eastern part of the dune belt between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Learn about how the creatures and plants have adapted to life in the desert from your knowledgeable guide. Spot the Namib Sand diving lizard, Sidewinder snake, Namaqua Chameleon, the fog-basking Tenebrionid Beetle and more! Discover the ‘Horse Graveyard’ holding some 1,600 horse carcasses, from the mass slaughter of South African military horses in the First World War Birdwatchers be on the lookout for Rock Kestrels, Warblers, Larks and more. Stop for a light lunch and take in the surroundings. The afternoon Rocky desert tour takes you from the Dorob National Park into the northern reaches of the Naukluft Park past the Moon Valley. Moon-Valleys landscape carved out over hundreds of millions of years and even more cubic meters of water is something to behold. The spectacular colours and contours make the moonlike landscape a photographer’s haven. From here we go to the Swakop River. Lined with huge acacias and tamarisks, this desert oasis is home to a variety of animals and birdlife.

Today we head north up the Skeleton Coast to Damaraland, en-route we visit a Shipwreck and take an hour-detour and visit the Cape Cross seal colony situated north of Swakopmund. Depending on time we will stop at for a hike up to the White Lady rock painting and Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings. Some extra photo-ready highlights along the way include the Petrified Forest and Burnt Mountain. The best time of day to hike is either in the early morning or late afternoon due to the heat of the midday sun.

On the edge of the Klipriver valley lies Grootberg Lodge, a landmark in the Namibian tourism industry. 12000 hectares have been set aside by the Khoadi / Hoas community for conservation and tourism. On our excursion, we will see the Bushmen Petroglyphs (Rock engravings) as well as Bushmen Paintings dated between 500 and 4000 years old. From Twyfelfontein we travel towards Palmwag and the Grootberg Lodge our overnight spot, situated on top of the Etendeka Mountain Range, with its beautiful vistas.

From Grootberg we travel via Kamanjab and Outjo towards the Etosha National Park. If time allows we partake in an afternoon Game drive in the Park. Overnight at a Lodge near the Anderson entrance Gate to Etosha Park. Optional: Near Kamanjab you have the opportunity to visit a Himba Orphanage run by traditional Himba women. (At an extra cost). Not only is this village a treasure trove for authentic photographic imagery, but it also offers insight into the daily life, traditions and beliefs of the last traditional tribe in Namibia. Learn about the holy fire, herbal medicine and their ancestors. Experience the milking ceremony and the smoke bath and gain deeper insights into the meanings of the tribe’s traditional jewellery and hairstyles. Spend your afternoon relaxing by the pool or join in one of the game drives on offer.

This will be your last day in Etosha, so it’s time to check your ‘photo bucket list’ and see what you would still like to capture on camera. Etosha is home to Elephant, Rhino, Giraffe, Eland, Kudu, Oryx, Springbok, Black-nosed Impala, Steenbok, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartbeest, Damara Dik Dik, Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted & Brown Hyena. At Halali our overnight stop you will have the opportunity to watch Animals in the evening at the lit Moringa Waterhole.

Frans Indongo Lodge is situated in the proximity of Waterberg Plateau Park, 44 km from Otjiwarongo. This is an ideal stopover between Etosha National Park, and Windhoek, and one of the most popular lodges in the vicinity of the Waterberg.

Today we head back to Windhoek after breakfast. Our friendly guide will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey. We recommend checking in 2 hours prior to your departure flight.