Namibia
Wildlife & Wildlands of Africa’s Desert Southwest
Photographing in Namibia is unlike shooting anywhere else in Africa. Desert is everywhere. Endless miles of unspoiled coastline, graphically interesting plants, rugged rock formations and spectacular sand dunes present landscapes of overwhelming splendor—and the country encompasses one of the world’s great national parks for wildlife photography. Fascinating Namibia contains a remarkable infrastructure of well-kept roads, modern accommodations, wholesome food and drinkable water—which makes traveling here a delightful surprise!
Our Namibia—Wildlife & Wildlands of Africa’s Desert Southwest photo tour is crafted as an absolute dream photography trip. It features an outstanding itinerary highlighting the country’s unique landscape photo opportunities and its spectacular wildlife. We travel overland and by chartered private aircraft to experience the country both from the ground and by air with luggage weight limits calculated to accommodate our full complement of camera gear. Accommodations include a broad range of lodges from ultra-luxurious to simple guest houses—always with their location selected to be in proximity to our photo subjects to assure easy access at times of early or late light. During wildlife game drives there are only two photographers per safari vehicle—a virtually unheard of luxury in Namibia, or anywhere else in Africa! We photograph in the prime time of the dry season. In short, it would be a considerable challenge to make a Namibia Photo Safari of this duration any better! 
Our travels focus on four incredible areas: the immense red Sossusvlei sand dunes at Namib-Naukluft National Park, the highly photogenic aloe “quiver tree” forest and sculptured rock formations of the “Giants' Playground” on the south coast, the haunting turn-of-the-last-century “ghost town” of Kolmanskop—engulfed by encroaching coastal sand dunes, and an exciting encounter with the renowned wildlife of Etosha National Park. Due to its demographics—it’s one of the most sparsely populated nations in the world—Namibia is very wild and starkly beautiful, and we see some of its most interesting features on this photography tour.
The stunning desert landscapes of Sossusvlei (at the southern end of Namib-Naukluft National Park) produce sensuous, undulating sand dune images. The towering Sossusvlei Dunes are the world’s highest—several world famous photos of gemsbok (oryx) walking across these rolling red dunes were made here. We stay in a spectacular lodge within the park gates where we have private vehicles to transport us to shoot the dunes when we please. We are out early and late to fully unleash the beauty of these dunes with our cameras as the sun rises and sets. Few people get such unlimited access to this fantastic resource!
Due to the extremely dry desert conditions, photographing wildlife on safari in Namibia is very different from the majority of other African countries where water is more plentiful. Normally, on safari, a photographer drives through the landscape, searching for and photographing wildlife as it is found. In Etosha, one simply waits in their safari vehicle by a water hole to photograph the never-ending parade of animals that are forced to visit the water holes every day for survival. Gripping predator/prey dramas unfold in front of you near the water’s edge. In Etosha virtually every water hole has a different mix of animals that frequent it, so exploration of a number of them over several days is essential.
This spectacular "winter" gathering of animals at the evaporating water holes and artesian springs on the Etosha Pan constitutes some of the greatest diversity of mammal species seen anywhere. One of the first Europeans to visit Etosha described the sight as “a menagerie turned loose.” Throngs of remarkable animals, such as greater kudu, gemsbok, springbok, southern giraffe, zebras and the endangered black-faced impalas, come to drink at the small desert pools dotting the park. Etosha is famous for its huge elephant herds; black rhinos are still observed regularly, and predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs are seen frequently.
Join Joe Van Os for a spectacular African adventure that combines almost unbelievable scenery and bountiful, accessible wildlife.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from home.
Day 2 (Jul 8)
Participants arriving in Windhoek are met at the airport. Transfer to our hotel and meet in the lobby this evening for a group introduction and a short logistical briefing, followed by dinner in the hotel dining room. (D)
Day 3
Depart by four-wheel drive vehicles after breakfast. We travel south to Keetmanshoop with scenic photography stops and a picnic lunch along the way. We check in at our hotel and head out in the afternoon to the “quiver tree forest.” We stay here until dark, photographing hundreds of these graphically appealing tree-like aloes, also known as “kokerboom,” bathed in evening light or juxtaposed against the setting sun. (BLD)
Day 4
Quiver trees at sunrise is our goal for the morning. As midday approaches, we head back to our hotel to relax and download the morning shoot. After lunch we’re out again to the “Giants' Playground”—captivating rock formations comprised of gigantic 160–180 million-year-old dolerite boulders that glow with the warmth of late afternoon light. (BLD)
Day 5
Sunrise photography at the “Giants' Playground” is followed by a drive west through Namib Desert to the Atlantic coast. We arrive at the seaside town of Lüderitz. Following lunch and an afternoon siesta at our hotel, we explore the amazing ghost town of Kolmanskop. The buildings of this derelict diamond mining town are slowly being engulfed by the relentless shifting coastal sands. Images created here impart an eerie quality of absolute ruin, yet are simultaneously graphically compelling, sensuous and downright intriguing. With special permits we photograph here through sunset. (BLD)
Day 6
Rising early, we’re out at the ghost town before sunrise. We shoot both interior and exterior “sandscapes” amidst these early 20th-century structures before returning to our lodge for late breakfast. Driving east towards the edge of the Namib we set aside the afternoon to focus our cameras on a remarkable band of wild horses that have survived here in this harsh environment since “German times”—circa World War I. (BLD)
Day 7
Following a northward route we trace the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Along the way we shoot the expansive plains that stretch from horizon to horizon and stop at some massive social weaver nests during our morning photo sessions. Following lunch at our lodge, we shoot the spectacular red sand dunes at Sossusvlei through sunset. Our luxurious accommodation is the only lodge within the gates of the park at Sossusvlei, and allows us unlimited photo access to this fantastic region without regard to park gate opening and closing times. (BLD)
Days 8–9
Two full shooting days provide plenty of time to explore the Sossusvlei area with our cameras. We are out before sunrise, back after sunset with time for a midday rest or to download at our lodge oasis. We hike into the famous salt/clay pan called Dead Vlei. Here, long-dead camel thorn trees create a graphic foreground to the rolling dunes behind them. (BLD)
Day 10
We take our last dune photos this morning before driving north and then west along Kuiseb Canyon to Walvis Bay on the Skeleton Coast, arriving at Swakopmund in the late afternoon. Swakopmund is Namibia’s “big” seaside resort town and our prestigious hotel is situated within easy walking distance for shopping. (BLD)
Day 11
Baggage is collected very early to be driven to Etosha National Park as we enjoy a leisurely morning walk around Swakopmund. We fly to Etosha with our camera gear via a scenic route over the Skeleton Coast. For the next three nights we stay in the simple guest houses at Okaukuejo within the park boundary. They are located within a five-minute walk of one of the most spectacular water holes in the park. Here, virtually every species of large animal comes to drink at one time or another—from elephants to black rhinos; plus hundreds of gazelles, kudus, gemsboks, giraffes and zebras—and the things that eat them! (BLD)
Days 12–13
Etosha is the third largest national park in the world and we have more than four days to explore it. From our base at Okaukuejo we will travel through the park’s southwestern region. Numerous water holes give rise to a wealth of wildlife images, including a fantastic white clay elephant wallow. Immense bull elephants roll in this gooey white clay to emerge from the wallow as the famous “ghost elephants” of Etosha. (BLD)
Days 14–15
A slow drive towards the eastern region of the park allows photo stops at many water holes along the route. Expect to see huge herds of elephants, throngs of gazelles, gemsboks, kudus, zebras, giraffes and a wide variety of birds. We arrive at our lodge, just outside the park, by late afternoon on Day 14. The following day we explore the Namutoni area of Etosha, visiting photographically productive water holes for large mammals, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of birds (red-billed queleas) and thousands of doves that come to drink in these desert oases. (BLD)
Day 16 (Jul 22)
A midmorning flight brings us and our luggage back to the Windhoek airport. Depart for home. (B)
Day 17
Arrive home.
Trip Highlights
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Shoot the spectacular red Sossusvlei Dunes for 3 glorious days
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Over 4 days at Etosha National Park’s water holes
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Quiver trees, rock sculptures, desert horses and a fascinating ghost town disappearing beneath encroaching dunes
