Namibia Explorer Photo Safari
Namibia is a country of endless diversity and photographic opportunities. It is home to the oldest desert, the largest dunes, the deepest underground lake and some of the oldest cultures on the planet. The Namib Desert is a sea of red sand along the Atlantic coastline, a contrast of desert and water unlike anywhere else in the world. Namibia is celebrated for its vast open landscapes, infinite blue skies, star filled nights, specialist desert dwelling wildlife and desert adapted Lions & Elephants.
Namibia’s diverse range of remote landscapes and small human population make it an easy place to get away from it all. Even its key attractions are relatively under-visited, so you’re unlikely to encounter more than a handful of like-minded explorers.
Seasoned wildlife photographers and budding amateurs alike are welcome on this extraordinary wildlife photography workshop. Every afternoon we run optional workshops on photographic techniques and post-processing while reviewing and discussing our images. Our exercises encourage you to approach your images with insight and focus.
March 2019
Cost
Shared Tent - $6,575
Single Tent - $7,625
At A Glance
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Professional photography mentor
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Professional guide
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Photography talks, briefings and workshops appropriate to daily activities
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Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom with optional time lapse tuition
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Tuition that will suit everyone’s photographic needs
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Flexible instruction topics to suit photographers of any skill level
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Luxurious accommodation in safari camps & lodges that allow you to safely store, recharge, clean, maintain your equipment and edit images
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An environment conducive to photography tuition. No question is off limits, no enquiry too basic
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A pre-departure pack with safari advice and information
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World class wildlife destinations in the most scenic settings
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All bookings & logistics
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Internal air & road transfers
Is This Safari For You?
Whether you’re an aspiring amateur wildlife photographer or a professional, photographers of all abilities are welcome on this Photo Safari. Your tour leader is an accomplished wildlife and conservation photographer who is highly experienced in the safari industry. Each photographic safari is made up of small groups allowing for personalised photography tuition and guidance. Our goal is for you to finesse your photography skills on a truly unique safari experience, leaving you with a collection of quality images and life changing memories.
The Schedule
Day 1 - Upon your morning or midday arrival in Windhoek you will be met by your guide & photography mentor Daniel Dugmore and the Safari Drive team to pick up your safari car and undergo your safari briefing and 4x4 training. The Olive Grove Guesthouse is a short drive away and is where you will spend the first night of your trip. This friendly and very comfortable guest house has been decorated with a modern feel to it. The rooms are spacious with large bathrooms. Here you can unwind from the flight over a casual briefing to the safari from your guide. The rest of the evening is at your leisure, you can relax in the garden, take a well earned dip in the pool or laze in the jacuzzi.
Day 2 - Today we make our way to Etosha Mountain Lodge, located in the exclusive Etosha Heights Private Reserve on the southwest border of Etosha National Park.
Founded in 1999, Etosha Heights is one of the largest private reserves in Namibia, sharing a 65 kilometre border with the famous Etosha National Park. The reserve offers a robust 600 square-kilometres of unspoiled wildlife, landscapes, and tranquillity; truly a place to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. The savannah is punctuated by pods of mopane woodland, thick riverine forest and those iconic waterholes, attracting animals from far and wide.
Located within the private reserve, Etosha Mountain Lodge is perched on the side of an iconic dolomite hill. Close to the national park, the lodge is private and exclusive – and wait until you see those views.
Day 3 - Early Morning Game Drive in the private reserve before lunch back in camp. After our lunch has settled we’ll meet up with our laptops to download and assess our images over a photography, Adobe CC talk followed by a photography briefing over tea and cake before our evening game drive.
Day 4 - This morning we make our way into Kaokoland and drive to Khowarib Lodge campsite. Here there are 8 camping pitches benefiting from 220V mains electricity and access to a communal ablution block with hot water showers. Each campsite also has its own light, tap and wash-up area, shade port, maintained BBQ area and its own rubbish bin. Camping guests have full access to all lodge facilities and are welcomed at the bar, restaurant, swimming pool, curio shop, laundry and pre-booked activities. Campers who would like to enjoy dinner at the lodge must pre-book their dinner before 16h00.
Day 5 - Early Morning Game Drive, on the look out for desert adapted Elephants. Depending on the wildlife movements we will either have lunch back in camp or we’ll take a picnic lunch with us. After our lunch has settled we’ll download and review our images over a photography, Adobe CC talk.
Day 6 - Deep in the north-western corner of Namibia, Kaokoland is one of the most remote, wild and marvellously unique areas of the country. It’s a land characterised by rolling dunes, rocky mountains and desert plains all criss-crossed by ancient, dry riverbeds, the roads of the area. Temporary Himba settlements dot the landscape, and scattered herds of desert-adapted elephant and giraffe are a common sight.
Hoanib Valley Camp itself is located in the Sesfontein Community Conservancy, our joint partners in the area. The camp itself is set back in a hidden valley and surrounded by a range of jagged mountains, just outside the private 500 square kilometre Palmwag Concession. Views of the ephemeral Hoanib River teem with resident elephant, giraffe, oryx and springbok. Although parts of the land are designated ‘concession areas’ tourism is still limited, making a visit to this unspoiled corner even more memorable.
Day 7 - In a country jam-packed with vast, spectacularly beautiful landscapes, Kaokoland may just be the most incredible of them all. Deep in north-western Namibia, the area is a melee of towering mountains, sand dunes and huge expanses of desert, scattered with unique wildlife and nomadic Himba settlements. It’s also one of Namibia’s most remote and wild environments.
The camp is elegant, intimate and immerses you into the wilds of the desert. As a joint venture between the local communities and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation it is also the world’s only Africa-wide Giraffe conservation organisation. Days are spent tracking endangered Rhino, desert-adapted Elephant, and of course desert-adapted Giraffe.
Day 8 - This morning you drive to Etendeka Mountain Camp which is near Palmwag. At this remote bush camp rare sightings of giraffe, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Oryx, Springbok and even desert Elephant or Black Rhino can add an exciting bonus to your stay at certain times of year. You sleep in one of 10 comfortable walk in tents. The flush loos and bucket showers are in an adjoining tent. The camp offers a comfortable, no frills experience with delicious home cooked food. There is also a plunge pool. Your stay here will be very informative. Your host Dennis Leibenberg and his guides, Boas and Bonni, are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Scenic drives and walks in the mountains are the order of the day and your stay is the epitome of a true African bush experience. If the night skies are clear then you should have exceptional star-gazing opportunities.
Day 9 - This morning you drive through Damaraland to stay at this beautiful lodge at Twyfelfontein. The camp nestles amongst huge boulders and each en-suite luxury tent is beautifully furnished with lovely views across the ancient landscape. The public rooms resemble an African village. From here you can explore this beautiful region, where there is so much to see.
Additional activities offered:
• Elephant / Nature Drive (+- 4 to 6 hours in the morning) including drinks: N$ 800.00 per person
• Twyfelfontein, Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes Excursion (+- 2 hours in the afternoon) including drinks: N$ 410.00 person
Day 10 - Pelican Point Lodge is situated on a unique stretch of land, the remote peninsula of Pelican Point at Walvis Bay. With the untouched beaches of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Lagoon of Walvis Bay on the other, we aim to provide you with a unique experience. Arrive, relax, reflect and unwind in one of the most enchanting settings in this beautiful country.
Day 10 - Today you will drive to Spitzkoppe, which we think is one of the most beautiful areas in Namibia, consisting of an imposing granite rock formation set in the plains. You can walk in the area and climb up to Bushman’s Paradise, a small basin tucked between the domes of rock, where you can view the rock paintings done by Bushmen of the past and gaze at the amazing view.
There are a number of campsites in the area to choose from and most have basic facilities, i.e. a loo, a fire place and refuse bin. There is one shower by the reception/bar area, although this is a distance from most of the campsites. There are also guides at reception who can be booked for approximately N $150 per hour (depending on group size) and who will show you some of the rock art.
Explore the site at your leisure and spend your time carefully clambering around the rocks and rock bridges - there are interesting paintings to discover. Campsites 10 and 11 are especially well located to view the sunset. Please note that there are cans/glass recycling facilities here.
Day 11 - Pelican Point Lodge is situated on a unique stretch of land, the remote peninsula of Pelican Point at Walvis Bay. With the untouched beaches of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Lagoon of Walvis Bay on the other, we aim to provide you with a unique experience. Arrive, relax, reflect and unwind in one of the most enchanting settings in this beautiful country.
The lodge offers fantastic photography opportunities, keep a look out for Dolphins, Whales and hundreds of seals surfing the ocean waves or basking in the sun. Listen for the distinctive call of the jackal roaming the coastline. Witness spectacular flocks of Damara Terns, Cormorants and Flamingo's feeding in the tranquil waters of the lagoon.
Day 12 - There are masses of photographic opportunities to enjoy while we’re at Pelican Point.
Included activities in this safari are the following:
Guided Peninsula Nature drive
Guided Sunset tour
Kayaking with the seals
Fatbiking
The optional activities provided at Pelican Point include:
Sunset boat cruise (minimum charge 2PAX) - N$ 1,000
Sandwich Harbour Sunrise Exclusive (minimum charge 2PAX) - N$ 2,100
Sandwich Harbour Full Day Exclusive (minimum charge 2PAX) - N$ 2.100
Sandwich Harbour Half Day (minimum charge 2PAX) - N$ 1,600
Day 13 - Today you will return to Olive Grove in Windhoek for your final Photography workshop & image review and your last nights stay in Namibia.
Day 14 - Today you will return to the Safari Drive base where you will hand over the vehicle and have your trip debrief. After this you will be transferred to the airport in good time for your international flight.
Calling All Photographers
Whether you’re an aspiring amateur photographer or a professional, photographers from all walks of life are welcome on this expedition. Your tour leader is an accomplished wildlife and conservation photographer who is highly experienced in the safari industry. Each photographic safari is made up of small groups allowing for personalised photography tuition and guidance. Our goal is to finesse your photography skills on a truly unique safari experience, leaving you with a collection of quality images and life changing memories.