On this 14 Days Namibia Photography Safari, you will focus attention on some of the most iconic and picturesque wildlife and landscape of Namibia.
Tour Quiver tree forests of Keetmanshoop, discover the hidden beauties and ephemeral pans of the Namib Desert, and sink your toes into the sands of the desolate Skeleton Coast, kept deceptively lifeless by the frigid waters of the Atlantic.
With a sudden change in scenery you will find yourself scrambling over huge granite boulders photographing the towering “inselbergs” of the Spitzkoppe Mountains.
This epic 14 Days Namibia Photography Safari will end with a 4-night stay in the world-famous and incredibly photogenic Etosha National Park. Here, you will be dedicated to photographing the great diversity of wildlife and birdlife in this park.
Itinerary Summary
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
Day 2: Quivertree Forest
Day 3: Luderitz
Day 4: Bogenfels and Pomona, Luderitz
Day 6: Namib-Naukluft Park
Day 7: Swakopmund
Day 8: Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour
Day 9: Spitzkoppen Lodge, Spitzkoppe
Day 10: Etosha National Park, South
Day 11: Etosha National Park, East
Day 12: Etosha National Park, East
Day 13: Okonjima Plains Camp, Okonjima Nature Reserve
Day 14: End of Itinerary
Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
Upon arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport you will be welcomed by your photographic guide and driven to your overnight accommodation on the outskirts of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city.
This evening you will enjoy as you acquainted with your exciting travel itinerary in more detail, answering any questions that you may have.
Day 2: Quivertree Forest
After a good night’s sleep and an early breakfast, you will depart Windhoek and set off on your much-anticipated photographic safari.
The first day’s adventure will take you roughly 500 kilometers south from Namibia’s mother city and take about 5 hours and 30 minutes, arriving at your over-night’s lodge for lunch.
It will be a long day of driving, but you will make regular stops and there will be stunning scenery to be enjoyed.
After a brief check-in and lunch, you will have a moment to recover and to prepare your photographic gear for a late afternoon excursion to photograph the Giants Playground with its unique quiver tree forests in golden afternoon/evening light.
Day 3: Luderitz
Wake up before sunrise to catch one last photo shoot of the quiver tree forests of Keetmanshoop. Then sett off to your next iconic destination shortly after breakfast.
Drive the classic route from Keetmanshoop to Luderitz passing the small town of Aus with hopes of seeing your free roaming wild horses of the Namib.
You will stop at the ghost town of Kolmanskop late afternoon to photograph the deserted Edwardian architecture in the area. On arrival at hotel in Luderitz, you will have dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants in town.
Day 4: Bogenfels and Pomona, Luderitz
Enjoy exciting full day tour to the famous Bogenfels and Pomona. A photographer’s delight. Bogenfels is the well-known rock arch with one foot in the sea and the other on land. It is about 60m high.
The trip is an excursion in the Sperrgebiet area where De Beers are still currently mining and the tour includes the old Ghost Towns of Pomona and Bogenfels with old mining equipment from the 1910-30’s time during which the Germans discovered the first diamonds in the area and the harsh conditions lived and operated under.
Highlights you will get to photograph:
- Grillenthal
- Dunes & Plants (Weather Permitting)
- Pomona Old Mines
- Pomona Old town provides excellent photographic opportunities.
At around 18 hour and 30-minute you will return to your Hotel in Luderitz and have a well-deserved rest after an exciting day.
Day 6: Namib-Naukluft Park
Today you will be touring and capturing the endless horizons and breath-taking landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park. You will will have the chance to devote your time to photographing colossal iron-rich sand dunes; the world famous Sossusvlei and Deadvlei; as well as a chance to spot the incredible micro-fauna specially adapted to survive in this seemingly unforgiving desert environment.
You will return to your lodge for lunch when the sun is at it’s highest, only to return again in the late afternoon to capture the dunes as the shadows envelope them making for excellent photography. You will return to the lodge for dinner after another successful day in the Namib Desert.
Day 7: Swakopmund
You will have the option of having one last sunrise photoshoot of the living desert before breakfast before travelling to the sleepy coastal town of Swakopmund.
After that, you will start your drive to the coastal town of Swakopmund, which will take you around 6 hours including regular stops and a lunch along the way.
Day 8: Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour
This morning at 8 am, you will make your way to the coastal town of Walvis Bay for a Dolphin Marine Cruise. On the cruise you will have the chance to capture your marine wildlife such as the Great White Pelican who frequents on the boat hoping for a treat from the skipper. The resident Cape Fur Seals will also make an appearance by jumping on the boat as their curiosity gets the better of them.
At around 11.30 am, you will return to the harbour where your 4×4 vehicles will be waiting. Your next excursion will take you to where the desert meets the ocean. Sandwich Harbour lagoon is home to some 200,000 birds, such as terns, flamingos, pelicans and cormorants. It is a marine sanctuary and RAMSAR site supporting more than 50,000 birds in the summer and 20,000 in the winter. These wetlands are of international importance.
You will return to your hotel in Swakopmund in the late afternoon after a fun filled day of sight-seeing and abundance of wildlife.
Day 9: Spitzkoppen Lodge, Spitzkoppe
After a leisurely breakfast, you have the chance to either take a stroll through the town and visit numerous German-influenced architectural sites. Animal lovers can undertake a Namib Desert Tour with the help of a local expert. Look for geckos, scorpions, snakes, lizards, birds and beetles as well as the incredible plant life that survives in this harsh and seemingly inhospitable environment.
Day 10: Etosha National Park, South
Take one last excursion to photograph the Spitzkoppe and depart for the final highlight of your 14 Days Namibia Photography Safari – to photograph the incredible wildlife of the renowned Etosha National Park.
Here you will be spending your time searching for the mesmerizing variety of wildlife found in this spectacular wildlife park, including the rare and elusive desert adapted black rhinos, white rhinos, lion, leopard, cheetah and some of the world’s largest elephants.
You will enjoy dinner and sit around the camp fire swapping tales of our adventures. Don’t forget to look up before settling into your bed tonight – the African night sky, undisturbed by city lights out here in the bush, is truly amazing.
En-route to Etosha you have the option to stop at a Himba Village to observe the nomadic lifestyles and everyday way of life of the Himba People.
Day 11: Etosha National Park, East
Etosha National Park is a photographer’s heaven, with the contrasts in light, colour and textures particularly dramatic. Many a guest’s “lifer shots” of African wild animal and bird species were taken in this national park. The sunrises and sunsets are especially spectacular, so better get those cameras and phones ready as we make our way from Etosha south to Etosha East
Day 12: Etosha National Park, East
You will will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Etosha Nayional Park today, returning to your lodge in the heat of the day for lunch and to relax.
Day 13: Okonjima Plains Camp, Okonjima Nature Reserve
Enjoy breakfast and depart for Okonjima Lodge near Otjiwarongo in central Namibia where you will spend our first evening. Okonjima Lodge is based at the popular Africat Foundation where you have the chance to learn more about the Namibian population of free-roaming predators (Lion, Leopard, Hyena and smaller species) and the way this foundation is trying to protect them living on private cattle farms.
They also have a fascinating rehabilitation centre where you can get close up views of these amazing animals. They currently focus on research on lesser known species such as Brown Hyena and Pangolin helping you getting a better understanding of these fascinating animals.
After dinner you will do a night drive where you could spot possible species like Honey Badger, Porcupine, Brown and Spotted Hyena, Lesser Bushbaby, Springhare, Aardvark, Pangolin, Black-backed Jackal and Caracal.
Day 14: End of Itinerary
Depending on your time of departure and the species we might have missed you can do a short morning excursion after which you make your way to the airport for your departure home.
