Namibia

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The Namibia Experience

If you have always wanted to experience the awe-inspiring landscapes of the southern Africa gem of Namibia, this is your opportunity to see it—during both day and night, with an emphasis on having unforgettable night photography opportunities.

We are working closely with a local tour provider and an experienced astro-landscape photographer in the area to uncover Namibia’s hidden gems, including some of the must-see destinations that probably attracted you in the first place.

We will begin in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, where you’ll be warmly welcomed at the airport and transferred to the first night’s hotel. We will host a group welcome and orientation in the afternoon. In the evening we will have our first group dinner.

During the tour, we will be riding in custom overlanding safari vehicles where everyone gets a window seat. You will ride in style and with a clear view of the countryside and with your camera at hand for unexpected opportunities.

First we will journey south toward the Kalahari Desert. The drive will take you through scenic landscapes as you venture into the vast, red dunes that define this iconic desert region. We will experience the magic of a Kalahari sunset, watching as the desert transforms under the golden light, offering a mesmerizing display of colors. We may also have the chance to take a short guided nature walk to explore the desert’s unique wildlife and flora. We will return at night for some astro photography in the desert.

Next on the agenda will be a journey to the Quiver Tree Forest for daytime scouting and astro-landscape photography. Then we’ll move on toward the coastal town of Luderitz via a scenic drive through rugged desert landscapes, with the occasional glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. Upon arrival, we’ll explore Luderitz’s unique blend of German colonial architecture and seaside charm, and we’ll stroll along the waterfront, visit the famous Diaz Point, and take in the striking contrast between the arid desert and the coastal beauty. Luderitz is also the gateway to exploring a nearby ghost town.

We will have an early departure from Luderitz to Kolmanskop to capture the eerie remains of the past diamond rush, with time to explore before setting up the perfect sunrise shots. After a post-sunrise breakfast at the ghost town, we’ll head inland to Aus, where we will photograph an abandoned train station, as well as NamibRand Nature Reserve, which is also a dark sky reserve. Here we will experience a stunning sunset, as well as night photography. There will also be the option (weather permitting, and for an additional fee) of a balloon flight over the reserve, followed by breakfast at the landing site.

From there we’ll move on to Sesriem, the gateway to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, where we’ll shoot shadows growing on the sand dunes in the waning afternoon light. We’ll also witness the stunning sunrise over Sossusvlei, where the towering red dunes create a surreal landscape, followed by Deadvlei, a striking white clay pan surrounded by ancient, dead acacia trees. The contrast of the dark trees against the bright pan and the red dunes creates a photographer’s paradise.

Then we will depart from Sesriem and journey toward the coastal town of Swakopmund for a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. The drive will take us through the striking Namib Desert and to where it eventually meets the Atlantic coast. Here we’ll spend an afternoon exploring the town’s historic architecture and vibrant streets, or you can simply relax by the ocean.

We’ll start our second day in Swakopmund with an exciting boat tour from Walvis Bay, searching for marine life and visiting the thriving seal colony at Pelican Point. We’ll enjoy close encounters with playful seals, seabirds and possibly dolphins, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the desert meeting the sea. Then we’ll head to Sandwich Harbour and embark on a thrilling 4×4 adventure through the towering dunes, experiencing the unique landscape where the vast dunes meet the Atlantic Ocean, offering a truly unforgettable experience.

Our next stop will be at Spitzkoppe, a group of granite peaks that rise dramatically out of the surrounding desert landscape. We’ll get to enjoy and photograph for both day and night, where we’ll capture the Milky Way and starry sky above the formations.

Finally, we’ll end the main tour with a relaxed group breakfast and then head back to Windhoek.

The Etosha National Park Add-On Experience

This is an optional five-day, four-night luxury excursion. From the end of the main tour, we will continue north to Etosha National Park, which is rich with diverse wildlife. On this game tour, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for Etosha’s abundant animals, including elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and myriad antelope species. The park’s unique landscape, dominated by the vast Etosha Pan, provides a stunning backdrop for our safari. We will also witness the magic of nighttime wildlife viewing at the famous waterhole.

You will also see breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, as well as the vast sea of stars in northern Namibia’s dark skies.

This tour will also visit a traditional Himba village where you can learn more about their ancient traditions in the heart of Namibia’s indigenous heritage. The Himba people, known for their unique way of life, striking appearance and deep connection to their environment, offer an unforgettable cultural experience.

This immersive visit will allow us to step into the daily lives of the Himba, one of Africa’s last remaining semi-nomadic tribes. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with community members, to learn about their customs and to witness ancient traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Note: This optional add-on is available only to tour attendees. You will receive a link to purchase a ticket (if desired) after registering for the main tour. 

What You Should Know

This tour caters to knowledgeable photographers with an intermediate or higher skill set. Participants should have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and have a comfortable understanding of night photography fundamentals. We will be happy to offer advice and answer questions about both day and night photography, but the focus of the tour will be location shooting under dark skies, landscape, cultural and adventure photography.

If you would like to join us on this trip but are unsure whether you have adequate night photography skills, we can offer pre-event tutoring to get you ready for your adventure with us. Additionally, a few of us have written books that may be productive pre-trip reads.

What You Will Learn

As this is a photo tour rather than a workshop, the emphasis is getting participants to great locations with great light, and making sure that everyone has the trip of a lifetime. We figure that you don’t travel to Namibia very often, and you wouldn’t want to spend your time in a classroom! This trip is primarily about making great images of a truly unique location.

That said, we do encourage you to think about and set goals for the trip.

What would you like to gain from this experience?

• great images?

• lasting memories?

• a break from the workaday stresses?

• new photography skills?

The instructors will be available for one-on-one guidance in the field as much as time permits, and you can pull us aside during quieter moments to check out your images if you’d like. What you make of this is up to you, but we encourage you to think about it ahead of time.

Night Conditions

Logistics & General Info

A Dream Come True …

I have been dreaming of the red sand dunes of Namibia’s Sossusvlei and Deadvlei for decades. Honestly, I thought it would only ever be a fond wish—never a reality. But here we are, going to Africa!

I met Kyle Goetch as a fellow instructor at PhotoPills Camp in Menorca, Spain. He was outgoing and friendly, and gosh, he knows a lot about Namibia. Kyle lives in Cape Town and goes up to Namibia a lot to run his tours. So we got to talking, and then came up with this plan. He was crucial in getting us started in Namibia and has our gratitude.

I allowed my dream to expand. As it turns out, this country is pretty big. And chock full of incredible sights to see, plus wildlife and the kind of landscapes that make an astro-landscape photographer like me weep with joy and excitement.

So I wiped the tears of joy from my eyes, rolled up my sleeves and began the earnest work of devising our tour in cooperation with a local guide company. It’s been fun. So fun.

It’s been expansive to learn about everything Namibia has to offer. I wish I could say you will see it all, but that’s not possible in 12 days. So we instead focused on bringing you a night photographer’s dream tour of southern Namibia.

We will be riding in style and drinking in the sun, moon, stars and all the sand, trees and more that Namibia offers to us. This is a bucket list trip of a lifetime—for me too.