Photography tour to Namibia
Namibia
About the Tour
We are proud to announce one of our most diverse and adventurous photography tours - a 14-day tour to Namibia (Africa).
Namibia is a perfect country to start exploring Africa. It is safe. It is in the top of Africa's richest and safest countries.
It is vast and sparsely populated, which gives a sense of remoteness and untouched beauty.
It has stunning and amazingly diverse landscape: from the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert to the otherworldly terrain of Spitzkoppe. To say nothing of an impressive coastline and unique endemic flora.
Namibia is home to a rich array of wildlife. National parks and private game reserves offer photographers the chance to capture unique scenes of wild life of elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos, and other iconic African animals. During the tour will have the opportunity to watch and photograph practically at arm's length the African Big Five.
Namibia is also renowned for its clear, unpolluted skies, making it a paradise for astrophotographers. Get your widest lens ready to photograph mesmerizing night sky and the Milky Way.
A photography tour to Namibia is not only about capturing stunning landscape images but also about experiencing the country's cultural diversity and history. During the tour we will practice portrait photography in the local tribe and visit a ghost town, a former diamond mining place, now slowly being swallowed by sand.
We chose the right time for the tour. April marks the transition from the wet to the dry season in Namibia. The weather is generally mild and pleasant, with cooler temperatures and less intense heat. This season is perfect in terms of wildlife visibility and clear skies.
A tour to Namibia perfectly suits not only professional and amateur photographers, but also
photography enthusiasts who take pictures with a smartphone only. We stay in amazing and safe lodges and have very tasty and high-quality meals.
You will definitely want to return to Africa again after this tour!
Itinerary
Day 1 Day 1
On this day (or the day before if you prefer to have one day for adaptation and good sleep) you arrive at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport. We pick you up at the airport and check in at a hotel in the center of the capital of Namibia. In the evening we meet as a group for welcome dinner to get acquainted and discuss our plan for the next days.
Day 2 Day 2
After breakfast we drive 3-4 hours to the private game reserve, where we will photograph the Big African Five and not just that! After checking in to a comfortable rustic lodge we go on our first sgaming with a professional safari guide. In the evening we have amazing dinner served in beautiful traditional African lapa around camp fire with a glimpse of the night sky.
Day 3 Day 3
On this day we will have 2 gamings (at sunrise and at sunset). During the day you can relax on the grounds of our beautiful lodge, take a dip in the pool and watch the hippos, monkeys and other animals that live in the vast grounds of the lodge.
Day 4 Day 4
After the sunrise gaming, we move to another game reserve (2-3 hours), where we will have a sunset safari and dinner overlooking the pond, where animals come to drink in the evening.
Day 5 Day 5
After the morning safari and checkout we move to the unique Spitzkoppe (3-4 hours), a striking granite peak rising dramatically from the flat Namibian desert landscape. This place is very important for Namibians in terms of cultural and spiritual value. We stay at a very picturesque lodge, from the terrace of which you can already photograph the mountains and the night sky. The restaurant at the lodge is known for its exquisite cuisine. This is where we practice night sky photography for the first time
Day 6 Day 6
At sunrise we shoot the iconic peaks and rock formations of Spitzkoppe.
In the afternoon we explore the area between the mountains, which is famous for prehistoric rock paintings. Namibia is a cultural mosaic, with indigenous groups such as the Himba people. We will visit the nearest Himba village. During your visit, you can learn about their customs and daily life. You’ll have the opportunity to see their traditional huts, observe their skilled craftsmanship in jewelry and twooden animal figures, and witness the intricate process of women applying the iconic ochre mixture to their skin and hair. Their traditional ways of life provide us with great opportunities of portrait photography.
At night time we photograph the iconic granite arch, one of Namibia's natural wonders
Day 7 Day 7
At sunrise we photograph the arch again and after breakfast we head to Walvis bay (3-4 hours). On this day we go on a jeep safari to see the place where the ocean meets the desert, and if we are lucky, we will see the local inhabitants: flamingos, seals and pelicans. The combination of thrilling off-road driving and stunning natural beauty makes this jeep safari an unforgettable experience. After a busy day we will reward ourselves by the freshest oysters from the nearest oyster farm. Did you expect to eat oysters in Namibia?
Day 8 Day 8
On this day we will have to undertake a five-hour drive to Sossuvlei, perhaps the most famous place in Namibia. This place is known for its striking red sand dunes, some of which are among the tallest in the world. After checking in to the lodge, we will drive to the impressive dunes area and do an easy hike (optional) up the top of the dune with a breathtaking view of the setting sun.
Day 9 Day 9
On this day we leave far before sunrise to photograph the famous white clay pan with ancient dead trees (over 600 years old) in the Deadvlei valley. Despite their age, the trees have not decomposed due to the extreme arid conditions, which preserve the wood. The result is a hauntingly beautiful forest of skeletal trees.
During the day we relax at the lodge. Our sunset spot is the most famous dune in Sossuvlei, which is considered to be the most photographed dune in the world.
Day 10 Day 10
This morning you have a chance to take an unforgettable hot air balloon flight (optional). The rest of the group will photograph the dunes. After checkout we move to the new place. On this day we have to undertake the longest drive of 6-7-hours. We check-in at the beautiful and comfortable with a sea view. After dinner we drive 15 minutes to photograph the abandoned railway station with the Milky way above it. The station is now a ghostly relic, with cracked walls, peeling paint, and rusted metalwork. The surrounding desert sands have begun to reclaim the area, encroaching upon the building and adding to its desolate charm. Do not forget to take your widest lens with you!
Day 11 Day 11
In the morning far before sunrise we drive to the abandoned city of Kolmanskop. We will have a chance to explore this mystical place before the tourists arrive. The shifting sands that slowly reclaim the buildings create stunning, ever-changing patterns and landscapes. The interplay of light and shadow throughout the day casts a magical glow on the abandoned structures, making every moment feel like a work of art. We'll come back to Kolmanskop again before sunset. After dinner we go practicing astrophotography again: this time we will shoot the railroad tracks that now lead to nowhere.
Day 12 Day 12
After breakfast we take a boat trip to the rocky island known for its colony of African penguins. On the way to our next destination we will make a quick stop at the lighthouse, where you can fly a drone and meet flamingos. After 4-hour drive we check in to the small and cosy private guesthouse and go exploring the alien-like quiver trees forest. Here you will also meet a big colony of dassies, cute little herbivorous mammals.
Day 13 Day 13
We shoot sunrise in the quiver tree forest. The unique texture and form of the trees against the stark desert backdrop provides endless creative possibilities. At daytime we will have a processing session. You can ask all your question regarding processing techniques. We'll also look through and discuss your best photos from the tour. We will shoot sunset at the Giant's playground, an impressive geological site known for its fascinating rock formations. The area features massive dolerite boulders stacked in a way that resembles a giant's play area, creating a surreal and otherworldly landscape. This place is also perfect for night sky photography.
Behind the Scenes
What's Included
Included
- Guided by 2 professional photographers (English, Russian, Czech languages)
- Twin share
- Transport
- Breakfast and dinner (in safari lodges only)
- Entrance tickets to the all National parks
- Jeep safari in Namibia’s dunes
- Ferry tickets
- Processing sessions
- Support in my private WhatsApp chat
Not Included
- Air tickets
- Visa
- Insurance
- Dinner, lunch, snacks
- Extra-alcohol
- Tips/gratuities
- Personal expenditures (souvenirs etc)
- Airbaloon/airplane flight
- Single supplement +2500 €
- Anything not mentioned in the “Included” list
What to Bring
Photo Equipment
- Camera
- Tripod
- Wide angle lens (11-24mm or 16-35mm)
- Middle range zoom lens (24-70mm or 24-105mm)
- Telephoto zoom lens (minimum 400 mm for the animals, better 500+mm)
- Drone (optional)
- ND filters (3, 6,10 stops), GND, polarizer. Optional
- Memory cards
- Extra batteries
- Shutter release
- Headlamp
- Cleaning kit
Clothing
- Warm jacket (minimum night temperature possible +5C )
- Warm pants
- Short-sleeved and long-sleeved t-shirts and pants
- Hiking shoes or comfortable sneakers
- Hat
- Fleece/softshell jacket
- Casual clothing for dinners, processing sessions
- Repellent spray and repellent device
- Sunglasses
- Suncream
Your Guides
Oleg Rest
My name is Oleg Rest, I am a professional landscape photographer and traveler. I was born in Kazakhstan, the land of steps and severe climate. Since early childhood I was dreaming of traveling. I first took camera in my hands at 6, when my parents rented a Zenit film camera during our holidays on the Black Sea coast. I enthusiastically took pictures of my parents, later with my father we developed films in our bathroom and dried them on a rope. Now I shoot with a modern camera Canon R5, but nature and photography still inspire me the most. I have been to such amazing places as Patagonia, Norway, Iceland, Tuscany, Namibia, Slovenia, China, Moravia, the Alps and the Lofotens, Myanmar, Czech Switzerland and I wish to share my impressions and delight with you! Life is full of beauty. This is my motto. I am not a fan of sophisticated and time-consuming processing of photos. The best shot for me is the one that needs minimal processing. My main principles in photography are:
Interesting composition
Beautiful light
Minimum of processing
Nowadays it is hard to find a location where no photographer has ever been, that is why even in popular places I try to find an unusual foreground which makes any shot look in a new light. I have won several landscape photography competitions. My photos are published by Canon Czech Republic, Canon Ukraine. I am an ambassador of Lucroit filter manufacturer (Spain), H&Y (Hong Kong), software company Skylum (Luminar, Aurora HDR software) and backpack manufacturer f-stop (USA).
Maria Rest
My name is Maria. I am a portrait and landscape photographer. For several years in a row I have been travelling together with my husband and my camera all over the world. This has always been our dream to travel together sharing our love to nature and photography. We are now guiding photography tours together as tour leaders. I am happy to assist Oleg and to help participants of our tours with anything they might need.
Refund & Cancellation
Booking & Payment
A tour is considered booked once you receive confirmation of availability and pay a deposit. The remaining sum is to be paid 90 days before the beginning of the tour.
Cancellation Policy
- 90 days before — deposit is non-refundable (100% of deposit)
- 60 days before — 50% of the tour price
- 30 days before — 100% of the tour price
If the tour is cancelled by me due to force-majeure, 100% of the paid sum is returned to you.
⚠ Important Information
A tour may be cancelled 90 days before departure if the minimum number of spots is not filled.
I strongly recommend NOT buying air, train or bus tickets far in advance. Please buy insurance covering all risks. Purchasing tickets earlier than 90 days before the tour is at your own risk.
All participants acknowledge that tour organizers cannot control weather conditions. The shooting schedule and planned activities may be adjusted on site. The itinerary may also be modified at the sole discretion of the organizers to achieve the best possible results.
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