Namibia Landscapes and wildlife

Namibia landscapes & wildlife adventure

Together with Nature & Photo Magazine we are thrilled to lead this fantastic journey through Namibia, one of the msot photogenic countries in the world. The highlights are endless:

– the unique quiver trees during daytime and under the Milky Way at night
– the ghost town of Kolmanskop and the coastal town of Lüderitz
– the worlds tallest sand dunes, glowing red at sunrise and sunset with amazing compositional options!
– Living desert! We look for snakes, chameleons, gekkos etc. These are species specialized for life in the desert.
– we will photograph an enormous seal colony at the coast
– the Skeleton Coast
– several days on Safari in Etosha National Park. Enormous packs of elephants, antilopes and lots of predators like lions, cheetas and leopards. We will also photograph the endangered black rhino at a water hole.

Itinerary

Day 1
Windhoek                         The Windhoek Luxury Suites   

– You will be met by your guides on arrival in Windhoek and handed your travel documents
– City tour of Windhoek with your guide (if time permits)
– The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing at your own leisure
– For dinner tonight, we will head into town for a bite to eat at one of Windhoek’s well-known restaurant

Day 2 & 3
Keetmanshoop                      Quiver Tree Rest Camp

Windhoek  – Keetmanshoop                 508km – approximately 5 to 6 hours

– Early morning start as we make our way to Keetmanshoop
– Heading south via Mariental to Keetmanshoop where we will spend the next few nights
– Visit the Giant’s Playground and Quiver Tree Forest, a beautiful site where three large aloes grow between rocks
– Access to the Quiver Tree Forest for night photography has been included

Day 4 & 5
Luderitz                                 Nest Hotel

Keetmanshoop  – Luderitz        350km – approximately 4 hours

– Enjoy a lovely breakfast before heading west through harsh but beautiful terrain which changes to wide open desert plains as we make our way to the coast
– our drive will take us via Aus, where we may be lucky to view the wild desert horses in the area
– 1 full day is set aside to enjoy the historic town of Lüderitz and visit the amazing Kolmanskop Ghost Town
– Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at any of the local restaurants in town
–  photo permits are included in our stay which grants us access to Kolmanskop before sunrise and after sunset

Days 6 – 8

Namib Desert                      Dead Valley Lodge

Windhoek – Sossusvlei             350km – approximately 5 to 6 hours

– After breakfast, we will depart to the “sea of sand” backtracking to Aus and then heading north via Helmeringhausen
– Stay at Dead Valley Lodge inside the park to be able to take photographs before sunrise and after sunset
– Wake up early for breakfast (Day 7 & 8) and then head south to Sossusvlei for some amazing pictures as the sun rises
– Spend the morning in the beautiful Sossusvlei area, exploring the highlights: Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, Elim Dune and the Sesriem Canyon
– Return to the lodge for lunch and then head back into the park to snap some photos at sunset
– Optional extra activities: Guided Sossusvlei excursion; Hot air balloon safari; Nature drives

Day 9 & 10
Swakopmund                        Swakopmund Luxury Suites

Sossusvlei – Swakopmund       350km – approximately 5 to 6 hours

– Depart after breakfast and head north to Solitaire, then west crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons via the Namib Gravel Plains to the coast
– Either via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund, or (recommended) detour via Ganab to the Welwitschia Plains and Moon Landscape
– The Namibian coastline is generally known as The Skeleton Coast due to the barren areas, ship wrecks and, in days gone by, whale skeletons left on the beach
– 1 full day is set aside for this lovely area where Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer a wide range of activities
– Activities included in our stay:

4×4 Sandwich Harbour Excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience)

4×4 Living Desert Tour

– Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at a café or restaurant overlooking the sea

Day 11
Spitzkoppe                         Spitzkoppen Lodge

Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe       180km – approximately 3 to 4 hours

– Head north along the Skeleton Coast, via Henties Bay to visit the Cape Cross seal colony. Along the way, we stop at the Lichen Fields as well as the ship wreck between the colourful small town of Wlotskasbaken and Henties Bay
– Backtrack to Henties Bay and head inland through wide open plains to Spitzkoppe
– Spend some time taking pictures of the incredible Spitzkoppe Mountain and landscape of the area including the Rock Arch and surrounds
– A chance to see some Bushman paintings
– Enjoy the view at sunset… one of the most beautiful sunsets in Africa!

Days 12-14

Etosha National Park       Okaukuejo Resort

Spitzkoppe – Etosha (south)      440km – approximately 5 to 6 hours

-After breakfast, head via Usakos and Karibib before turning north via Omaruru to Outjo and further on to the southern entrance of Etosha, the Anderson Gate
– If time permits, enter Etosha for an afternoon game drive. Depending on how often we stop today, we should arrive at our lodge in time for lunch (optional extra)
– On entering the park, the first stop is Okaukuejo.
– 2 full days are set aside to enjoy game drives in the park or to enjoy the waterhole at the lodge inside the park… a great place to sit with our cameras ready for sightings, even at night
– Etosha is one of Africa’s great game parks. With 114 species of mammal and 340 species of birds we are sure to see a great variety of wildlife on your safari

Day 15

Drive back to Windhoek

Etosha – Windhoek                   490km – approximately 5 hours

Head back to Windhoek today and fly back home after an amazing trip.

GUIDED BY ARILD HEITMANN & TOM SCHANDY