Namibia Highlights Photographic Tour

Depending on your flight's arrival time, you can either stay one night in the capital city, Windhoek Windhoek
Surrounded by the stubble-covered Auas Mountains and the endless Khomas Hochland, Windhoek lies in a long valley fed by ancient hot springs in the central highlands of Namibia.
More... , or join the tour immediately and drive directly (about three hours) to your Kalahari Kalahari
The Kalahari Desert in Namibia is a vast basin of semi-arid plains, dry savanna and moist woodland
More... safari lodge.

On the way: Hardap Dam Nature Reserve has nature trails and game drives with black rhino among the wildlife.

When you're there: Sunset photography drive, night-sky shoots and stargazing.

Accommodation options: Kalahari Accommodation

Sunrise photo hike or drive before breakfast before you head west to the Namib Desert and its Great Sand Sea at Sossusvlei Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia with red sand dunes rising 300m into the air.
More... . Late afternoon/sunset shoot atop the nearby Elim Dune. The drive takes about four hours.

On the way: The drive reveals the transition from Kalahari thornveld to the true desert of the Namib; Lilyveld, a valley 30km north of Maltahöhe, springs into bloom for about a week after good rains; Duiwiseb Castle is an interesting diversion 70km south-west of Maltahöhe.

When you're there: We will enter Sossusvlei before sunrise to arrive at the dunes with the clearest light and to beat the rush of people who enter an hour later. Dead pan is a photographer's dream with its flat floor of sheer white, gnarled petrified acacias and the towering red dunes behind. The deep blue sky and clear light are essential ingredients. The view from the top is also sensational - rewarding that hefty trek through the soft sand.

Accommodation options: Sossusvlei Accommodation

A five-hour drive north takes you through the gradual change from mountains and dunes to rolling grass-covered hills with scattered acacia trees. Swakopmund is a quaint resort town by the sea with an obvious German heritage at odds with its bleak surrounds.

On the way: Look out for the endemic Hartmann's mountain zebra as you leave; stop at Solitaire, about 80km from Sesriem for some home-made bread and an ice cold drink; Kuiseb Canyon has some shady picnic spots; you can see springbok and pure-bred wild ostrich across the vast gravel plains of the Namib; the lunar landscape; look out for the welwitschia plant.

When you're there: Visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon - a RAMSAR wetlands site - where thousands of flamingoes, pelicans and numerous waders feed in the nutrient-rich shallows; restaurants, shops and attractions in Swakopmund Swakopmund
Swakopmund, Namibia is a charming oasis of activity and civilisation
More... ; spend an extra day making the most of the cool air and refreshing sea.

Among the many organised activities, we recommend a discovery of the living desert - take your macro lens; a scenic flight over Skeleton Coast; a comfortable and fascinating boat cruise of Walvis Bay where you meet dolphins, sea lions, pelicans and terns; and paragliding or quad biking for an exciting dunes experience.

Accommodation options: Swakopmund Accommodation

Damaraland Damaraland
Damaraland is Namibia's best-kept secret with incredible scenery and wildlife, sheer rocky mountains and khaki plains
More... has picturesque granite outcrops; dolerite dykes that have been carved over aeons; rolling grass-covered hills; tree-studded riverbeds and endless open skies that make this area one of the most scenic regions of Namibia. The drive to Damaraland takes up to five hours because there is much to see and do along the way.

On the way: Photo ops abound en route including along the Skeleton Coast Skeleton Coast
Namibia's Skeleton Coasts offers views of shipwrecks, marinelife and uninhabited wilderness
More... to Cape Cross - the largest breeding cape fur seal colony in the world (the stench of 100,000 seals can be a tad over-powering: take a handkerchief to cover your nose); fascinating lichen fields and a salt pan that is an excellent birding spot; the Twfylefontein rock paintings, the Petrified Forest and the Organ Pipes.

When you're there: Game drives on private reserves in search of the famed desert-adapted elephant, black rhino and giraffe; among other hardy plains herds look out for Hartmann's mountain zebra; spend more time exploring the Twfylefontein rock paintings, the Petrified Forest, Vingerklip and the Organ Pipes; hike up the Brandberg Mountain, Namibia's highest point at 2,573m.

Accommodation options: Damaraland Accommodation

You will be about half way between the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park in Namibia is one of Africa's great game parks
More... , the drive is a scenic few hours through more of Damaraland's singular beauty. The southern gate is much closer to southern Damaraland and will take about three hours; the eastern gate will take an extra two hour's travelling.

On the way: If you're going east, the world's largest meteorite, Hoba, is on a longish ring road via Grootfontein; the southern route is almost too short to stop, barring a comfort stop at Outjo and a picture of the Ugab Terrace.

When you're there: Etosha has an estimated 250 lions, 300 rhinos, 2,500 giraffes, 6,000 zebras, 20,000 springbok and 2,000 elephants. This on top of a large number of lesser and common plains herds, and abundant birds makes game viewing in Etosha something special. The surrounding lodges all have private reserves with equally impressive wildlife numbers and they offer private game viewing activities into the park.

Accommodation options: Etosha Accommodation

You have a long drive to Windhoek today: up to six hours if you're travelling from the east and four from the south. The roads are all paved so it's a comfortable ride to arrive in time for your onward flight or a night in Windhoek.

On the way: Okahandja has the largest wood carvers' market in Namibia