Wilmari Keil

Wilmari's favourite destinations:

I love the diversity of the green landscape and the river on the Caprivi. The animal sightings are also amazing from boat and land viewing. I also really enjoyed visiting the remote Skeleton Coast, Hartmanns Valley and the northern Kaokoland area.

Her areas of expertise:

I like a challenge so I am always up to take on any type of itinerary/ tour as per a client's request, but if I have to choose then I would say I enjoy booking photography tours and honeymoon couples.

Favourite lodges:

I love so many lodges but my favourites have to be Onguma The Fort,  Sossusvlei Desert Lodge and Omaanda.

Favourite itinerary:

11 Day Extravagant Fly-in Safari, 11 Day Namibia Highlights Self-drive Safari and the 11 Day Namibia Highlights Private Guided Safari. I feel these itineraries cover all the must-see highlights of the country and guests really get to see the best parts of Namibia in just short of two weeks.

Best memory on safari:

Doing the Skeleton Coast fly-in Safari with my colleague a few years ago. The landscape is simply amazing and you feel like you are on a different planet. I also did an educational trip in Zimbabwe and I'll never forget seeing a cheetah snoozing on a dead tree trunk at sunset. The perfect photo moment.

Travel tip:

Do your research on the areas you will travel ahead of time. We provide loads of information and I always feel if you know a bit about a place beforehand you also know what to expect and what not to miss. Of course always bring a hat and sunblock, the Namibian sun gets hot in the desert.

Best kept travel secret:

A power bank is a must to charge your phone and camera, as your memories are all you have once the tour is done.

Favourite travel quote:

“Travelling, it leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller.“~ Ibn Battuta

Her story...

Wilmari joined us in March of 2011 and within a few weeks it felt like she had been here for years.

Born and bred in Swakopmund, Willa (pronounced Villa) is our home-grown Namibia specialist - one could almost say evangelist. Having lived in Cape Town for two years while studying and after travelling abroad to Hong Kong and Australia, Wilmari is happy to be back home and says of Namibia:

Namibia is a magical country, not only the landscape, the people, the traditions and the mixed cultures, but the way of life here. I cannot explain it properly though, you just have to come and experience it for yourself.

Besides travelling and heading off to explore all that Namibia and her bordering countries have to offer, she's happy to go anywhere just as long as it's a new experience and she can do it with her husband Gunnar and precious daughter Evie, her family and closest friends. She is a friendly, outgoing person, always keen to try new things and, like all Namibians, loves getting out and about and enjoying the freedom of this enormous country.

Favourite lodge in Namibia? There are so many, she says, but probably Okonjima Lodge Villa and Bush Suite for their warm and efficient service, luxury suites and their excellent conservation programmes. And favourite destination in Namibia? Even more difficult. Swakopmund (there's no place like home), Sossusvlei , Damaraland , Etosha National Park and the Fish River Canyon. Probably easier to say, anywhere, so long as it's in Namibia.