Cool wind in my hair. Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air… This song, “Hotel California” sets the scene as I drive through the Namib desert.
Waves of sand dunes and warm earth tones fill my senses as we travel the vast desert roads. As the breeze rolls through my shirt, I get goosebumps. The adventure has begun. My eyes frame out endless scenes and snapshots as we make our way to our first destination. We arrive at the Quiver Tree Forest. The night air is crisp, and our thoughts turn to the stars. The galaxy awaits as we set up for our first shot. The trees are magical; they appear foreign and unique. Each and every tree has a different personality with thorn-like hands reaching towards the sky.
After having our fill of crazy trees we head towards the beach, where we’ll stay to be near Kolmanskop where the deserted ghost town hosts a plethora of sand filled doorways. As you walk the once thriving streets, there is an overriding thought of desertion. It is as if a gun went off and everyone fled leaving behind their homes and even some of their possessions. It’s an eerie feeling, one that I can’t quite express. But empty, shallow, mirthless, haunting, gone… yes, gone… are words that come to mind. Photographers flock here to recreate that feel.
Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei are our next stops. The Dead Vlei (loosely translated to mean dead marsh) is home to the famous skeleton trees aka camel thorn trees, which are believed to have died approximately 650 years ago. Photographers come from far and wide to capture these trees against the orange dunes. Sossusvlei is a dune rich environment teeming with wildlife and desert creatures, making a birds eye view extremely popular. The light bounces off the dunes in a rhythmic way, creating multiple color tones as the shaded areas have rich dark tones while the sunnier areas have glistening colors of pinks and peaches. Here we will have an optional helicopter ride available.
The Dead Vlei ariel shot.
One of my favorite trees to photograph in front of the Milky Way.
Next, we head towards the coast, our destination, Swakopmund. This stop is actually a popular, coastal city in Namibia with world class restaurants and a variety of entertainment. Photographers seek out the bird life, including the flocks of flamingos. There are also massive sand dunes with tiny desert creatures. The reptiles found on the dunes are so small and adorable, you almost need a macro lens to photograph them! We drive on top of the large sand dunes, this is a surreal experience, we have access to views that most never see. Picture golden dunes as far as the eye can see with never ending undulating lines and forms.
Aerial from a helicopter near the beach.
Our final destination on this amazing photo rich tour is Etosha National Park. Etosha is one of the largest national parks in Africa. Here we will have safari game drives and photograph the usual suspects as well as some special species that we don’t often see, like the endangered Black Rhino. There are watering holes in Etosha and when it is dry, the animals (all different species) converge around the water. Making photography very special, you never know what is lurking around those watering holes in the brush-could it be a lion or two?? Maybe….
Pronking Springbok
October 10-24, 2026 (14 nights) $9,999 This is an excellent price for 14 nights- Spots filled, thank you.
This tour includes:
- All accommodation
- All transfers & travels in Namibia
- Breakfast & Dinners included everywhere -except in Swakopmund which will only include breakfast.
- Bottled water in the vehicles
- All park fees
- Ghost Town early entry photo permits
- Catamaran Charters Marine Dolphin & Seal Cruise
To join this amazing 14 night photo tour or to check out the detailed itinerary for this trip CHECK OUT THE LINK.