Namibia is no longer synonymous only with barren landscapes, dust and heat. The secret has been revealed, and most travelling photographers now covet the chance to traipse the sands, camera in hand, searching for a different angle, a unique moment of light, and a chance to capture the wealth of diversity and stark beauty this untamed wilderness has to offer.

The tour starts with a chance to photograph the mesmerizing Leopard, which appears with uncanny regularity at a nearby farm, allowing for unique and rare photographic opportunities. Next, we trade the thrill of ocellated spots, for the sensuous dune curves of the oldest desert in the world, the Namib. There is no better place for a desert photo shoot than amongst the grandiose charm of Sossusvlei. Timing, positioning and choice of subject will allow the imagination to run amok, capturing mesmerizing sand patterns and sweeping grass, amongst contortioned skeletal trees. Shapes, colours and shadows will entertain us whilst the soft light lasts, until our focus swings towards the birds like Burchell’s Courser or a handsome Ludwig’s Bustard.

Following the contours of the Namib dune sea, we reach Walvis Bay Lagoon – one of Africa’s most important wetland habitats. Teeming with shorebirds, terns, flamingos and squadrons of Great White Pelicans, there is never a shortage of photographic opportunities, just changing tides, and different clusters of feeding birds. When the light is too harsh to photograph birds on the glassy lagoon, we will explore the coastal dunes, hoping to encounter some of its most remarkable denizens, namely Peringuey’s Adder, the photogenic Palmatogecko, sand-dancing Shovel-snouted Lizard or even-tempered Namaqua Chameleon.

Leaving the coast behind we head east towards the magnetic beauty of Spitzkoppe. This desert inselberg is home to one of Namibia’s rarest endemic birds – Herero Chat, and here too, we hope to find the delicate Namaqua Sandgrouse, cryptic Rueppell’s Korhaan, and a fascinating legacy of San rock art. Atop the escarpment, teetering on the edge of a now extinct crater, Erongo, we will explore its jumbled, granite boulders and amphitheatres from idyllic comfort. Here, every effort to attract Namibia’s most remarkable endemics now allows the visitor to photograph once difficult species like Hartlaub’s Francolin, Damara Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, the recently discovered Black Mongoose, elusive African Porcupine, and dainty Damara Dik-Dik.

The grand finale, Etosha NP, promises not to let anyone down. Downloading images and keeping your battery from overheating may become a far greater challenge than finding ideal subjects to photograph. Day and night the struggle for survival is evident throughout the park, and more so during this period – the end of the dry season. With water dwindling, thousands of thirsty ungulates including Springbok, Oryx, Burchell’s Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, and Giraffe drag themselves to-and-fro risking their lives to reach the diminishing water holes. Aware and poised, opportunistic prides of Lion, and groups of Cheetah, are often seen reaping this bounty. As the heat of the day tempers, a distinct night shift awakens, and thanks to the legendary floodlit waterholes it is easy to witness and photograph a star studded procession including Black Rhino, hulking African Elephant, weary Black-backed Jackal, Spotted Hyaena and slithering genets as they approach the waters’ edge. This is but a brief summary of only a few of the many memorable photo shoots that await in Namibia.

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek. Transfer from Airport to a private farm for a chance to photograph leopard.

Day 2: Early morning photographing Leopards. Afternoon drive to Sossusvlei.

Day 3: Morning at Sossusvlei and afternoon at Sesriem.

Day 4: Morning at Sossusvlei and departure at noon for Walvis Bay

Day 5: Morning on privately arranged Dune Desert Tour in search of  herps. Afternoon photographing birds at Walvis Bay Lagoon

Day 6: Morning at Cape Cross Seal Colony and afternoon at Walvis Bay Lagoon or Rooibank

Day 7: Early departure from Walvis Bay. Morning at Spitzkoppe. Afternoon at Erongo Wilderness Lodge

Day 8: A full day at Erongo Wilderness Lodge

Day 9: Morning through to Etosha. Night at Okakuejo Camp

Day 10: Etosha NP, Okakuejo Camp

Days 11-12: Etosha NP, Halali Camp

Day 13: Etosha NP, Namutoni Camp

Day 14: Etosha NP to Windhoek.

Day 15: Departure day

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