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Namibia

with Michael Melford, Eddie Soloway
June 21 - July 4, 2020 Expedition
Limited to 6 Participants. From $15,565  
Register Now
  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Instructors
  • Gallery
  • Pricing
  • Highlights
  • Accommodations
  • Travel
  • Expectations

Overview

Explore a diverse set of destinations and capture the breadth of Namibia’s beauty

on this customized photographic journey.

Experience the haunting beauty of Namibia – Africa’s desert gem – with generous instruction by renowned photographers Michael Melford and Eddie Soloway along the way. Michael and Eddie have both traveled in and photographed Namibia several times and are very familiar with its many photographic opportunities, and the best times and places to make the most of them. Our itinerary has been designed to take maximum advantage of some of the best landscape, cultural, and wildlife photography opportunities that Namibia has to offer. We will explore the elegant forms of the thousand-foot red dunes of Sossusvlei, striking quivertree forests and geological formations, ghost towns abandoned to drifting sands, Swakopumund and Walvis Bay, including a scenic flight over the renowned Skeleton Coast. And, of course, we wouldn’t let you leave Namibia without spending a few days at Etosha National Park. Timed to coincide when plentiful wildlife species will arrive at the watering holes of Lake Etosha for replenishment during the dry season, we will stay at two different camps near the southern and eastern sections of the Park, with multiple opportunities to drive through and experience the different areas of the park.

In addition to attentive photographic instruction throughout by Michael and Eddie, our group of up to six photographers will be led by two professional and highly experienced local naturalist guides. This trip includes excellent lodging, one scenic light aircraft flight – Sossusvlei to  Swakopmund  – ground transfers and group ground transportation in specially-fitted land cruisers from start to finish, and all meals, snacks, and beverages.

Itinerary

Day 1, June 21: ARRIVAL DAY

Arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek by early afternoon. After clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by a local representative and transferred to the Hilton Hotel Windhoek, which is located in the heart of the city by the main shopping streets and pedestrian zone of Namibia’s capital. We will meet for an orientation session in the early evening, followed by our first dinner as a group at a popular local restaurant close to the hotel.

Overnight at Hilton Hotel Windhoek. (D)

Day 2, June 22: QUIVERTREE FOREST

Drive to Quivertree Forest Rest Camp, with a picnic lunch provided en route. Arrive at the farm Gariganus where everyone can explore the ancient and famous Quiver Tree Forest and the dolerite rock formations of the Giants Playground. The quiver tree or “Kokerboom” is one of the most interesting and characteristic plants of the very hot and dry parts of Namibia. The quiver trees can be two to three centuries old (look for the tallest ones) and are actually a species of aloe.

Overnight at Quivertree Forest Rest Camp. (B,L,D)

Day 3, June 23: LUDERITZ

Early morning cheetah photography near the Quiver Tree Forest, followed by a late breakfast. Then depart to Lüderitz via Aus, looking out for the Wild Horses of the Namib – the only herd of feral horses in Africa – along the way. Afternoon tour and photography in Lüderitz. Located on the edge of the diamond-rich Sperrgebiet area, Lüderitz is a fascinating relic of Germany’s late 19th-century imperial aspirations.

Overnight at Luderitz Nest Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 4, June 24: KOLMANSKOP AND ELIZABETH BAY

Early morning and afternoon photography in the ghost mining towns of Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay. Once a booming mining town, Kolmanskop faced depopulation after the diamond mine collapsed. The town is now overwhelmed with sand, around the buildings and inside them. You will also see and photograph the iconic images of Sperregebiet and old, deserted buildings where the bricks have eroded and only the mortar is left in Elizabeth Bay.

Overnight at Luderitz Nest Hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 5 – 7, June 25 – 27: SOSSUSVLEI

Depart Lüderitz in the morning on June 25 and drive to Sossusvlei via Aus, again looking out for the Wild Horses of the Namib, and past the Namib Rand Nature Reserve. Sossusvlei is one of the most photographed places in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, how and when you photograph there is very important, and our guides will know what to do. In fact, from the property of our overnight accommodations, you can reach Sossusvlei before sunrise, and stay until after sunset—a special and unique requirement needed to get the best photography field sessions possible.

The next two days we will have early morning photography sessions in Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and Sesriem Canyon, before returning to the lodge for lunch and a break in the early afternoon. There will be an option each day to return to Sossusvlei for sundowner photography. Located in Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft National Park, the Sossusvlei region is a salt and clay pan famous for its sand dunes. The dunes range in color from deep orange to bright pink and are some of the largest in the world, occasionally exceeding 1,000 feet. The fascinating colors of the dunes are due to oxidation of the sand’s high iron content. The older dunes are more intensely red, and some of the more stable dunes are partially covered with vegetation. Underground and ephemeral rivers occasionally flood the pans, creating marshes known as vlei in the Afrikaans language.

Overnight at Sossus Dune Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 8, June 28: SWAKOPMUND

Your guides will take you to the airstrip for your scenic charter light aircraft flight from Sossusvlei up the Coast to Swakopmund Airport for refueling, flying over shipwrecks, deserted mining camps, seal colonies and Sandwich Harbour. Enjoy a relaxing group lunch, explore the town, and wander along the waterfront on foot before heading off to dinner with your guide at a popular restaurant in Swakopmund which specializes in fresh seafood.

Overnight at Strand Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 9, June 29: DAMARALAND

Enjoy breakfast and explore the shops in Swakopmund before heading via the Brandberg Mountain in the distance, to Damaraland.  In the mid to late afternoon, your guides will take you to visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

Overnight at Mowani Mountain Camp (B,L,D)

Days 10 – 12, June 30 – July 2: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Spend the morning of June 30 in search of desert adapted elephants with your guides and vehicles, if they are in the area, whilst en-route to the southern boundary of the Etosha National Park.  Enjoy a short afternoon game viewing experience in southern section of Etosha National Park with your guides and vehicles, if time allows, returning to the lodge before sunset.

Overnight at Ongava Lodge (B, L, D)

The following day, July 1, will be a full day of game driving across the park via the resorts of Okaukeuejo, Halali and Namutoni, stopping at selected watering holes along the way and for a picnic lunch in the park. Leave the park before sunset and continue to Mushara, which is situated in the outskirts of the eastern gate to the park.

July 2 will be another full day of game viewing in the eastern section of Etosha National Park, with a picnic lunch in the park. Return to Mushara in the late afternoon.

Overnight at Mushara Outpost (B,L,D)

Day 13, July 3: RETURN TO WINDHOEK

After breakfast, drive via the small towns of Tsumeb, Otavi, Otjiwarongo and Okahandja back to Windhoek.  Arrive in Windhoek in the late afternoon. Enjoy a final celebratory dinner wtih your guides at a popular restaurant in Windhoek. After dinner you bid your guides a fond farewell.

Overnight at Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 14, July 4: DEPARTURE DAY

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)

Instructors

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    • Michael Melford

    • National Geographic Photographer Michael Melford has worked with the Society for over 30 ...
    • Eddie Soloway

    • Eddie Soloway’s photographs are the expression of his passion for the natural world. In 1998, he received the Excellence in Photographic Teaching Award presented by the Santa Fe Center ...

Gallery

Pricing

Double Occupancy $15,565

Single Occupancy $16,125

Proceed

All costs are per person.

Click here to view our payment, cancellation, and refund policies, as well as terms and conditions of participation.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

  • 50% deposit to confirm registration
  • 50% final payment due February 22, 2020

PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • Accommodations for 14 nights
  • Generous photographic instruction throughout the workshop
  • Private scenic light aircraft flight from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund
  • Airport transfers; ground transportation between and within locations in Land Cruisers specially outfitted for photographers.
  • All meals and snacks from dinner on June 21 to breakfast on July 4; all non-alcoholic beverages, and wine and beer with dinner
  • Knowledgeable and expert naturalist guides
  • All park fees and permits

EXCLUDED

  • Travel insurance, including trip cancellation, emergency medical and evacuation insurance (strongly recommended)
  • International or domestic airfare in and out of Windhoek (before and after itinerary)
  • Additional hotel nights, meals or other costs for arrivals prior to the start date or departures after the end date
  • Cost of passports, any necessary entry visas or reciprocity fees, vaccinations, or other personal travel expenses
  • Telephone calls, email and internet, and other communications that incur extra cost
  • Items of personal nature such as laundry, sundries, etc.
  • Alcoholic beverages other than those offered with dinners
  • Any optional activities / excursions or extras other than those specified in inclusions
  • Gratuities for the naturalist guides

 

Highlights

  • Two highly-acclaimed photographers and teachers, Michael Melford and Eddie Soloway, with differing but complimentary styles, sought out for their teaching abilities and extensive knowledge on photography
  • Elegant red dunes of Sossusvlei
  • Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop
  • Giant’s Playground rock formations
  • Eerily beautiful ghost town of Kolmanskop, overwhelmed by desert sand
  • Desert-adapted African wildlife
  • Wildlife spectacle of Etosha National Park
  • Highly experienced local naturalist guides ensure excellent participant support and an incredibly rich learning experience.
  • Small group size and low ratio of participants to instructors (3:1)
  • Constructive critiques of participants photographs along the way
  • Excellent accommodations throughout

Accommodations

Accommodations are in excellent hotels and luxury lodges and camps:

  • Hilton Hotel Windhoek (1 night)
  • Quivertree Forest Rest Camp (1 night)
  • Luderitz Nest Hotel (2 nights)
  • Sossus Dune Lodge (3 nights)
  • Strand Hotel (1 night)
  • Mowani Mountain Camp (1 night)
  • Ongava Lodge (1 night)
  • Mushara Outpost (2 nights)
  • Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel (1 night)

Travel

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Fly into and out of Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) (international flights not included). Private charter flight within Namibia are included.
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All airport transfers included. Ground transportation between and within locations will be provided in Land Cruisers specially fitted for photography.
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Walks on location will be relatively easy.
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Temperatures throughout the trip should range from afternoon highs around 80ºF and nighttime lows around 30ºF. Expect sun and little or no precipitation. Fog is a possibility near the coast.

Expectations

My time with Visionary Wild in Namibia totally exceeded my expectations! I only travel with small groups and only with photo groups, being totally obsessed with photography as I am, and this past trip was definitely one of my favorites.   It was so well organized ….. Eddie and Michael were excellent leaders, always available and in good moods (!) , the places we stayed were over the top and I got wonderful images!   I can’t recommend them highly enough!   – Nina H., 2018 Namibia participant

Namibia

with Michael Melford, Eddie Soloway
June 21 - July 4, 2020 Expedition
Limited to 6 Participants. From $15,565  
Register Now

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