Namibia

A fascinating journey to a dream destination


Traveling to Namibia was for me a long time dream becoming reality now. Namibia is a very unique destination on our planet especially for every landscape and wildlife photographer. It is a heaven for everybody who is enthusiastic about an authentic and untouched nature.

I was a little bit afraid to travel to Namibia because of some of the most top iconic places which have been photographed and published countless times.

But the landscapes in Namibia are very different, especially in the Namibian summer (November to March), after there has been sufficient rainfall in some places. 

Everything presents itself in an amazing palette of colours. In addition, you find many fine structures and textures created by the wind, especially in the sand dunes or in the rocky landscapes.

A large variety of wild animals and plants, which have to adapt to the extreme climatic conditions in Namibia and the people of different cultures who contribute that Namibia remains an extraordinarily amazing country.


Kalahari Desert

Our first destination in Namibia was the Kalahari Desert close to the town of Mariental. The landscape is captivating from the very first moment. The scenery is gentle and soft, and resembles more an impressionist painting by a famous artist. Blue sky with fair weather clouds, red dunes, golden savannah grass with scattered acacia trees like green spots spread over the picture. And to finish with the icing on the cake there is plenty of wildlife around, blending seamlessly to the surrounding landscape.

click on the pictures to enlarge

The Khoisan of the Kalahari

When we were planning our trip, there was a question whether to visit a living museum of the local Khoi-San people or not. Is this ethically responsible tourism? People put on a display. Finally, I decided to take this opportunity and to learn about their way of life and to let them have a small share of the economic benefit through my entry-fees and buying some handcraft.

click on the pictures to enlarge

The Quiver Tree Forest and the Mesosaurus Fossil Park

For our next destination, we changed the sandy tracks of Kalahari with gravel roads and drove further south towards Keetmanshoop.

The Quiver Tree Forest from Dusk to Dawn: The silhouettes of the Quiver Trees during twilight. The background in all the graduations and hues from dark blue to pink to orange.

Where past meets present and your soul meets nature: Evidence of the Mesosaurus 300 million years ago and proof that Namibia and Brazil were neighbors before the continental drift divided both countries into two continents. The many Fossils remain untouched almost under every rock.


click on the pictures to enlarge

Fish River Canyon

Continuing further south on the excellent gravel roads, to our third destination: the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Fish River Canyon Namibia The Hell's Bend
Fish River Canyon in Namibia The Hell's Bend

The Panorama from the Main Viewpoint creates an awe-inspiring feeling. You can just say “Wow”! Unfortunately, sunrise and sunset are not very spectacular. The hours after sunrise or before sunset are better for photography.

Watching the jumping and running dassies (also known as rock hyraxes) and the ground squirrels is a lot of fun. And caught all our attention. By the way, Dassies are no rodents, that means they are closer to elephants than the guinea pig.


click on the pictures to enlarge

Kolmanskuppe and Solitaire

Kolmanskuppe, a ghost town located in the Namib Desert. The former diamond mining settlement was established by German settlers in the early 1900s but was abandoned by the mid-20th century. Since then, the buildings are slowly sinking in the sand. Rusted metal, peeling paint, broken windows, rotten wood-planks, doors half buried in the sand. It all offers us a glimpse into the past and tells us the stories of old times. Refined aesthetic beauty!

We took the photo permit that allowed us to enter and stay after the opening hours until sunset.

 

Solitaire is a must stop on the way, whether you come from the north or from the south. You refill your car, and you have a coffee break with the famous apple pie.

click on the pictures to enlarge

Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

Without any doubt, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei in Namibia's are among the most visited and photographed iconic places in the world. But there is no reason to skip on your Namibia trip. We did our trip during the off-peak season to avoid the big crowds.

But it is recommended to stay in a lodge inside the park, to get up very, very early in the morning and to start on the 65 km long drive to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei before the sunrise because of the heat and before the big travel groups arrive and to take advantage of the soft morning light.

Sossusvlei is a unique and stunning desert landscape in Namibia characterised by towering sand dunes in vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and yellows.
Sossusvlei is a unique and stunning desert landscape in Namibia characterised by towering sand dunes in vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and yellows.

click on the pictures to enlarge or for slideshow

Swakopmund, Walvisbay and Pelican Point

To change from scorching 42°C heat at Sossusvlei to the cooler coastal town of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay we crossed again the Namib-Naukluft-National Park. The soft and gentle landscape is a treat for the eyes, with rolling hills and vast open spaces. The park is also home to oryxes, mountain zebras, ostriches, springboks, and other wildlife you can spot along the roadway. You feel like you are on a journey far away from reality surrounded by beautiful nature.

In Walvis Bay we joined an organized kayak tour that first took us along the salt pans with  100 of flamingos, a couple of Black necked Jackal, several pelicans and other seabirds to Pelican Point, from where we jumped into a wetsuit to watch playful Cape Fur Seal’s cubs from our kayak.

As you paddle through the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, joyful seals will swim alongside you, playing and flipping around your kayak. Watch them feeding, jumping and performing acrobatics in their natural habitat. You don’t know where to look first and don’t forget to release the shutter of your camera. Incredible!

click on the pictures to enlarge

Okonjima Nature Reserve and Waterberg Plateau

Okonjima Nature Reserve and the AfriCat Foundation

In Okonjima we did a leopard tracking and witnessed a dramatic scenery with two leopards, kudus, and a brown hyena. But we saw also other interesting wildlife.

Waterberg Plateau

On the way to our next destination, the Waterberg Plateau, a Table Mountain of volcanic origin, many wild animals accompanied us along the road including the graceful giraffes.

The Waterberg Plateau is situated in the northern central part of Namibia and we took advantage to do a hike in this green oasis.

Walking alongside White African Rhinos in their natural habitat, we learned from our guides about the behavior and conservation of these endangered animals as they graze and roam freely, providing a rare and unforgettable close encounter.