Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

May 22nd, 2022 – June 9th, 2022

Namibia | Botswana | Zimbabwe

Only 1 Spot!

The climate is typical of a semi-desert country. Days are warm to hot and nights are generally cool. Temperatures are modified by the high plateau in the interior and by the cold Benguela Current that runs along the Atlantic coastline. Except for the first few months of the year, the country is generally dry with very little rain. Our accommodations at Sossusvlei have been carefully selected to allow us the ability to enter the park at first light, before the gate opens to the general public. This will allow us to experience and photograph the beautiful landscape of Sossusvlei in golden light. Conversely we will have additional time at the end of the day when photographing sunset. These arrangements are critical in order to create the best images possible of these magnificent dunes.

This Namibian portion of our safari affords you the chance to experience this magnificent and memorable country in a very personal way. You’ll have your own professional and experienced safari guide who will enhance your enjoyment of this unique country by making it a fascinating learning experience and stress-free journey of discovery amidst very dramatic scenery. The knowledge, experience and attitude of a guide is critical to a successful safari which is why we ensure that they are both personable and very professional. Our guides will have an intimate knowledge of each area and camp/lodge that you visit, allowing them to share the local highlights whilst adding continuity and depth to your safari. It goes without saying that they know exactly what a ‘True African Safari’ is all about. Not only are our guides highly qualified, but each has a specific area of expertise. Together they possess the breadth and depth of knowledge to allow them to answer questions and satisfy the particular interests of each of our guests. Our guides will further contribute to your safari being the experience of a lifetime!

Besides our water based photography sessions we participate in some land based game drives through Chobe National Park as well. You don’t need to worry about being packed into a cramped safari vehicle as we have 4×4 Land Cruisers reserved for our group. This guarantees each photographer access to both sides allowing for freedom of movement and plenty of room for your gear. Nathaniel will be with you every day for each game drive and provides his professional guidance with everything from suggestions on composition, camera settings to capture the best images and tips for anticipating African wildlife behavior. Our drivers are the best in the region and have amassed decades of knowledge in identifying the top locations for the most action. They’re acutely aware of the difference between the needs of clients on a wildlife photo safari compared to those on a sightseeing game drive. Their radio contact with other safari vehicles ensures you don’t miss out on incredible sightings.

The element of relaxation during the safari is equally important to the quality of of your experience. For this reason we have reserved your accommodations at the newest lodge on the Chobe River. The heart of the  this lodge is the dining room, bar and pool terrace. The aim of this facility is to have an inclusive elegant and relaxed atmosphere where you immediately feel like you are a part of a club. The walls are adorned with amazing wildlife images to inspire you, and there are plenty of places to relax and spend time with your fellow travellers. On the upper floor is the bar. Below is a large dining area where we all eat our meals together. Leading on from the dining area is the pool deck. On certain evenings, we like to have a braai (a South African barbecue). This is a great way to enjoy the space as we utilize the whole of the pool deck and dining areas. If you are watchful you will see local wildlife species come drink from the pool periodically during the day.

Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

May 22nd, 2022 – June 9th, 2022

Namibia | Botswana | Zimbabwe

* In order to provide participants with the best photographic opportunities the itinerary is subject to change based on weather, lighting and other variables.

Day 1: May 22nd, 2022

~ Dinner Provided

After arrival into Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport you will check in to your room at Intercontinental Hotel for your overnight accommodation. Guests will rest and relax for the remainder of the day and prepare for departure the following morning. Overnight in Johannesburg.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 2: May 23rd, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

Day two begins with our early morning departure out of Johannesburg flying into Windhoek, Namibia. After landing at Windhoek International (Hosea Kutako) Airport, located 40 km outside Windhoek, we will be met by our guide who will transfer you into town to the Avani Windhoek Hotel where you will stay overnight in some of their beautifully designed rooms. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and recuperate from your travels. Your guides will come to meet you to brief you on any administrative arrangements and answer any questions you may have about the itinerary, before taking you out to dinner, either at your hotel or one of many the popular restaurants in town. Overnight at Avani Windhoek Hotel.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 3: May 24th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

After breakfast our guide will collect you from your hotel for the start of the safari. You set off south along the western side of the Kalahari Desert past Rehoboth and Mariental and then on to stay at the Quivertree Forest Rest Camp on the outskirts of Keetmanshoop for two nights. Lunch is enjoyed en-route. From here you will have the perfect base from which to photograph Quiver Trees at different light intensities, including night photography! At Quivertree Forest Rest Camp we will enjoy the wonder of nature and relax at the close-by rest camp. You will have the option to attend the cheetah feeding in the afternoon. The camp consists of eight rooms with private showers, toilets and air-conditioning along with seven fully equipped self-catering bungalows. A camp site is also present with electricity, hot showers and toilets. Overnight at Quivertree Forest Rest Camp.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 4: May 25th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

Sunrise photography in the local area, or at Quiver Tree Forest, followed by breakfast and cheetah photography. In the late afternoon you again photograph Quiver Trees in the afternoon light with the option for night photography as well.    

Quiver Tree Forest: A popular destination for photographers and boasts around 300 Quiver Trees (Aloe dichotoma), also referred to by its Afrikaans name Kokerboom. Quiver Trees are actually an aloe plant rather than a tree. These attractive succulents reach skywards with graphically forked branches, splitting into pairs, hence the name ‘dichotoma’. The Quiver Tree is one of the most interesting and characteristic plants of Namibia’s very hot and dry southern regions. The name Quiver Tree refers to the traditional use of the branches by Bushmen and Hottentot tribes to make quivers for their arrows. On average the trees are about 3 m to 5 m tall (reaching up to 9 m in height) and can be up to one meter in diameter at ground level. The larger trees in the forest are around 200 to 300 years old. They produce bright yellow flowers during the winter months (June and July) and their trunks are smooth and shiny with light creamy to silvery-grey bark which peels and forms intricate rectangular and diamond-shaped patterns as the tree matures. The Quiver Tree mostly occurs in black rock formations (dolerite), needed to anchor the plants which have a shallow spread root system.

Giants Playground: Across the road from the Quiver Tree Forest is the Giants Playground, an impressive jumble of dolerite boulders. It’s called the Giant’s Playground because of the way the massive dolerite boulders are placed on top of each other like a giant’s building blocks. Molten magma pushed its way through fissures in the underlying rock, creating dolerite dykes that have since been exposed as the surrounding sedimentary rock has eroded, leaving the harder dolerite boulders to undergo further weathering into the bizarre formations we see today. Wandering through the maze of boulders is fascinating, we will be lead by our guides to ensure we don’t become lost in the extensive rocky labyrinth. Overnight at Quivertree Forest Rest Camp.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 5: May 26th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

After breakfast our journey takes you southwest towards the coast, passing through the towns of Seeheim and Aus before reaching Lüderitz. We’ll visit the Feral Horses of the Namib desert and have lunch en-route before you arrive at Nest Hotel Lüderitz where you stay for two nights. In the late afternoon, you’ll visit Kolmanskop before heading off to dinner with your guides at a restaurant in Lüderitz which specializes in fresh seafood.

Feral Horses: An intriguing feature of the Sperrgebiet is the legendary desert horses seen from the road when traveling between Lüderitz and Aus. There are several theories regarding their origin. Some considered that they were descended from farm animals that had escaped, or were horses of the stud belonging to Baron von Wolf, who built Duwiseb Castle north east of Garub and another theory is that they are descended from the German Schutztruppe who abandoned Aus during the South West African Campaign in 1915. New recent research carried out by Telané Greyling in 2005 suggests that the herd was drawn from all of the above as well as the South African army. About 100km east of Lüderitz, a signpost indicates the turn-off to Garub, a maintained water point where the wild horses can be observed and photographed as they come back to drink.

Kolmanskop Ghost Town: Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop, is situated in the Sperrgebiet about 10km inland from Lüderitz. It was named after a transport driver named Jani Coleman, who lived in the settlement of Aus at the turn of the century. During a severe sandstorm he was forced to abandon his ox wagon on the small incline from where Kolmanskop can be seen. It stood there for a while; giving rise to the name Colemanshuegel, which eventually became Kolmanskop. In 1908, the railway worker Zacharias Lewala found a sparkling stone amongst the sand he was shoveling away from the railway line near Kolmanskop. August Stauch, his supervisor, was convinced he had found a diamond. When this was confirmed, the news spread like wildfire, sparking a frantic diamond rush and causing fortune hunters to converge in droves on Kolmanskop. It soon became a bustling little centre with a butchery, bakery, furniture factory, soda water and lemonade plant, four-skittle alley, a public playground and even a casino and swimming pool. 

The town’s development reached its pinnacle in the twenties, with approximately 300 German adults, 40 children and 800 Owambo contract workers living there. In spite of, or probably because of, the isolation and bleakness of the surrounding desert, Kolmanskop developed into a lively little haven of German culture, offering entertainment and creation to suit the requirements of the affluent colonialists for whom large, elegant houses were built. The well-equipped hospital boasted southern Africa’s first X-ray machine. However, when richer diamond deposits were discovered further south, the CDM (now Namdeb) headquarters were moved to Oranjemund in 1943, in 1950 all mining operations ceased and by 1956 the town was totally deserted. Today the ghost town’s crumbling ruins bear little resemblance to its former glory. The stately homes, their grandeur now scoured and demolished by the wind, is gradually becoming sand. In 1980, the mining company CDM restored a number of the buildings and established a museum for tourist viewing.  

Lüderitz Bucht: The town of Lüderitz stands in isolation on a great frontier between the desert and ocean. Beyond the structures huddled together beside the bay and a lighthouse on the peninsula, the surroundings are much as Bartolomeu Dias found them in 1487, when his flotilla of three small ships first sailed into the uncharted anchorage. The town lands form an enclave in the ‘Sperrgebiet’, 26,000km of coastal desert rich in diamonds. The greater part of the Sperrgebiet lies to the south. Northward the dune fields of the great Sand Sea sprawl overland to the horizon and far beyond. Lüderitz was built on a windswept, rocky hillside and ridge beside the bay. Behind the town, out of sight from the sea, a black-topped road runs into the interior. Outside the town limits it passes Kolmanskop, now a ghost town, where diamonds were first mined in the Namib. Lüderitz is located on the only part of the Namibian coast with a rocky shore. A peninsula with numerous coves, locally called fjords and bays, juts out of the coast at an angle to form the bay proper. Three small islands – Penguin, Seal and Flamingo – lie within the bay. Shark Island was once also an island in the bay, but a solid causeway now joins it to the mainland. It encloses the harbour and yacht basin.

Nest Hotel: The Nest Hotel in Luderitz is perched on the rocky coastline of the Atlantic, on the southern side of this small yet fascinating port town. The Nest Hotel offers well-appointed guest rooms, all sea facing with a balcony overlooking the Atlantic. Each room is equipped with en-suite bathroom, telephone, air-conditioning, television and a tea and coffee station. Additional facilities include a private beach, sauna, swimming pool, bar and restaurant. The restaurant offers an excellent variety of seafood, freshly attained out of the vibrant fishing harbor and served a la carte or buffet style. Overnight in Lüderitz.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 6: May 27th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

This morning you head out into the restricted diamond area, driving with our vehicles and accompanied by a local operator in order to access the restricted Diamond Area, heading for Elizabeth Bay. This region has been set aside for diamond mining.  Very few visitors ever get the chance to explore these remote areas. In the late afternoon, you’ll have another chance to visit Kolmanskop before having a wonderful dinner back at your hotel or out in town with your guides at one of the popular restaurants. 

Elizabeth Bay Ghost Town: Located about 30 km south of Luderitz within the Sperrgebiet National Park, Elizabeth Bay ghost town lies on the coast and has therefore eroded much faster than Kolmanskop ghost town. Battering winds and coastal fog that has crumbled the structures into fascinating skeletons of what they once were. The town was built to house mineworkers and their families. Inhabited from 1926 to 1935, it is now being recaptured by the desert and has become a windswept place of fragile ruins. Diamonds were mined off and on at Elizabeth Bay from 1911 to 1948 with major interruptions due to world wars and economic recessions. The mine was reopened nearby the ghost town in 1991 with modern infrastructure, and can be seen on the drive to Elizabeth Bay ghost town. The workforce for this new mine now lives in Lüderitz. Overnight in Lüderitz.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 7: May 28th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

Today you continue with your journey east until you reach Aus. From Aus you head north through spectacular scenery of the Tiras Mountain Conservancy and a section of the NamibRand Nature Reserve before entering the Namib Naukluft National Park to reach Dead Valley Lodge in the late afternoon, stopping for scenic photo shoots along the way. Here you will stay for three nights whilst you explore the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert with your guides. Dead Valley Lodge is only one of two lodges that affords you prime location within the boundaries of the Namib Naukluft National Park. Our accommodations at Sossusvlei have been carefully selected to allow us the ability to enter the park at first light, before the gate opens to the general public. This will allow us to experience and photograph the beautiful landscape of Sossusvlei in golden light. Conversely we will have additional time at the end of the day when photographing sunset. These arrangements are critical in order to create the best images possible of these magnificent dunes. If there is still time today, your guides will take you to visit Sesriem Canyon, a nearby geological attraction, or explore Elim Dune. However, if you prefer, you can just relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at the lodge.

Sesriem Canyon: Sesriem Canyon has evolved through centuries of erosion by the Tsauchab River which has incised a narrow gorge about 1.5km long and 30m deep into the surrounding conglomerates, exposing the varying layers of sedimentation deposited over millions of years. The shaded cool depths of the canyon allow pools of water to gather during the rainy season and remain for much of the year round. These pools were a vital source of water for early settlers who drew water for their livestock by knotting six (SES) lengths of rawhide thongs (riems) together, hence the canyon and surrounding area became known as Sesriem.

Dead Valley Lodge: Dead Valley Lodge is situated next to the main entrance gate inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, between the Sesriem campsite and Elim Dune on the way to the world famous Sossusvlei and the Dead Vlei. This oasis offers a panoramic view of the Namib Desert with towering red sand dunes, rugged mountain ranges, and arid desert savannahs. Each of the 20 freestanding luxury tented chalets is climate controlled and equipped with double bed units, electric plugs, private patios, a kitchenette, and freestanding bathrooms stocked with toiletries. Guests can enjoy the top-class restaurant that serves delicious Namibian-style cuisine, relax in the picturesque bar with a cold drink after a day of activities, or cool off in the open-air swimming pool overlooking the Elim Dune. The lodge’s eco-friendly design and architecture have truly been inspired by Sossusvlei. With its own entrance into the Namib-Naukluft National Park, thus making the Dead Valley Lodge one of the closest lodges to Sossusvlei pan. The lodge offers Scenic drives in the morning and afternoon to Sossusvlei and the Sesriem Canyon. The official opening for this new Lodge is May 15, 2019. Overnight in Sossusvlei.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 8: May 29th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

Today will be full of photography as you rise early this morning for a magical excursion into the dunes with your guides. As you are already inside the park you can get into Sossusvlei before everyone else and you would even be able to get there in time to see the sun rise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Your guides will give you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive these harsh environs. Once you have explored the area to your heart’s content you can enjoy a relaxed picnic breakfast in the shade of a camel thorn tree. Return to Dead Valley Lodge in time for lunch, stopping off to view Sesriem Canyon along the way, if you have not done so the day before. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure (from experience, this is usually welcomed after an exhilarating morning in the dunes) with the option to head out again later in the afternoon to visit the dunes at Sossusvlei to see them whilst the shadows sharpen as the sun goes down.

Sossusvlei: This most frequently visited section of the massive 50,000km² Namib Naukluft National Park has become known as Sossusvlei, famous for its towering apricot coloured sand dunes which can be penetrated by following the Tsauchab River valley. Sossusvlei itself is actually a clay pan set amidst these star shaped dunes which stand up to 300 meters above the surrounding plains, ranking them among the tallest dunes on earth. The deathly white clay pan contrasts against the orange sands and forms the endpoint of the ephemeral Tsauchab River, within the interior of the Great Sand Sea. The river course rises south of the Naukluft Mountains in the Great Escarpment. It penetrates the sand sea for some 55km before it finally peters out at Sossusvlei, about the same distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Until the encroaching dunes blocked its course around 60,000 years ago, the Tsauchab River once reached the sea; as ephemeral rivers still do in the northern half of the Namib. Sand-locked pans to the west show where the river previously flowed to before dunes shifted its endpoint to where it currently gathers at Sossusvlei. Roughly once a decade rainfall over the catchment area is sufficient to bring the river down in flood and fill the pan. On such occasions the mirror images of dunes and camel thorn trees around the pan are reflected in the water. Sossusvlei is the biggest of four pans in the vicinity. Another, famous for its gnarled and ghostly camel thorn trees, is Deadvlei which can be reached on foot over 1km of sand. Deadvlei’s striking camel thorn trees, dead for want of water, still stand erect as they once grew. They survived until about 900 years ago when the sand sea finally blocked the river from occasionally flooding the pan. Overnight in Sossusvlei.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 9: May 30th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

This morning you rise early for another excursion into the dunes with your guides for photographic opportunities. After exploring the area you indulge in a relaxed picnic breakfast under the shade of a camel thorn tree. You head back to Dead Valley Lodge in time for lunch.  The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.  Alternatively you may wish to head out again later in the afternoon on another photographic excursion with your guides. Overnight in Sossusvlei.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 10: May 31st, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

NOTE: Optional sunrise balloon flight over the Namib Naukluft National Park before you depart for Windhoek (this is an optional extra and would include an additional cost of approximately $500 per person U.S.D.). 

Today you leave the park through the Sesreim gate and head back to Windhoek, driving northeast up the Great Escarpment and through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands. Arrival in Windhoek will be in the late afternoon and you spend the last night of your safari at Avani Windhoek Hotel. Dinner can either be enjoyed at Avani Windoek’s in-house restaurant, or out at one of the popular restaurants in town together with your guides.  After dinner you bid your guides a fond farewell. Overnight at Avani Windhoek Hotel.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 11: June 1st, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

Today you will be collected from your hotel and transferred by road back to the Hosea Kutako Windhoek International Airport in time for you to check in for your ongoing flight back to Johannesburg. This will conclude the Namibian Safari portion of the itinerary. Overnight in Johannesburg.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 12: June 2nd, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

Day twelve begins with our early morning departure out of Johannesburg flying into Kasane Airport in Botswana with a short ten minute ground transfer into Chobe National Park. We will begin our adventure on the world renown Chobe River photographing one of the largest concentrations of African wildlife on the continent. Our accommodations will be at the the newly constructed Botswana Safari Lodge. Overnight at Botswana Safari Lodge.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Days 13 – 17: June 3rd – June 7th, 2022

~ Brunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

For the next five days we’ll enjoy photography sessions twice daily in Chobe National Park with a combination of land and water based safaris. Nathaniel will be available each day for file downloading, image reviews and editing sessions. The Chobe River provides the largest concentration of wildlife in Africa, and as such is one of the best locations in the world for wildlife photography. As the third largest national park in Africa, the Chobe will allow you experience and photograph the very best that the continent has to offer. The wildlife and birds are far more tolerant of boats than they are of vehicles and present us with a front row seat to the action. Our group will be escorted onto the water in a flat bed boat, designed specifically for wildlife photography. Custom-built photographic chairs provide exceptional comfort while on the water and enable you to swivel 360 degrees to capture the action wherever it is happening. The ability to maneuver the boat to the best possible angle allows us to effectively position ourselves for the best lighting. Photographing from the water not only offers a dust free environment, but also provides an eye-level perspective for capturing wildlife and bird behavior in a way that simply can’t be achieved on land. This location provides an incredible numbers of mammals and birds with a stunning backdrop of the river creating clean, uncluttered backgrounds for your photographs. Overnight at Botswana Safari Lodge.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 18: June 8th, 2022

~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Beverages Provided

After breakfast you will be transferred by road to Ilala Lodge Hotel around mid-day. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent photographing one of the most iconic waterfalls in the world and relaxing at our beautiful accommodations in Victoria Falls as our time in Southern Africa comes to its conclusion.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel

Day 19: June 9th, 2022 – Departure

~ Breakfast Provided

After breakfast you will be transferred by road to Victoria Falls International Airport in time to check in for your flight back to Johannesburg with a new group of friends, wonderful experiences and memory cards loaded full of image files to remember it all by. Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport you will check in for your flight home or continue on to the next destination. Bon Voyage!

Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

May 22nd, 2022 – June 9th, 2022

Namibia | Botswana | Zimbabwe

This cancellation policy protects our business losses and as such is strictly adhered to. Exceptions will not be made. We strongly encourage participants to purchase travelers insurance through an agency like Global Rescue so that you’ll have coverage should you unexpectedly need to cancel your trip. At his discretion, Nathaniel may lead the tour even if it does not meet the minimum number of participants required.

1). Cancel more than one year prior to the original tour start date:

Full refund, minus any initial deposit and all PayPal transaction fees. Refunds will be paid via PayPal and processed within 72 hours of the request being approved.

2). Cancel less than one year prior to the original tour start date:

A refund will only be issued if the tour is sold out and your vacated spot filled by another participant signing up. This refund would exclude your initial deposit, single supplement payments and any PayPal transaction fees.

* Should you fail to complete the payments as scheduled for this tour you will forfeit your deposit, all payments and your spot on this tour.

** You’ll be promptly notified and provided a full refund (including your deposit) should the tour be canceled by Nature Odyssey Worldwide Tours.

Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

May 22nd, 2022 – June 9th, 2022

Namibia | Botswana | Zimbabwe

• Participants must arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa prior to 6:00pm on May 22nd, 2022!

• We strongly encourage participants to purchase travelers insurance through an agency like Global Rescue so that you’ll have coverage should you unexpectedly need to cancel your trip.

• Traveling in remote locations can present challenges that may require slight changes to the itinerary. We will always try to run the tour as the initial itinerary. In the event, beyond our control, such as political unrest, natural disasters, over bookings by the lodge, where a change is required, we will do our best to keep you close to the original shooting location. It is our intention for you to have the best possible experience. We will try to notify you of any changes as soon as we are made aware of them. If, however these changes cause an increase to the price, the increase will be passed on to the participant.

Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

May 22nd, 2022 – June 9th, 2022

Namibia | Botswana | Zimbabwe

Only 1 Spot!

 15,995 USD – Based On Single Occupancy

• $3,100 Non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot

* A late fee of $250 may be added to the balance for any payments not received by the due date.

Namibia & Botswana Photo Safari 2022

Step 1). Fill Out Registration Form (Required To Secure Booking)

Step 2). Make $3,100 Deposit (Required To Secure Booking)

Ultimate African Photo Safari 2022 - Deposit

Pay Deposit - $3,100.00 USD

Step 3). Make Second Payment (Due by November 1st, 2020)

Ultimate African Photo Safari 2022 - Second Payment

Second Payment - $7,900.00 USD

Step 4). Make Final Payment (Due by May 1st, 2021)

Ultimate African Photo Safari 2022 - Final Payment

Final Payment - $4,995.00 USD

Step 5). Fill Out Flight Itinerary Form (Due 60 Days Prior To Safari)

• 19 Day/ 18 Night world class itinerary covering Namibia, Botswana’s Chobe National Park, (arguably the most productive destination in the world for wildlife photography), and Victoria Falls

• Exclusive safari limited to a maximum of 8 guests

• SINGLE accommodations in beautiful hotels & lodges for duration of the Safari

• Gourmet, delicious meals for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Please see daily itinerary for meals included on this safari)

• All drinks included

• Itinerary that’s structured to maximize photographic opportunities and limit time wasted with travel and transfers

• 10 total Chobe River photography sessions with our own private boat (minimum 6 participants required)

• 4 total land based game drives in Chobe National Park

• Private ground transfers for our group through duration of the Safari

• Customized photographic boats designed for your comfort with photographic efficiency in mind

• Private safari vehicles with plenty of space for your gear

• Premiere drivers and guides for the duration of the Safari

• Professional in field mentoring, editing instruction and image critique with Nathaniel Smalley

• New friends, incredible images and memories that will last a lifetime!

1. Pick up in Johannesburg, South Africa and hotel transfer from OR Tambo International Airport
2. All transportation throughout the safari itinerary (ground and air)
3. 19 Day / 18 Night photo safari
4. SINGLE deluxe accommodations for entire Safari
5. All meals provided for breakfast, lunch & dinner starting with dinner on June 1st through breakfast on June 19th
6. All drinks included
7. All National Park fees, Game Reserves entrance fees, and taxes
8. Pro photographer mentoring by Nathaniel Smalley
9. Editing sessions with Nathaniel
10. Lightroom and Photoshop workflow with Nathaniel
11. Image reviews and critique with Nathaniel
12. Return to Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport at end of Safari.

1. International flights to and from Africa
2. Travel, evacuation or other associated insurance
3. Visas and passport fees (where applicable in preparation for your travel)
4. Any meals not listed in the itinerary
5. Accommodations enroute or returning from Africa
6. Any additional transfers not mentioned in the Safari itinerary
7. Optional activities (balloon rides, guided walking safaris, etc.)
8. Gratuities for the guides, staff at accommodations, and airport transfers
9. Personal expenses (souvenirs, liquor, telephone calls, internet, laundry etc.)
10. Pre and post-safari tours or activities, accommodations or meals before or after the safari
11. Items of a personal nature
.
.

1. DSLR camera with manual mode capability
2. Camera lenses of your choice
3. Sturdy Tripod & Ball Head
4. Lens filters of your choice (ND, CPL, GRAD, etc.)
5. Extra batteries for your camera & charger
6. Extra memory cards and external Hard Drive for file backup
7. Laptop with latest version of Lightroom Classic and/or Photoshop
8. Beanie hat and light gloves for cool morning game drives
9. Sunhat and sunscreen
10. Long pants – 3 pairs
11. Shorts and/or skirts – 2 pairs
12. Lightweight, breathable sleeved shirts to protect you from the sun
13. Underwear & socks
14. Sports bra for women. (Not all roads are well maintained and can be rough)
15. Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes
16. Light weight, warm jacket (Temps will average 45°f in the early morning and 90°f at mid-day)
17. Waterproof shell for Victoria Falls
18. Polarized sunglasses
19. Guests that wear contact lenses are encouraged to bring along a pair of eye glasses in case you get irritated by the dust
20. Personal toiletries
21. Medications
22. Malaria Tablets if needed (Please check with your physician first!)
23. Antihistamine tablets or eye drops for any allergies
24. Anti-nausea & anti-diarrhea medicine
25. Moisturizing cream and sunblock
26. Insect repellent
27. Tissues/’Wet Wipes’
28. Passport, applicable Visas, tickets, money etc.
29. A great attitude!

* We recommend layering with light clothing. Early morning game drives can be cool. At mid-moring the sun will increase the temperature rapidly, and then cool off quickly once the sun goes down. Please avoid packing bright colors and camouflage, Due to military reasons, camouflage is not allowed in some parts of Africa.

                                                                  Please Note!

* The domestic airline carriers that we will use in Africa are generally lenient towards photographers.

The specific weight allowance for checked luggage in economy class is 44lbs and for business class it is 66lbs.

The maximum dimensions for carry-on hand luggage is 22″ x 13″ x 9″ with a weight restriction of 17lbs.

This is an outdoor nature photography safari, so being fit and in good health will allow you to enjoy the trip more comfortably. However, our planned activities should be within the ability of most people in moderate to good shape. Conditions can be cool in the evening and hot at mid-day, so please pack appropriate clothing for both conditions. Temps will average 45°f in the early morning and 90°f at mid-day.

 Participants are required to sign a standard personal indemnity and waiver of liability form. Every effort is made to keep participants safe during all stages of the safari, but each person is solely responsible for avoiding personal injury or damaging their equipment during the trip.

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“This trip was amazing I have wanted to see the animals in Africa in their own habitat long before we called it a bucket list. I made a last minute decision to join the 2019 tour and am so glad I did. Seeing those animals kept me in awe! I couldn’t have asked for a better guide, or a better photography teacher. Nathaniel is a professional and attentive guide from the day you meet him until departure from his tour. I can’t wait to go along with him on another adventure!”

~ Karen B. |  California, USA

“I had the pleasure of being a participant in Nathaniel Smalley’s Elements Of Africa Safari in 2017, where we spent time in Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls. The images I returned with are truly amazing and I learned quite a bit, including some new shooting techniques. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?! The trip was a blast, the camaraderie was off the charts. Nathaniel is a great teacher and photographer and loves to share the beauty of nature and his talents with his participants.”

~ Don D. |  Arizona, USA

“A journey to the Masai Mara is a dream come true and laden with anticipation and expectations that in reality are hard to match. Nathaniel exceeded them, turning dreams into a lifetime of memories, images. Perfect planning and the right amount of improvisation consistently put us in the right places at the right time. Nathaniel was always there to provide assistance and guided when wanted or needed without smothering. The Mara really is magical and this is a trip with Nature Odyssey Worldwide not to be missed!”

~ Dan N. |  Oregon, USA

“Earlier this year I traveled with Nathaniel on my first trip to Africa to attend the NOW Tours Migration Safari in Kenya. I simply can’t seem to find the right words to adequately describe the amazing experience we shared. It really was truly magical on all levels. Highly recommended!”

~ Lois C. |  Oregon, USA

“I had the pleasure of participating in an African safari with Nathaniel. I came away with amazing images, new skills, and a new friend and mentor in Nathaniel. He is forever upbeat and cheerful, and has a deep love for nature and a willingness to share his considerable talents with others.”

~ Larry K. | California, USA

“In 2016 I attended an African Safari with Nathaniel, he listens to his clients and goes out of his way to accommodate their special requests.  He is also very helpful in demonstrating his processing workflow and the different types of processing tools he uses. The overall plan for the trip was EXCELLENT!  The accommodation, food, driver/guides could not have been better. I particularly appreciated the long time we spent on each game drive, using our precious time on the trip as much as possible. It was perfect. His choice of where to stay and for how long reflected your experience in the area. The structure gave us the best possible opportunities for photography. We had exceptional opportunities for photographing a variety of animals and amazing action! Cheetah kills, wildebeest and zebras crossing the river with crocodiles lying in wait, lionesses and cheetahs feeding their cubs. Awesome!”

~ Gillian S. | Maryland, USA

“I traveled with Nathaniel in September to the Masai Mara. My experience shooting wildlife is limited so I was in learning mode. Nathaniel was unfailingly helpful, generous with his time and open to other perspectives and shooting styles. We had a lot of fun and many laughs. I look forward to my next trip with him.”

~ Judith F. | Canada

“We experienced a wonderful safari in Kenya with Nathaniel in 2016. He offered excellent teaching and leadership throughout the trip!”

~ Anne C. | Florida, USA

“This was my first safari and I felt so fortunate to have Nathaniel as our trip leader. He is a patient, knowledgeable, talented, and enthusiastic photographer. I appreciated his on-the-fly advice and his editing tips as well as good humor. He is able to work with all levels of photographers. I look forward to future trips with Nature Odyssey Worldwide!”

~ Mindy R. | California, USA

“I recently returned from an African Migration Safari with Nathaniel Smalley in the Masai Mara. A fantastic trip. My wife and I are still editing madly. We’re not wildlife photographers so we found the trip challenging, but learned an amazing amount from Nathaniel. We would highly recommend traveling with him!”

~ Keith P. | Canada