[email protected] | +230 452 3731

Namibia – Desert-adapted Elephants of Namibia Photo Tour 2023

Price: Price on Request

Spaces Available

June – October 2023

We are proud to present a safari tailor-made to visit Namibia’s most spectacular wilderness areas in search of their iconic gentle giants; the Elephant. Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles two great deserts: the Namib (after which it is named) is the oldest desert on the planet, and its sea of red sand lies along the Atlantic coastline, while in the eastern interior lies the Kalahari, a vast and sparsely vegetated savanna that sprawls across the border into neighbouring Botswana and South Africa.

Desert-adapted Rhino and Elephant live in lonely hillsides and sandy riverbeds of Damaraland and the Kaokoveld, and seals in their many thousands colonise lonely beachheads along the Skeleton Coast. Astonishing contrasts are everywhere for the visitor to savour, enjoy and photograph!

Join us for what promises to be a spectacular photographic journey to the African nation of Namibia!

Why this Photo Tour is for You

Destination Allure

Our Namibia photo tour takes you to 2 iconic areas; Hoanib Skeleton Coast & Etosha National Park with the main aim to track and photograph Namibia's iconic desert-adapted Elephant

Month of Travel

Our Namibia photo tour takes place between June to October which falls under Namibia's Dry Season. June to September are also part of Namibia's winter months, so expect sun skies, no rain and wildlife congregating around limited water sources.

Subjects of Interest

Our main subject of interest for this tour are to track and photograph the famed desert-adapted Elephant. Hoanib Skeleton Coast is within the true Namib Desert and is home to a rich diversity of wildlife including Giraffe, Lion, Brown hyena, Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok, and more. Etosha National Park are home to some of the same species as well as Cheetah, Leopard, Rhino, Plains zebra, Kudu, Eland and more.

Small Group Departures

Limited to 4 individuals, this Elephants of Namibia photography tour can be completely tailored to your interests on a daily basis. Explore the magnificence of Namibia's deserts in an intimate & personalised tour!

Guided experience

Local knowledge of the region and its wildlife is key to crafting the ultimate photography tour experience. Combined with the photographic expertise of your ORYX Photo Tour Leader, and you are in for an adventure that will further fuel your excitement for photography and the destination.

Penny Robartes

ORYX LEADER
Penny Robartes

11 Days
4 Guests + 1 ORYX Leader
Classic
Culture
Wildlife
  • Destination
  • Departure
    Windhoek
  • price
    Price on Request
  • Single Supplement
    Price on Request
  • Photographic Highlights
    Desert-adapted Elephant, Rhino, Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok, Plains Zebra, Eland, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Ostrich and more
  • Guide
1

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek

Today is an arrival day in Namibia, with your routing taking you to Hosea Kutako International Airport, located just outside the Namibian capital. After landing and customs and baggage formalities, you will be transferred into Windhoek by a representative of ORYX Photo Tours. Tonight you will meet your ORYX Senior Photo Tour leader during dinner whereby your tour ahead will be discussed.
2

Day 2: Windhoek flight to Hoanib Skeleton Coast

After breakfast and at a time to be advised, you will be collected for your flight to Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. Our camp is scenically located in a broad valley at the confluence of two tributaries of the Hoanib River in the northern part of the private Palmwag Concession. Its location thus straddles the Palmwag area and the iconic Skeleton Coast National Park, in one of the most remote areas of the Kaokoveld.  This afternoon will be the commencement of our first game drive in Namibia.
3

Days 3 to 5:Hoanib Skeleton Coast

We have three full days to explore this wonderful area, and will be able to access both inland and coastal habitats. Here the landscape is dominated by the form of the Hoanib River, a swathe of sand that meanders through rocky gorges and past arid sandy plains.  The highlight of our safari here will be to seek out, track, and photograph the Desert Elephant.  Desert-dwelling Elephant survive in one of the harshest drylands where water and vegetation is scarce. These Elephant have adapted to their hot environment through various means and behaviors. One such physical adaption is that they appear to have bigger feet due to their extended footpads. As they can walk for hundreds of kilometers at a time in search for food and water, the added surface area allows these giants to walk on soft and sandy surfaces without sinking. 
4

Day 6: Hoanib Skeleton Coast flight to Ongava, Etosha

This morning we will say our farewells to the amazing Skeleton Coast and head north–east to the most famous of all of Namibia’s National Parks, fabulous Etosha!  We will be staying at the Ongava Game Reserve situated on the southern boundary of the park. This prolific 30 000ha (74130 acre) private concession is a haven for large concentrations of wildlife: notably Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, Black and White Rhino, Springbok, Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Waterbuck, Red Hartebeest, Giraffe, Eland and the largest population of the endemic Black-faced Impala outside of Etosha. 
5

Day 7 to 9: Ongava Game Reserve

We will spend the next three days exploring the legendary Etosha National Park in search of their Elephant. Etosha remains the highest density wildlife area within Namibia; its worldwide fame justly acknowledged. The salt pan (the largest in the world) is speculated to be a remnant of an ancient glacial lake, and is today maintained by scouring winds across its surface and sporadic ephemeral flooding. Springs along the edge of the pan attract and quench the thirst of a dense and varied conglomeration of wildlife, mixing savanna and desert species like Impala and Springbuck.  We have the options of full day game drives into Etosha, exploring the southern roads of Etosha Pan from Okakeujo through to Halali. These waterholes and springs attract a multitude of wildlife from grazers to predators. Our highlight will be seeking out and photographing the “white” African Elephant. Many of the Elephant in Etosha appear to be white in colour due to their bathing and dusting off in the white clay soil. 
6

Day 10: Ongava to Windhoek and Depart

After a final morning of exploring the wonderful Etosha and at a time to be advised we will depart Ongava on scheduled light aircraft back to Windhoek.  Upon arrival you will check in for your international flight. Here your photographic journey with ORYX Photo Tours and Penny sadly comes to an end.
    Our mailers are sent once a week at the most, and promise to deliver inspiring wildlife, culture and landscape photo tours. Please uncheck this if you don't want to receive mailers.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
You don't have permission to register