Imagine capturing the Milky Way arching across the sky above gnarly ancient trees, or the Magellanic Clouds dancing in the heavens above a desolate desert landscape. This is the magic of Namibia, a country with some of the darkest skies on Earth and stunning natural scenery that makes it perfect for landscape astrophotography.
Join award-winning astrophotographer, Alyn Wallace, and professional guide, Richard Morsbach, on an unforgettable trip to a dark sky paradise. We will visit the otherworldly Quiver Tree Forest, the imposing red dunes and dead trees of Sossusvlei and the impressive Spitzkoppe granite peaks found in the Namib Desert.
The Milky Way core will rise in the late evening, climbing directly overhead for perfect viewing conditions that will blow your mind. It’s also the perfect time of year to capture a Milky Way arch panorama, not to mention the wonders of the southern night sky like the Southern Cross, Carina Nabula and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.
COST - £3799 ($4599/€4385)
Deposit £1500 ($1830/€1735)
DATES - 7th to 15th May 2024
GROUP SIZE - 7 maximum
FITNESS - Easy to moderate
SKILL - Beginner to Advanced
Included
Two persons per room (i.e. shared twin occupancy), unless single supplement is requested (£779 extra) and secured at the time of booking.
All accommodation/lodging costs.
Ground transport for the entire duration of the tour.
All tourism taxes and park entry fees.
All meals commencing with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on day 9.
Bottled water and all non alcoholic beverages.
Continuous tuition and assistance with your photography.
Post-processing sessions.
The services of a highly experienced local guide and driver.
Not Included
Airfare to and from Windhoek, Namibia.
Non-mealtime snacks and drinks.
Credit card surcharges and currency exchange fees.
Activity optional extras (eg. helicopter flight, hot-air balloon over Sossusvlei).
Any purchases of a personal nature.
Tips.
All alcoholic drinks.
Travel Insurance (required for booking).
Equipment Insurance.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Bagatelle Kalahari Lodge
Pick up at your hotel in Windhoek from 09:00am and head to the Bagatelle Kalahari Lodge
We will be driving to the Mariental region of the Kalahari towards Rehoboth, through a vast semi desert on dirt roads. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert. There will be an afternoon game drive & an astrophotography session after dinner in the red sand dunes.
Day 2 - Quiver Tree Arrival
After a relaxed breakfast we'll take a two-hour drive to Quiver Tree Guest House. Before dinner we'll do a sunset scouting around the quiver tree forest & learn how to plan our astrophotography shots for that night. After dinner we'll head out for a photography session under the stars.
Day 3 - Giants Playground
The morning will be spent at your own leisure and might be a great time to catch up on much needed sleep. Midday we'll have a two hour post-production photo session facilitated by Alyn. Late afternoon we'll head out for a sunset scouting session to the Giants Playground to find the best place to setup & plan the night’s astrophotography session. After dinner we'll do another photography session around the quiver trees in Giants Playground.
Day 4 - Duwiseb Castle
After breakfast at 08:00 we'll take a three hour drive down to Duwiseb Castle located in the Namib Desert. There will be a landscape sunset drive & an astrophotography session after dinner at an old castle which provides the most incredible foreground for amazing night sky photos.
Day 5 - Sossusvlei
After breakfast we'll take a 5-hour drive up to the world famous sand-dunes at Sossusvlei. After lunch we'll take a drive down to the massive sand-dunes to enjoy landscape photography around sunset. Unfortunately it is forbidden to stay in Deadvlei at night, however, there is an option to do astrophotography that will be explained by your guide which involves leaving your camera out in the desert overnight & will be done at your own risk. As we are staying in the lodge inside the National Park, we will be able to arrive in the morning an hour earlier than the general public.
Day 6 - Walvisbay
After breakfast we set off on a 4-hour drive to Walvisbay. In the afternoon we can do some photography around the salt pans and an area which is home to over 1000 flamingos. The weather here is typically cloudy and so we will use it as a night to catch up on sleep and perhaps organise and edit some images.
Day 7 - Spitzkoppe
After a late breakfast we'll take a 2-hour drive to Spitzkoppe, which is a massive granite mountain and an area that is world renowned for amazing astrophotography. After lunch, we'll have a scouting session to find the best foregrounds for our night photography session. We'll be staying here for two nights so there will be enough time to capture the night sky with a few different rock formations.
Day 8 - Spitzkoppe II
The morning will be spent at your own leisure, so you could either sleep in, take a 4-hour guided hike up to the summit of Spitzkoppe to enjoy the incredible views or take a guided hike to the ancient rock paintings. After lunch, we'll have another scouting session to find the best foreground for our night photography session.
Day 9 - Breakfast and farewells
Sadly we have reached the end of our incredible journey around Namibia. After breakfast we'll take a 3-hour drive back to the city of Windhoek. Tour ends at 12:00 midday.
Meet Your Guides
Alyn Wallace
There’s nothing more rewarding for me than inspiring others to enjoy and capture the night sky. I love sharing my knowledge in astrophotography and live for those “ahhh!” moments where people grasp a difficult technique or accomplish something they thought they couldn’t. I’m entering my seventh year of running workshops now and after writing a book about everything you need to know about landscape astrophotography, I’m confident that I can teach you anything you need to know in an easy to understand manner. Technical things aside, I can’t wait to have another fun-packed adventure under the stars with another group of amazing people.
Richard Morsbach
As a born Namibian, my heart overflows with gratitude for calling this remarkable country my home - the land where the senses are mesmerized by the untamed spirit of nature. Over the decades, I have ventured deep into the remote corners of Namibia, exploring its hidden gems and uncharted landscapes. Namibia offers a photographers dream right at my doorstep. Now it is my pleasure as a Namibian tour guide to share the wonders of this prestine desert country with you and show you some of the hidden gems in this photographic paradise that I have the privilege of calling my home country.