THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Explore Namibia's desert, coast and wilderness through quiver trees, red dunes, Deadvlei, Walvis Bay, Spitzkoppe and wildlife photography in Etosha.
Red dunes and Deadvlei
Photograph dune lines, light and shade, and Deadvlei's dead trees, with sunrise and sunset sessions highlighting desert contrasts.
Quiver trees and Spitzkoppe
Use quiver-tree silhouettes and Spitzkoppe's rock formations as landscape and night-sky foregrounds, subject to weather.
Walvis Bay coast and Etosha wildlife
Photograph the meeting of desert and ocean around Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour, then seek wildlife around Etosha's waterholes and safari routes.
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Ling Zi →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
A different way of seeing
Ling Zi
Specializes in filmmaking, writing and directing, production, planning, documentary photography, portraiture and landscapes. Gold award in the folk customs category of the 4th Asia-Pacific Cup International Photography Art Exhibition. She has extensive experience directing and producing promotional films and documentaries, and leads photography trips within China and overseas each year. Her photography post-production training has included more than 400 sessions and 20,000 participant attendances for organizations including the Futian urban management bureau, the water group, the Nanshan publicity department, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Peking University's MBA program, the Hangcheng, Xixiang, Yutang and Taoyuan community offices, the Guangming New District Photography Association and the Shenzhen Senior Photographers Association.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Jul 26 · Africa/WindhoekDay 1: July 26 | Meet at the departure airport in China (or depart from your own city)
Meet at the airport at 21:30 Beijing time, then take the international flight departing at 00:25 the following morning to connect in Addis Ababa. Accommodation: aboard the flight.
DAY 02Jul 27 · Africa/WindhoekDay 2: July 27 | Arrive in Windhoek
Arrive by air at 13:20 in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, to begin your exciting journey. Centuries of European colonial history have left tidy streets, distinctive gardens and abundant European-style buildings and courtyards, creating the impression of a picturesque European mountain town. A Chinese guide welcomes the group at the international airport. Dinner is at Joe’s Beerhouse, a famous must-visit Windhoek restaurant whose signature roasted pork knuckle and varied, delicious game meats delight diners. Many rooms and bars sit beneath leafy trees, and animal specimens collected by owner Joe appear everywhere. Look up unexpectedly and you may find a lifelike cheetah or giraffe staring back, giving the feeling of dining in the African bush. Meal: specialty pork-knuckle dinner
Accommodation:Windhoek Country Club Resort, a four-star hotel
DAY 03Jul 28 · Africa/WindhoekDay 3: July 28 | Windhoek–Keetmanshoop (five-hour drive)
After breakfast, take the tour bus to Keetmanshoop. The Rhenish Mission established a mission here in 1860 and named the city after its donor, German industrialist and mission chairman Johann Keetman. A transport hub linking Namibia and South Africa, the city is better known for its unique Quiver Tree Forest. Quiver trees were named because local Bushmen once hollowed out their tubular branches to make quivers. These unusual aloe relatives resemble alien plants, and entire forests of them are exceptionally rare. Today, photograph in the Quiver Tree Forest. Meals: hotel breakfast, local lunch and hotel dinner
Accommodation:Quiver Tree Forest estate
DAY 04Jul 29 · Africa/WindhoekDay 4: July 29 | Keetmanshoop–Sossusvlei (approximately five hours by road)
After breakfast, head to Sossusvlei, the world’s oldest red desert. On arrival, check into a hotel inside the park and rest. A bus can take you to Dune 45 to view sunrise and sunset. Sossusvlei is an ancient, mysterious land with the world’s oldest desert, tallest dunes and only red sand sea. Its majestic towering dunes and immense star-shaped formations are sought-after subjects for artists and photographers; the largest dune reaches 325 meters. It is also Africa’s only desert inhabited by elephants, rhinoceroses and lions. Meals: hotel breakfast, local lunch and hotel dinner
Accommodation:Planned stay at NWR Sossus Dune Lodge inside the reserve; booking awaits operator confirmation.
DAY 05Jul 30 · Africa/WindhoekDay 5: July 30 | Full day in the Sossusvlei red desert
Rise early to photograph sunrise at Deadvlei. In the afternoon, take the bus back to Dune 45 to photograph sunset if desired. Photograph the stars independently within the hotel grounds at night. Meals: hotel breakfast, local lunch and hotel dinner
Accommodation:Planned stay at NWR Sossus Dune Lodge inside the reserve; booking awaits operator confirmation.
DAY 06Jul 31 · Africa/WindhoekDay 6: July 31 | Sossusvlei Red Desert–Walvis Bay–Swakopmund (353 km)
After breakfast, depart for Walvis Bay, with lunch en route. Beside the lagoon, photograph the graceful, fiery-colored flamingos in twilight and glowing sunset skies, then check into the hotel and rest. Included today: shuttle to Deadvlei in the red desert Meals: hotel breakfast, local lunch and Chinese dinner
Accommodation:Swakopmund Hotel, in a century-old railway station
DAY 07Aug 1 · Africa/WindhoekDay 7: August 1 | Swakopmund–Walvis Bay–Swakopmund
After breakfast, drive to Walvis Bay for a shared boat excursion. Dolphins swim and leap beside the catamaran, playful seals sometimes hop aboard seeking food from the crew, gulls circle overhead, and an occasional pelican lands at the bow for a close view. Sail toward famous Pelican Point, whose beach has many sea lions, pelicans, flamingos and flocks of gulls. On the return voyage, the captain and crew serve a delicious lunch at sea featuring fresh oysters, champagne and assorted local snacks. In the afternoon, a special off-road excursion explores the Sandwich Harbour dunes (shared vehicle; exactly six people can fill one vehicle), lasting approximately three hours. Witness dunes plunging into the Atlantic. Mirages while driving in the desert can make the ocean seem to spread into the sand, blurring sea and desert. Meals: hotel breakfast, light lunch aboard the boat and Chinese dinner
Accommodation:Swakopmund Hotel, in a century-old railway station
DAY 08Aug 2 · Africa/WindhoekDay 8: August 2 | Swakopmund–Spitzkoppe
Travel to Spitzkoppe's granite formations after breakfast for an evening walk and photography, with night-sky photography subject to weather.
Accommodation:Spitzkoppe Lodge
DAY 09Aug 3 · Africa/WindhoekDay 9: August 3 | Spitzkoppe–Etosha National Park
Itinerary: photograph a traditional Himba red-ochre community in the morning, then continue to Etosha Nature Reserve, southern Africa’s best-known wildlife reserve. After checking in, rest or photograph animals independently at the hotel waterhole. Covering more than 23,000 square kilometers, the reserve is known as ‘wildlife’s last paradise.’ It is Africa’s most important wildlife reserve and has the world’s largest protected population of black rhinoceroses, notably conserving endangered black-faced impalas and black rhinos. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, lions, cheetahs, leopards and more also live here. You may see at least seven species peacefully drinking at the same waterhole… There are opportunities to see 114 animal species and more than 340 bird species. If you cannot visit Kenya, this is certainly an excellent alternative. Breakfast: at your own expense | Lunch: local meal | Dinner: local meal
Accommodation:Okaukuejo Resort inside Etosha park or equivalent
DAY 10Aug 4 · Africa/WindhoekDay 10: Etosha–Windhoek
After breakfast, search for wildlife on a park safari in an open-top off-road vehicle (shared; nine people per vehicle). After lunch, return to the capital, Windhoek. Breakfast: hotel breakfast | Lunch: local meal | Dinner: local meal
Accommodation:Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek
DAY 11Aug 5 · Africa/WindhoekDay 11: Windhoek–Addis Ababa
Head to the airport in the morning, concluding your Namibia photography journey.
DAY 12Aug 6 · Africa/WindhoekDay 12: August 6 | Arrive back in China
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Ling Zi
- IncludedExcellent Chinese-speaking guide service throughout;
- IncludedExcellent English-speaking driver service throughout;
View trip staffing details
Photography leader · Ling Zi Included · Excellent Chinese-speaking guide service throughout; Included · Excellent English-speaking driver service throughout; Excluded · Overseas guide and driver tips (USD 10 per person per day; USD 110 per person for the full trip); Excluded · Accommodation is in standard twin rooms. If a male or female participant has no roommate, the tour leader may arrange an extra bed or assign a couple to separate rooms; Excluded · Tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually;
Transport
- IncludedTour transport and fuel throughout;
- ExcludedLong-distance transportation from your departure city to Windhoek, Namibia;
Travel details and reference schedules
The photography instructor's flights for this trip are as follows: [Departing from Hong Kong] Outbound: July 27 Hong Kong–Addis Ababa | ET645 / 00:25 / 06:25 July 27 Addis Ababa–Windhoek | ET835 / 08:35 / 13:20 Return: August 5 Windhoek–Addis Ababa | ET834 / 14:30 / 21:20 August 5 Addis Ababa–Hong Kong | ET608 / 22:40 / 16:45+1 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website. These services are for reference and do not constitute confirmed group transport. Final services and meeting times await operator confirmation. Included · Tour transport and fuel throughout; Included · Initial admission tickets to listed attractions (red desert admission twice; red desert shuttle into Deadvlei once; Quiver Tree Forest once; Walvis Bay cruise once; Himba community once; Sandwich Harbour dune excursion once; Etosha park admission once; Etosha open-top off-road vehicle excursion once; Spitzkoppe mountain admission once); Excluded · Long-distance transportation from your departure city to Windhoek, Namibia;
Photography
- Red dunes and Deadvlei
- Quiver trees and Spitzkoppe
- Walvis Bay coast and Etosha wildlife
Photography details
Red dunes and Deadvlei Photograph dune lines, light and shade, and Deadvlei's dead trees, with sunrise and sunset sessions highlighting desert contrasts. Quiver trees and Spitzkoppe Use quiver-tree silhouettes and Spitzkoppe's rock formations as landscape and night-sky foregrounds, subject to weather. Walvis Bay coast and Etosha wildlife Photograph the meeting of desert and ocean around Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour, then seek wildlife around Etosha's waterholes and safari routes. Red dunes and Deadvlei Quiver trees and Spitzkoppe Walvis Bay coast and Etosha wildlife Included · Photography instruction and support from the accompanying instructor throughout;
Accommodation
- 11 nights
- IncludedStandard twin rooms in four-star hotels or the best local hotels throughout (including two consecutive nights inside the red desert park and one night at a luxury Spitzkoppe lodge);
- ExcludedA single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.
Accommodation details
Day 2: Windhoek Country Club Resort, a four-star hotel Day 3: Quiver Tree Forest estate Day 4: Planned stay at NWR Sossus Dune Lodge inside the reserve; booking awaits operator confirmation. Day 5: Planned stay at NWR Sossus Dune Lodge inside the reserve; booking awaits operator confirmation. Day 6: Swakopmund Hotel, in a century-old railway station Day 7: Swakopmund Hotel, in a century-old railway station Day 8: Spitzkoppe Lodge Day 9: Okaukuejo Resort inside Etosha park or equivalent Day 10: Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek Final hotels and stay arrangements await operator confirmation. Day 2 · 2027-07-27 Windhoek Country Club Resort, a four-star hotel Day 3 · 2027-07-28 Quiver Tree Forest estate Day 4 · 2027-07-29 Planned stay at NWR Sossus Dune Lodge inside the reserve; booking awaits operator confirmation. Day 5 · 2027-07-30 Planned stay at NWR Sossus Dune Lodge inside the reserve; booking awaits operator confirmation. Day 6 · 2027-07-31 Swakopmund Hotel, in a century-old railway station Day 7 · 2027-08-01 Swakopmund Hotel, in a century-old railway station Day 8 · 2027-08-02 Spitzkoppe Lodge Day 9 · 2027-08-03 Okaukuejo Resort inside Etosha park or equivalent Day 10 · 2027-08-04 Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek 11 nights Included · Standard twin rooms in four-star hotels or the best local hotels throughout (including two consecutive nights inside the red desert park and one night at a luxury Spitzkoppe lodge); Excluded · A single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation. Excluded · Accommodation is in standard twin rooms. If a male or female participant has no roommate, the tour leader may arrange an extra bed or assign a couple to separate rooms; Excluded · Tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually;
Meals
- IncludedMain meals throughout the itinerary;
- IncludedDaily drinking water; please do not waste it.
- ExcludedTips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually;
Visa
- ExcludedNamibia visa processing is paid separately. Application method, documents, timing and amount await operator confirmation.
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Deposit in the operator’s published information
per personThis amount reflects the payment terms in the operator’s published information. When booking through this platform, follow the payment schedule shown at checkout.
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
Included
Standard twin rooms in four-star hotels or the best local hotels throughout (including two consecutive nights inside the red desert park and one night at a luxury Spitzkoppe lodge);
Main meals throughout the itinerary;
Tour transport and fuel throughout;
Excellent Chinese-speaking guide service throughout;
Excellent English-speaking driver service throughout;
Travel accident insurance;
Photography instruction and support from the accompanying instructor throughout;
Initial admission tickets to listed attractions (red desert admission twice; red desert shuttle into Deadvlei once; Quiver Tree Forest once; Walvis Bay cruise once; Himba community once; Sandwich Harbour dune excursion once; Etosha park admission once; Etosha open-top off-road vehicle excursion once; Spitzkoppe mountain admission once);
Travel agency liability insurance and travel insurance with RMB 300,000 coverage;
Daily drinking water; please do not waste it.
Not included
Long-distance transportation from your departure city to Windhoek, Namibia;
Namibia visa processing is paid separately. Application method, documents, timing and amount await operator confirmation.
Overseas guide and driver tips (USD 10 per person per day; USD 110 per person for the full trip);
A single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.
Accommodation is in standard twin rooms. If a male or female participant has no roommate, the tour leader may arrange an extra bed or assign a couple to separate rooms;
Optional activity expenses (participation is voluntary; interested participants must sign up through the WeChat group’s registration list before departure so arrangements can be made in advance);
Tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually;
In exceptional circumstances caused by force majeure, including natural disasters, war, strikes, airline delays or cancellations, or consular visa delays, the organizing team may cancel or alter the itinerary. We may charge additional expenses based on the actual additional expenditure incurred, including visas, accommodation, meals, transport, and national airfare adjustments, while doing our best to minimise everyone's losses;
Other unspecified additional service fees and personal expenses;
Tax is excluded; the applicable invoice tax must be paid additionally if an invoice is required.
Single-room supplements, additional local expenses and the final total must be confirmed in writing.
BEFORE YOU GO
What to know before you go
Availability and booking
Let us know if you’re interested in this trip. Availability is not updated in real time, so please contact us to check whether the trip is confirmed, how many places are available, and the final total and booking terms.
Trip information
[Transport] 1. Flights arranged by the organizing team use economy-class group tickets. Before tickets are issued, check the airline's rules for changes and refunds. 2. Flight, road and boat journey times may vary with conditions on the day. 3. The airlines and flight times listed are for guidance only. Flight changes may require minor adjustments to the itinerary. Please follow the final trip details sent before departure. [Accommodation] Accommodation is arranged for two people sharing a room. We'll try to match solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, or no roommate is available, you must pay a single supplement for your own room. [Group meals] We aim to serve meals suited to Chinese tastes. We make sure everyone has enough to eat. [Photography] 1. Photography sessions follow the itinerary, but conditions on the day may affect how long we spend at each location. 2. Read the itinerary carefully and choose a trip that suits your health and circumstances. Skipping part of the itinerary for health or other personal reasons, or choosing not to use the arranged accommodation or transport, counts as voluntary withdrawal from those arrangements. You are responsible for your own safety while not taking part in the itinerary. 3. Stay with the group during photography sessions unless you have permission to leave. This does not apply during free time. The organizing team is not responsible for accidents that occur while you are away from the group. 4. Typhoons, blizzards or other events beyond our control may require changes to the itinerary. [Fuel surcharges] The organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if fluctuations in global oil markets lead to a substantial rise in fuel surcharges. If the team can absorb the increase, the amount payable will remain unchanged. [Before departure] 1. We'll send your final trip details no later than the day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed sooner, we'll let you know as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the final trip details sent before departure, the final trip details take precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from arranging optional paid activities, please contact the provider directly for details, charges and bookings if you wish to take part. If you need language assistance from a guide or tour leader, any help is provided in a personal capacity, whether paid or unpaid. It is not provided on behalf of the organizing team or the local tour operator. The organizing team is not involved in the payments, transactions or service standards for activities during free time. You are responsible for the outcome of those arrangements.
Itinerary notes
Photography locations, accommodations and transportation are subject to final confirmation before departure. Weather and local conditions may affect the itinerary.
Itinerary dates use Africa/Windhoek. Flight, transfer and other times follow the time zone stated for each location. Please confirm any time without a stated time zone before departure.