November 29, 2015

Best of Namibia

Africa Cultural Safaris Wildlife & Natural History

Part One of a Two-Part Epic Journey Through Namibia & Botswana

In September, we joined a group to roam through Namibia under the direction of Orlando Haraseb (a recent silver medalist for international guide of the year) and Tarry Butcher. We started and ended in Windhoek. This compendium is intended to highlight our trip. The pictures are roughly in the order in which they were shot.

We initially went to Africat, a facility for rescue of Cheetahs that is located south of Otjiwarongo. There we walked with cheetahs and saw leopards, along with many other animals.

Two cheetahs sit in tall, dry grass with sparse bushes, blending with the surroundings in a savannah landscape. This is one of the best travel experiences Namibia has to offer.

A group of people, some wearing hats and backpacks, stand near two off-road vehicles in a dry, grassy area with sparse trees, listening to a guide during an unforgettable Namibia travel experience.

A leopard with spotted fur lies in the shade with ears slightly bent, surrounded by dry grass and branches in a sunlit environment, embodying the wild beauty that makes Namibia's best tours an unforgettable experience.

A porcupine with long quills, including white-tipped spines, is standing on a sandy and grassy surface, embodying the natural beauty one might encounter while traveling through Namibia.

A warthog stands in the dry, yellow grass of Namibia, looking towards the camera, capturing a moment of pristine natural beauty that makes Namibia travel unforgettable.

Next came Etosha at Anderssons Camp and Dolomite Camp. Here we saw amazing wildlife, mostly gathering at waterholes.

Three zebras drinking from a small waterhole in the dry, rocky landscape of Namibia. This picturesque scene captures some of the best moments travel can offer, blending nature's beauty with wildlife.

Three elephants, including a baby, walk together in a rocky and sparsely vegetated landscape—a quintessential scene of Namibia travel. The trees around them are bare, and the dry terrain exemplifies the best of Namibia's rugged beauty.

Four giraffes stand and drink water at a small waterhole in the dry, barren landscape of Namibia. Experience the Best of Namibia with this mesmerizing travel moment.

A large brown and white bird with a long neck is drinking water from a muddy pond, surrounded by the dry, rocky ground typical of Namibia's rugged landscapes.

A group of six warthogs traverses Namibia's sandy and rocky terrain, offering a unique glimpse into the country's wildlife for travel enthusiasts.

Next, we visited a Himba village to learn their customs, see their dancing, and to thank them for sharing their lives with us.

From there it was on to Damaraland to see red rock and petroglyphs. We also saw a 1200 year old Welwitschia plant—these plants live to more than 2000 years of age.

We went to the Skeleton Coast to see a shipwreck and then on to Swakopmund for kayaking and flamingos.

Next up came Sossusvlei, a photographer’s dream of soaring dunes and scenery.

Our final stop was a hike in the Tok Tokkie portion of the NamibRand Preserve. We slept out under the starts and saw skies like most of us had never seen before.