Photo Tour Trekkers :: Namibia Photo Tour Oct 2013

Current Photo Tours 2013 / 2014 Schedule

- Bayfield Fall Foto Fest October 5th & 6th, 2013

- Namibia Photo Tour October 23rd to November 7th, 2013

- Festival of Northern Lights Holiday Photo Tour Sun Dec 8th, 2013

- Vietnam & Cambodia Photo Tour - February 17th to April 3rd, 2014

- Vietnam & Cambodia Photo Tour - April 3rd to 17th, 2014

Namibia Photo Tour - "Endless Horizons"

Download our Namibia Photo Tour October 2013 Brochure

Namibia Photo Tour ...

"Take the road less traveled and experience the wonders nature has to offer."

Rugged and Natural, Soulful and Liberating ... Experiences to take with you forever. Climb the highest sand dunes in the world, descend to the floor of the deepest canyon in Africa. Immerse yourself in the past at one of Africa’s richest lands of nature, and watch wildlife shimmer against one of the most spectacular pans on earth. Explore the oldest, driest desert in the world and take time to listen to the silence and to your soul. This is the call to Namibia.

I’m very excited about this tour and sharing it with all the photographers that join us this journey of discovery. Namibia is a modern country, while remaining deeply connected to their rich, heritage and cultural past. This trek will be filled with interesting adventures and opportunities to capture images beyond belief. Welcome to the country of Endless Horizons ....

James Cowie

Namibia Photo Tour - October 23rd to November 7th, 2013

Day One: Wednesday Oct 23rd, We will depart London mid afternoon traveling via motor coach to Buffalo International Airport. Our Delta flight departs at 6:15 p.m. flying to JFK Airport in New York. We will be overnighting in New York prior to our South African Airlines direct flight to Africa on the 24th.

Day Two: Thursday Oct 24th, Breakfast then transfer to JFK Airport for our 11:15 am flight. Our flight arrives in Johannesburg at 8:15 am the following morning.

Day Three: Friday Oct 25th, Our connection through Johannesburg departs at 9:30 a.m. arriving in Windhoek 11:35 am. We will be met at the airport and transfer to our hotel for our first night in Namibia. We will be staying at the Windhoek Country Club Resort. There will be time to relax and enjoy the resort, tonight will be our Welcome dinner.

Quiver Tree Forest at Sunrise

Day Four: Saturday Oct 26th, Buffett breakfast, check-out. This morning we drive to Keetmanshoop, we will be photographing at several desert locations. We will have a picnic lunch enroute. Once we have checked into our hotel, we will be spending time photographing in the Quiver Tree Forest. We will be out this evening for sunset photography. We will be staying at Central Lodge in Keetmanshoop. B,L,D,

Day Five: Sunday Oct 27th, Today we will be up early to head back out to the Quiver Tree forest for sunrise photography. This unique forest offers up many photography possibilities with the colour of sunrise. We will be having breakfast after sunrise in a rustic lodge located in the forest. Later this morning we will drive to Luderitz Bay where we will spend the next two nights. We will arrive in time for an afternoon rest and refreshments then make our first visit to the amazing derelict Ghost Town of Kolmanskop. We will spend the late afternoon and sunset photographing in the abandon mining village. We will be staying at the Luderitz Nest Hotel and Resort. B,L,D,

Day Six: Monday Oct 28th, Early morning sunrise at Kolmanskop Ghost Town. The abandon town of Kolmanskop is an eerie remnant of the diamond era at the beginning of the 20th century. The sand filled skeleton of town is located about 10 KM from Luderitz. It was once a prospering community with a clubhouse, restaurant, saloons, a concert hall and a free block of ice per household every day. Photographers will have as much time as they like to wander through this deserted ghost town. Later in the day we will head back to Luderitz Bay for time to relax and enjoy the coast. B, L, D,

Kolmanskop - Sandy Ghost Town

Day Seven: Tuesday Oct 29th, After breakfast we will depart for Sossusvlei with box lunches for our journey. This drive will offer up some amazing photo opportunities, the wide open plains, sociable weaver nests and Dead Pan Dune 45. We will spend time photographing and exploring the sand dunes thru the afternoon, arriving at our lodge after sunset. We will be staying at Moon Mountain Lodge, the main and central areas of the lodge and the rooms are raised on wooden decking. B, L, D,

Mountain Dune Lodge was built and completed in 2009 on the Moon Mountain Top. There are magnificent views of the Naukluft Mountains. Beautiful views from each private balcony. The lodge is situated within the duens in Sossusvlei, and close to the quaint village of Solitare.

Rooms at Moon Mountain Lodge

Day Eight: Wednesday Oct 30th, Today we visit The Sossusvlei Dunes area, one of the most beautiful places to be seen! Departure will be very early in order to be in the area just on sunrise, the best time for light and photography. You will be woken up about 2 hours before sunrise (about 04h30) for coffee/tea and a snack before departing for Sossusvlei. The entrance gate at Sesriem opens at sun rise and it is good to be there a few minutes early. The outing this morning will be conducted in 4 x 4 vehicles while the rest of the visits in Sossusvlei will be done by coach. B,L,D,

The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are often referred to as the highest dunes in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft Park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world - the sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just one excellent reason to visit Namibia.

Sunrise - Sand Dunes Namibia

Day Nine: Thursday Oct 31st , Early morning rise for the last visit to these dunes for photography before driving north (and then west). The terrain goes through a gradual change from mountains and dunes to rolling grass-covered hills with scattered acacia trees to Swakopmund, a quaint resort town by the sea with an obvious German heritage at odds with its bleak surrounds.

Look out for the endemic Hartmann's mountain zebra as you leave, and along the way. Stop at Solitaire, about 80km from Sesriem for some home-made bread and an ice cold drink. (Own account). The Kuiseb Canyon has some of the most amazing rock formations where you can clearly see how earth movement twisted and turned the landscape. Along the way, also look out for springbok and pure-bred wild ostrich across the vast gravel plains of the Namib. On our way we will visit via Ganab, the lunar landscape and to see the ancient Welwitschia mirabilis plants ... a “miracle” plant which is not related to any other plant. We will finish our day by arriving at Swakopmund Hotel. B, L, D,

Hartmann's Mountain Zebra

Day Ten: Friday Nov 01st, Cape Cross - Damaraland - Twyfelfontein ... The landscape photography is spectacular as we visit the enormous granite outcrops and dolerite dyes that have been carved out by ice, wind and rain over the centuries. Grassy plains, tree studded riverbeds and endless open skies add to the grandeur and makes this area one of the most scenic in Namibia. We will drive along the Skeleton Coast via Henties Bay to Cape Cross - the largest breeding cape fur seal colony in the world is located here. We will have lunch at Cape Cross Lodge. We will stop to photograph the lichen fields and salt pan. Overnight Twyfelfontein Lodge B, L, D,

Day Eleven: Saturday Nov 02nd, Today we will be doing our excursion in 4x4 trucks in search of the Desert Elephants. We will also have time to photograph Twyfelfontein rock, the Petrified Forest and the Organ Pipes. Overnight Twyfelfontein Lodge. B, L, D,

Desert Elephants

Day Twelve and Thirteen: Sunday Nov 03rd and Monday Nov 04th, Etosha Game Reserve - Etosha is one of Africa's great game parks. With 114 species of mammal and 340 species of bird you are sure to see a great variety of wildlife on your safari. A visit to the Etosha National Park is one of the highlights of traveling Namibia. Etosha, which was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907, covers an area of more than 22 000 sq kms. In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopani bushland in the west and dry forest in the north-east. About two million years ago, this area was an enormous lake, fed by the Kunene river. However the lake slowly dried up over time, as river changed its course. Etosha Taleni Village B, L, D,

Etosha is one of the few places, maybe the only place, where some of the best game viewing would be during the heat of the day when plains game in their hundreds congregate at the waterholes to drink.

As vegetation in most areas is sparse, the animals have learnt to drink during the day when predators are inactive and it is the safest time to be out in the open. It is not uncommon to see up to 7 different species of game at any waterhole.

Etosha Game Reserve

Day Fourteen: Tuesday Nov 05th, Final morning game drive, followed by breakfast and drive back to Windhoek. This evening will be our farewell dinner. Overnight Windhoek Country Club, B, L, D,

Day Fifteen: Wednesday Nov 06th, We will have some free time in the morning until our transfer to the airport to begin our journey home. Our return via South African Airlines departs at 12:20 p.m. we arrive in JFK Airport at 5:50 a.m. on Nov 07th. Our connecting Delta flight will have us back in Buffalo by 5:12 p.m.

Namibia is a country of diverse landscapes, beautiful wild animals, and the unique mix of modern world and love of heritage. The country is the experience ... The average temperature in Namibia during October and November is 24 to 26 C with overnight lows of 15 to 16 C. This time of year an average of 3 wet days and a humidity of 22-30%.

The cost of the Namibia Photo Tour is $8080.00 per person Canadian plus taxes of $739.00, (based on double occupancy) single supplement is $1550 Canadian. This tour is based out of a Toronto gateway, but can be adjusted for other departures.

Includes:

Round trip motor coach via Ayr Coach Lines to Pearson International Airport, Toronto,
Departures from London, and Woodstock,
Round Trip Airfare via Delta Airlines and South African Airlines,
Accommodations overnight near JFK airport and while in Namibia,
Portage for one piece of luggage per person in/out of each hotel, where applicable,
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner each day,
Welcome and Farewell Dinners,
All airport and hotel transfers,
Luxury air conditioned motor coach and all vehicle costs while on tour,
Any local admissions,
Game drives and entry fees
Mineral water supplied in the vehicle
Fuel Surcharge, Park Fees and taxes included,
Photo Workshops,
Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie

Tour Exclusions: Any item not listed on the itinerary, gratuities to Namibia Guide, safari driver, personal insurance coverage, alcoholic beverages, personal insurance, and laundry.

** Schedule may vary according to weather and travel conditions.

** Guests require a valid passport, and valid for a min of 6 months return travel date.

A non refundable deposit of $1000 CAD is required at time of booking, then guests may select two payment options. Option A - 4 payments of $1770.00 May 19th / June 19th / July 19th / Aug 19th or Option B - 2 payments of $3540 June 19th / August 19th, 2013. We recommend the purchase of travel and health insurance. This tour takes us out of the country so health insurance is recommended.

Booking space for this tour may be done onlineclick here for our registraton page , by contacting James Cowie at 519-679-8520 ext. 2223 or by email jcowie@carlsonwagonlit.com or Shari Parker at 519-679-8520 ext 2231 or by email s.parker@carlsonwagonlit.com Online booking is available on this page by selecting Namibia Photo Tour Register.

Link to Registration

Link to Download Copy of Namibia Tour Brochure

Carlson Wagonlit Travel / Photo Tour Trekkers

224 Central Ave. London, Ont. N6A 1M8

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