For photographers who love to snap landscapes and other beautiful, natural formations, there’s no better place in the world for a photography tour than Namibia.
Home to just 2 million or so people, Namibia is a desolate paradise, a place that has been left as nature intended. Almost completely untouched by the modern world, Namibia is endlessly devoid of the crowds that tend to flock to Africa’s more popular destinations, making this country the ideal place for photography, as you won’t be jostling for the best angles.
But with the scenic beauty and the assortment of places to visit, tour planning is not the only consideration that you need to make. Photography is not just an art, it is a skill, one that needs some learning as well as some experience, and a bit of a natural know-how, to get right.
Whether you’re chasing the golden light of the desert or should you want to capture wildlife against stunning backdrops, this guide will take you through the country’s best locations to capture a couple of iconic shots.
Best Photography Spots in Namibia
There are few places in Namibia that are not an exceptional photography opportunity for the photographer who pays attention and has a feel for these sorts of things. Namibia is famous for its otherworldly landscapes, rock formations and conservation areas. To guide and inspire you, here are some of the best spots to add to your Namibia photo tour list.
Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
- Distance from Nearest Town: 60 km from Sesriem.
- How to Get There: Drive or take a guided Namibia tour from Sesriem.
- Photo Highlights: The huge red dunes, the bright white salt pan, and the ancient dead trees against the bright sky.
The contrast between the skeletal camelthorn trees set against the white clay pan and deep red dunes is something out of a surreal dreamscape. The unique geometry of the landscape creates perfect lines and shapes, ideal for both wide-angle and close-up shots.
Helpful Camera Settings and Tips
- Best Time of Day: Early morning or late afternoon for soft light and long shadows.
- Settings: ISO 100, f/8-11 for deep focus, and a tripod for those smooth, ethereal shots of the shifting dunes.
- Possible Challenges: Dealing with bright, harsh midday light and wind that shifts the dunes unexpectedly. A UV filter can help with both the light and protecting your lens from sand.
Etosha National Park
- Distance from Nearest Town: 110 km from Tsumeb
- How to Get There: Self-drive or guided Namibia safari tour
- Photo Highlights: The iconic wildlife, including elephants, against the huge open salt pans and dramatic blue skies.
In Etosha, the wildlife often quite literally comes to you. With waterholes being magnets for animals, the opportunity for candid, close-up shots of elephants, lions, and so much more is a real possibility. Should you visit the salt pan in Etosha, you can add an extra special element to your photos by using the pan as a background to some of your images.
Helpful Camera Settings and Tips
- Best Time of Day: Early morning and late afternoon are the ideal times to capture wildlife in action under soft lighting.
- Settings: ISO 400-800, a telephoto lens (200 mm-400 mm), fast shutter speeds (1/1000 sec or faster) to freeze animal motion. Generally, telephoto lenses have a basic aperture of around f/4.5 to f/5.6, which will darken the image, making the bumped-up ISO necessary.
- Potential Challenges: Keeping a distance from wildlife while still taking “close-up” intimate shots. Having a good zoom lens will be essential for both safety and detail.
Skeleton Coast
- Distance from Nearest Town: 250 km from Swakopmund
- How to Get There: Guided tours from Swakopmund or charter flights
- Photo Highlights: The ancient shipwrecks, huge coastal dunes, and the eerie, mist-covered beaches.
The desolate beauty of the Skeleton Coast is just the place to create haunting yet fascinating landscape photos. The rusted remains of shipwrecks set against the empty beaches, with a heavy misty settling in, make for some of the most evocative images of Namibia.
Helpful Camera Settings and Tips
- Best Time of Day: Late afternoon when the mist starts rolling in from the Atlantic, creating a moody, cinematic effect.
- Settings: ISO 200-400, a wide-angle lens (16mm-35mm), and a polarizer to cut through the mist and enhance the contrasts.
- Potential Challenges: The ever-changing light conditions, dense fog, and light mist can quickly obscure the details of your subject. The fog will also create a water issue, so waterproofing your gear is a must.
Spitzkoppe (The Matterhorn of Namibia)
- Distance from Nearest Town: 120 km from Usakos
- How to Get There: Self-drive from Swakopmund or Usakos
- Photo Highlights: Striking granite peaks, rock arches, and golden sunsets
This striking granite formation, often compared to Switzerland’s Matterhorn, gives photographers dramatic landscapes and stunning sunsets to capture. The natural rock arch in particular is a favourite for photographers looking to capture uniquely spectacular silhouettes.
Camera Settings and Tips
- Best Time of Day: Golden hour and just after sunset for those warm, glowing rock faces.
- Settings: ISO 400-800, f/11-f/16 for a deeper depth of field, and a tripod for sharpness in low light
- Potential Challenges: The harsh midday light and extreme contrasts between shadows and highlights will make exposure an issue that you should play around with. Try using a graduated ND filter can help balance exposures.
Kolmanskop Ghost Town
- Distance from Nearest Town: 10 km from Lüderitz
- How to Get There: Short drive from Lüderitz, or a guided tour
- Photo Highlights: The abandoned buildings filled with sand are perfect for eerie, atmospheric shots.
The abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop, now partially swallowed by the desert, gives photographers truly surreal scenes of a town forgotten by the world. The contrast between the decay and nature’s reclamation makes this a captivating spot for photographers.
Camera Settings and Tips
- Best Time of Day: Early morning when the soft light enhances the textures of sand and crumbling buildings
- Settings: ISO 100, f/5.6-f/8 for shallow depth of field when focusing on specific details
- Potential Challenges: Sandstorms can roll through suddenly, and the lighting indoors can be tricky, so carrying a portable light source or using natural window light is ideal.
The Ideal Gear for a Namibia Photo Tour
You don’t need the most up-to-date camera and gear, you don’t even need the fanciest DLSR or Mirrorless camera to get the job done. Even an outdated camera will do, especially if you are just snapping as a hobby.
When on a Namibia photo tour it helps to have a durable camera body, 1 or 2 wide-angle and telephoto lenses, a tripod, and protective filters. Go for one single-focus lens and one multi-focus lens, this way you’ll have what you need to photograph the various scenes. When selecting your lenses, make sure that your aperture can go as wide as f/1.8 at the very least. This will allow you to take fantastically detailed low-light images.
You will also want to be sure that your gear is ready for Namibia’s harsh environment, with dust protection being the most important consideration you make.
A Note for Beginners
Those new to photography should consider joining a guided Namibia photo tour or workshop. These guided experiences will give you invaluable insights, helping you refine your technique while ensuring you don’t miss capturing the most intriguing images.
Pack your camera and let Namibia’s iconic landscapes fill your lens.
Book a Namibia photo tour today!