Namibia Photography Trip
14 days full of photography and the magic of Africa. Experience Namibia with Swiss Photo Club and Foto Arni.
With natural and manmade wonders, Namibia is an African country where nature reigns supreme.
TBC 2021
Join us on an unforgettable journey to Namibia: 14 days full of photography, delicious food, and wine and beautiful landscapes, accommodated in 3-4-star lodges and tents.
Take impressive pictures during this trip, accompanied by a professional photographer and a driver who knows the area and speaks both German and English. With him you can be sure to be in the right place at the right time! Discover with us this versatile land, its wildlife and its people. Inspiration and countless possibilities for stunning photos are available each and every moment!
Start and finish of our trip is Windhoek, from where we drive by car or minibus through Namibia. We will cover a wide variety of photography, from sweeping landscapes to portraits, from long exposure night photography to architectural photography. All in a great group, led by experienced photographers and guides.
LOCATION
With spectacular and bizarre scenes including Fish River Canyon, the blazing red dunes of Sossusvlei, the Skeleton Coast and the Spergebeit ghost town, Namibia is Africa at its most epic.
The country is known worldwide for its breathtaking nature, such as the great dunes of the Namib, its wildlife and of course photography!
A former colony of Germany, Namibia is also full of cultural and architectural surprises. This is an African country like no other. A place where castles tower from desert sands, where towns from a bygone era are literally turning to dust and where nature reigns supreme.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
What is the program?
We will start at Windhoek, the capital where all roads converge. During the 14 days, we will cover Erongo Mountains, Etosha National Park, Palmwag (Damaraland), Swakopmund, Namib Naukluft, Sesriem / Sossusvlei, Kalahari Desert / Mariental.
Please note, the exact program will be fixed only after the confirmation of the trip. The visited lodges / hotels and places are subject to availability.
ACCOMODATION
We will be accommodated in 3-4-star lodges or tents in single or double rooms.
Breakfast is included everywhere, as well as most of the dinners.
Accompanied by a professional photographer and a guide from the region, we will always be in the right place at the right time to have the best opportunities for stunning photos – whether by the sea near Swakopmund or inland in the Erongo Mountains, Sossusvlei or Etosha National Park.
We will deal with architectural photography, recognize geometry and incorporate the rules of composition. We take pictures of the dreamlike landscapes and explain how you make HDR shots. You will learn to organize your pictures and select the best pictures. There will be the opportunity to practice night photography and capture the Milky Way. In addition to art, panorama and architecture, we also practice street photography.
From time to time, half or even a full day is free so you can explore the place for yourself or pursue your favorite pastime.
In summary, you will learn the following during these 14 days:
- The rules of composition and manual mode of the camera (for beginners also basics like AV / TV / S etc.)
- Make architectural shots, deal with geometry
- Long-term photography and photography with a tripod
- Corrections when taking pictures, RAW shots, choosing the right lens
- Use outdoor photography, flash and natural light (even bright sunlight) properly
- Night photography and effects (silky water, light painting, etc.)
- HDR photos, camera settings to the directly finished picture
- Street photography, artistic effects, panning, tilting
- Tricks and tricks to categorize, select and edit the best pictures of the journey
- Lots of advice, tips & tricks for using your camera and photography in general
What is included?
- Full program around photography and exercises with our instructor, all questions
- Guided tours as well as explanations to the individual regions during the journey through the local guide
- Transport during the trip from / to Windhoek by car or minibus for 4-8 persons, equipped with air conditioning
- Most dinners in the accommodations, typically Namibian (please inform us in advance about allergies or intolerances!)
- 13 nights in 3-4-star hotels or tents (breakfast and half-board included)
- Snack & refreshments during the tour
- Living Desert Tour in Swakopmund with another (possibly English speaking) driver / guide
- Detailed travel documentation with guide and maps (value CHF 25.00 per person)
Not included:
- Arrival and departure from Switzerland to Windhoek (but can be arranged on request). Recommended flights: 18.5.19: LX288, BA6275, 1.6.19: SA77, LX289
- Lunch during the trip (in each place about one hour “lunch break” at leisure, for lunch or other activities – partly while driving)
- further excursions
- not mentioned meals and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
- All insurance (basic, travel, cancellation, extra return and accident insurance)
Entry requirements:
To enter all countries in the south of Africa, Swiss and EU citizens need a passport valid up to 6 months after return (subject to change).
Health / Vaccinations:
No vaccinations are required, but taking malaria prophylaxis is recommended. For detailed information, please contact your family doctor.
Further information can be found on the Internet at www.osir.ch or www.safetravel.ch.
Weather conditions:
An average of 300 sunny days a year make Namibia a very sunny country. From April to June the temperatures are around 25 ° C during the day.
What former participants say about the trip:
FAQ’s
The main language will be English or German depending on the composition of the group. Our instructor is at least bilingual and will be able to answer questions in English as well.
Is there a refund in case I cannot join?
If for any reason you are unable to attend the trip, you can cancel your registration via email (hello@swissphotoclub.com).
Here are the conditions for a refund after booking the trip:
<180 days: 20% handling fee will be deducted 179 - 150 days: 80% of the amount will be withheld 149 - 0 days: 100% of the amount will be retained Tickets can be resold.
Unless differently stated in the trip description, the following conditions apply to cancellations and booking changes for each trip:
- Up to 90 Days: 20% of the price is held as cancellation
- 89 – 31 Days: 50% of the price is held as cancellation
- 30 – 0 Days: 100% of the price is held as cancellation
Please note that some of the trips have stricter cancellation rules due to agencies we work with. In these cases, the cancellation policy in the trip description applies.
Tickets are not for resale.
For shared rooms, we strongly recommend that you book with somebody you already know and comfortable to share the room with.
If you book a shared room alone, that means you accept to share your room with any other participant regardless of gender or age.
With individual booking of a shared room, your booking can only be confirmed if there is another individual shared room reservation with us. Otherwise, depending on the time and availability, you have the option to upgrade to a private room reservation.
If you decide to upgrade to private room, the conditions depend on the timing of your decision, pending of course on the availability.
Before the trip: Possible by paying the price difference at the time of your decision (e.g. if you bought an early bird ticket but decided to upgrade during normal prices, you pay the difference at normal prices).
After the trip has started: If you decide to upgrade during check-in, if there is room available, you will have to pay the price difference plus 20% of your original payment as penalty.
Unless otherwise stated in the course description, the group conversations will be in English.
Our instructors are all at least bi-lingual, so we will probably be able to help you in your own language in private, in case of any questions. Please check before registration if you do not feel comfortable in English.
No. The application is open to everybody who have the passion for photography and learning. This trip is for beginners as well as for pros because we believe that we all have different talents and we can all learn from each other. Even though, a basic knowledge of photography is highly recommended.
Once we receive your payment, we will get back to you with a short survey or a call to get to know your preferences for language and accommodation. As the trip gets closer, we will keep in touch with you again to confirm the trip, introduce the instructors, update you on the progress and communicate the full program.
No. This trip will be organized by and for Swiss Photo Club only.
Children:
Minimum age of 16 years is required.
Pets:
Pets are unfortunately not allowed to bring.
Allergies/food intolerances:
Please let us know about your allergies and food intolerances so we can adjust the organization according to your needs.
Additional photo equipment:
We have a partnership with great photography manufacturers. If you need to buy photo gear for your trip, do not hesitate to contact us and we will send you a quote (hello@swissphotoclub.com).
There is no insurance included in the weekend photography trip. Please make sure you have health, travel and accident insurance coverage.
We will ask you to give us a way to get in touch with a contact person of your choice before the trip.
You and your beloved ones can contact all of us during our trip and our team back in Geneva and Zurich.
In case of any special allergies or medical treatments, we highly recommend to contact your doctor before applying for the trip.
Swiss Photo Club does not provide any insurance.
You can either pay via:
- Credit Card (fastest/prefered option),
- Bank Transfer
- Invoice (send us an email with full name and billing address)
- Cash (get in contact with us to arrange an appointment)
- Photography equipment for landscape and night photography (body, lenses, tripod, filters, strap, batteries, sd cards, etc.)
- Laptop with Lightroom or Photoshop for the editing session (optional)
- Warm clothes according to weather conditions
You will get a recommended packing list with your welcome information