The Quiver Tree Forest located in the south of the country near Keetmanshoop is a popular first stop amongst photographers. Quiver Trees (Aloe dichotoma) make fascinating subjects either backlit or silhouetted against an African sunset. The Aloe tree bark peels off in interesting patterns and textures for those that like to do macro work.

We then concentrate on the deserted diamond mines at Elizabeth Bay and Kolmanskop. These sand encroached towns are a photographer's heaven. We arrange special permits for access into these areas from early morning until the last rays of the sun disappear. There is something here for everyone including rusted, abandoned mining machinery which make unusual subjects and the lattice of sand blasted walls where the bricks have totally weathered away and only the mortar remains. Broken windows, brightly painted colourful interior walls and doors hanging off rusted hinges give one a glimpse of the life that must have been. The isolation of these ghost towns abandoned now to the elements make eerily atmospheric photographic subjects.

No photographic safari to the south would be complete without a visit to the Namib Desert. Most of our photographic safaris visit the Namib Rand Nature Reserve. This hauntingly beautiful setting has been described by world renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite as "one of the most beautiful places in the world". Namib Rand offers a unique blend of dunes, mountains and grassy plains which lures photographers out of bed well before dawn. A highlight here is to catch the rising sun as it casts majestic shadows on the ever-changing Chateau Plains.

For those photographers wanting something a little more off the beaten track then the private concession on Klein Aus Vista can't be matched. Here the rolling grassy plains, inselberg mountains and undulating orange dunes form interesting backdrops to photograph the feral desert horses against. The scenery here is similar to that of the towering dune fields at Sossusvlei but without the people. The only footprints, apart from your own, will most probably be oryx, which are often seen traversing the dunes.

One place in the desert that cannot be left off any photographer's itinerary is the popular tourist attraction of the dunes at Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. In order to optimise our time spent in the dunes we choose to set up our very comfortable mobile camp at Sesriem. Here one can have all the benefits of comfortable tents, delicious home cooked meals eaten al fresco with the advantage of being able to get into the dunes early and stay until after sunset. Sossusvlei with majestic apricot coloured dunes which look almost hand sculptured in the early morning and late afternoon light is always popular with photographers. We also visit Dead Vlei with its stark white clay pans and black ancient camel thorn trees that make for interesting abstract shots. The advantage here of being in a small group is that each photographer can concentrate individually on a specific chosen area without feeling pressured by the others to move on. There is enough to keep even the most discerning photographer busy here for a good few days.

If one has no time constraints then we normally include a visit to the coast on our southern trip. This allows one to be able to enjoy a little luxury and seafood cuisine but also offers one the opportunity to photograph some of the interesting colonial architecture that Swakopmund has to offer. As well as the architecture, another highlight of the coast is the dolphin cruise where a morning is spent on the lagoon at Walvis Bay giving one the chance to photograph seals, dolphins, whales (if one is fortunate enough) and various other marine life and sea birds in close proximity, while enjoying local champagne and oysters.

Again, time permitting, we overnight at Epako Game Ranch for those who would like to see some game. Here they have antelope, giraffe, wildebeest, warthogs as well as white rhino. This is a good introduction for those wishing to do the northern photographic safari which concentrates primarily on wildlife and culture.

Before this photographic safari finishes we arrange an afternoon visit to a nearby game farm/reserve to see feeding of both leopard and cheetah at close quarters. This is an excellent opportunity to photograph these big cats in their natural environment and it rounds off this southern photographic safari very nicely.

After spending a comfortable first night in town at a charming Guesthouse in Windhoek, it is an early start the next day to catch a light aircraft flight north. We fly to the northern Namibian border to spend a night at Epupa Camp on the mighty Kunene River. During our stay here we get to photograph people from the Himba tribe. These fascinating semi-nomadic pastoralists are a very stately and handsome tribe, considered by some to be the seventh most primitive tribe in the world. Himba woman smear ochre on their naked torsos and have elaborate headwear and adornments. A visit to a local village to photograph and learn more about their way of life is included on our busy schedule here. The visit to Epupa Falls with its giant baobabs and towering Makalani palms is usually done just before the sun sets behind the mountains in Angola.

The safari continues with a light aeroplane charter from Epupa down into northern Damaraland to spend some time at Hobatere Lodge. This lodge is an ideal introduction to wildlife. Here one is able to go on guided walks to get acquainted with some of the smaller animals, birds and insect life that is often easily missed. There are game drives in the late afternoon as well as night drives with a spotlight to look for the nocturnals such as leopard, aardvark, genets, spring hares, etc. A hide overlooking a waterhole is one of the places where one can while away some of the day as one waits for animals to come down and drink.

We drive out of Hobatere Lodge and enter the western side of Etosha (with a special permit, as this side of the park is closed to normal tourist traffic). Etosha is one of Africa's oldest and largest game reserves and is just under half the size of Switzerland. There are over 110 mammal species and 340 bird species that make Etosha their home. We go on a game drive from waterhole to waterhole to photograph wildlife in this unique stark desert setting. We stay in all three restcamps in the Park, Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni which gives us a good chance of seeing some of Africa's biggest elephants, black rhino, and lion. In addition, there is all the plains game such as springbok, oryx, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, red hartebeest as well as the endemic black-faced impala and more. We will also have plenty of opportunity to appreciate the varied vegetation and landscapes in the park from the giant salt pans to the grassy plains, mopane forests and thorn bush savannas.

We head north and east into Bushmanland to stay in the heart of Bushmanland at Tsumkwe lodge. From here activities include visiting a Bushman village to learn more about the remarkable hunting and gathering culture of the Ju'/haan Bushmen. The Bushmen that live in this area have an extensive knowledge on how to hunt, gather and survive in this semi-desert environment. They will share this knowledge with you during your stay. If the Bushmen allow it then we maybe privileged enough to witness a trance-dance performed by the elders and local shaman/medicine man / witch doctor.

The safari continues to the luxurious Okonjima – home of the AfriCat Foundation. Here one has time to hear about, and photograph at relatively close quarters, the big cats such as lion, leopard and cheetah. This educative and informative stay will be a great way to end the safari and provides some very fine photographic opportunities. (It should be noted – that some of the cats are collared). Okonjima offers a range of activities from guided trails, walks, bird watching, visits to the night hide as well as the activities with the big cats.