Tropical Herping’s Namibia wildlife photography and herping tour is one of our most life-changing and awe-inspiring trips. It is open to a select group of 2–8 participants who want to visit the iconic national parks and high red dunes of the country, photograph incredibly desert animals both on foot and on safari-style, and learn side-by-side from our team of award-winning wildlife photographers.

Image showing Lucas Bustamante photographing a giant tortoise

Lucas Bustamante
Tour leader, photo instructor
World-renowned Ecuadorian photographer and co-founder of Tropical Herping.

Image showing tour leader Frank Pichardo walking on a beach

Frank Pichardo
Tour leader, photo instructor
Wildlife photographer with more than 10 years of experience leading Tropical Herping tours.

Tour details

Description: A wildlife photography and herping tour open to a select group of 2–8 participants who want photograph the incredibly biodiversity of Namibia’s most iconic national parks and high red dunes while learning from our team of award-winning wildlife photographers.

Main tour (13 nights): $9,987. $1,475 in single room.

Dates: Aug 22, 2026. Sep 4, 2027.

Group size: 2–8 people.

Day 1Windhoek
Days 2–4Sossusvlei
Days 5–7Swakopmund
Days 8–13Etosha
Days 14Windhoek
Day 15Departure flights

How to reserve your spot?

  1. Read our cancellation policy below.

  2. Complete the contact form in the next step to let us know about your interests and experience and so we can check availability and give you further information about the tour.

  3. Review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability form we will send you.

  4. Make payment to confirm your booking.

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to attend the tour, you are welcome to send someone in your place or apply to another Tropical Herping event. Cancellations made up to 90 days before the start of the trip will result in a complete refund minus wire transfer fees and flights purchased by us. Cancellations from 90 to 60 days before the start of the trip will result in a 50% refund minus wire transfer fees and flights purchased by us. Cancellations from 60 days before the trip start to the trip start will result in no refunds.

Important! Read the rules and recommendations.

What to bring? Check out our suggested packing list.

What is included?

Package based on two people sharing a room.

All meals and accommodation.

All river and road transfers.

Guides and tour leaders.

Domestic airfares.

National park entrance fees.

What is not included?

Additional nights due to flight cancellations.

Alcoholic beverages, bottled water, and snacks.

Health/travel insurance.

International airfares.

Laundry.

Photo equipment.

Visa processing fees.

Booking form

Tour description

Unlike most African safaris, this tour will not only focus on photographing the Big 5, but also on macro photography, exploring deserts, the Atlantic coast, and the impressive Etosha Pan. The tour’s first stage will take you to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, one of the most emblematic deserts on Earth, with a theatrical landscape defined by its massive dunes. We plan to look for desert animals in this reddish landscape. The tour’s second stage is Swakopmund, a very picturesque city on the Atlantic coast. Here, we will look for small desert creatures, like Namaqua chameleon, Sidewinder Adder, and the Horned Adder. But also, we will visit the Walvis Bay area, looking for Lesser and Great Flamingoes. The third and final destination will be Etosha National Park. We will go on safari here by the bush, on the lookout for four of the Big 5 (the exception being buffalo), around the unique Etosha Pan, a vast depression in which water may collect or in which a deposit of salt and other minerals remain after water has evaporated.

Image of an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Image of a Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Image of a Many-horned Adder (Bitis cornuta)
Image of a Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)
Image of a Sidewinding Adder (Bitis peringueyi)
Image of a Southern Giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)
Image of a Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis)
Image of a Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)
Image of a Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Image of a Twig Snake (Thelotornis capensis)
Image of an Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
Image of a Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)
Image of a Lion (Panthera leo)
Image of a Sidewinding Adder (Bitis peringueyi)
Image of a Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)
Image of a Giant Ground-Gecko (Chondrodactylus angulifer)
Image of a Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis)
Image of a Namaqua Chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis)
Image of a Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Image of a Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)
Image of a Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis)
Image of a Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)
Image of a Namaqua Chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis)
Image of a Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis)
Image of an African Puff-Adder (Bitis arietans)
Image of a Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Image of an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Image of a Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Image of a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
Image of a Namib Sand-Gecko (Pachydactylus rangei)
Image of a Black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas)
Image of a Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)
Image of a Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)

Frequently asked questions

Am I supposed to pay the tour price at once?

You can confirm your booking by making a 50% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

Can I make a reservation for this tour but on 2027 or 2028?

Yes, we are currently accepting reservations for both 2027 and 2028. Please contact us for updated pricing for your preferred year. To secure your spot, we require a 20% deposit. The remaining payment schedule is as follows: 50% of the balance is due one year before the tour start date, with the final balance due at least 90 days before departure.

Does the tour take place during the nights?

The tour includes both diurnal and nocturnal activities.

How do I book my spot?

The first thing you need to do to reserve your spot in this tour is contact us using our booking form. Second, you will need to review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability we will send you. Finally, you will have to make a deposit to confirm your booking.

Is there a chance to arrange a private tour?

Yes, most of the tours we offer are private.

Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join?

This tour will run with no less than three participants. If one of two participants makes a reservation and then cancels, it would affect the tour if no payment has been made to lodges, transports, and guides (which usually cannot be refunded).

Which domestic flights should I purchase?

None. Domestic flights are included in the price of the tour.

What herping gear do you recommend?

We recommend that you bring a durable waterproof headlamp and a DSLR camera, ideally one with a macro lens and off-camera flash.

What if there is no other participant willing to share a room?

If you are willing to share the room, you do not have to pay the single supplement fee, regardless of whether you end up sharing the room or not.

What is the meeting point on the starting day?

Our team will pick you up at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH). The next day, the meeting point will be at the hotel.

What kind of trouser is needed?

You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are breathable.

Which vaccination certificates do I need?

To visit Namibia, a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is the only mandatory requirement, but it applies only if you are arriving from—or have transited for more than 12 hours through—a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. While no other certificates are strictly required for entry, health authorities strongly recommend being up-to-date on routine immunizations such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus.

Is there malaria in Namibia?

Yes, malaria is present in Namibia, but the risk varies significantly depending on the region and the time of year. High-risk areas are primarily located in the north and northeast, where transmission is most active during the rainy season from January to May. In contrast, central and southern areas—including the capital, Windhoek, and the coastal desert regions—are considered very low-risk or malaria-free. Since you will be visiting Etosha National Park, it is highly recommended to use mosquito repellent, wear long sleeves at dusk, and consult a doctor about taking preventative antimalarial medication.

Will the guides catch the animals for the participants to take close-up pictures?

Whenever possible, all photography by participants will be done in-situ. Animals will only be handled if they are the focus of a research or conservation project.

Will there be laundry service, electricity, and wifi at all sites?

Usually there is electricity at all of the lodges we will visit. Wifi is available only around the reception area at some. Laundry service is available, but not included in the booking price.

Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival?

Yes, a member of our team will pick you up at the airport.