Namibia Road Trip
Aug/Sept 2024
This year, I finally had the chance to visit one of my bucket list destinations—Namibia. The main draw was its dark skies and dry conditions, perfect for astrophotography. But beyond that, I knew I’d find spectacular landscapes—and, as a bonus, some incredible wildlife!
Namibia is a safe and accessible destination, making it easy to plan your own itinerary and tour in a hired 4x4. However, it’s a vast country with few people around, and many of the roads are gravel. Be sure to carry plenty of food and water, and in the worst-case scenario—should you break down—be prepared to spend a night in the car until help arrives. Luckily, we had no breakdowns and no punctures!
We visited the huge sand dunes of Sossusvlei .…….
……… and the dried-up river basin of Deadvlei, with its hauntingly beautiful fossilised trees. Arriving at dawn was a real highlight—having the place entirely to ourselves for 40 minutes before the crowds arrived made it even more special.
At night, the stars were so bright it felt as if you could reach out and touch them. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the Milky Way sat much higher in the sky, revealing even more of its breathtaking expanse.
We visited the Skeleton Coast before going to Damaraland and finally across to Etosha Safari Park
The Namibian coastline is called the Skeleton Coast for good reason. Thick fog, strong winds, heavy swells, and shifting sands have made these waters treacherous for ships, as evidenced by the many wrecks scattered along the shore.
One such wreck is the Zeila, which ran aground in the early hours of 25 August 2008. This was the image I had envisioned capturing. However, when I visited in September 2024, there wasn’t a hint of fog, and access at night wasn’t possible. So, I took a different approach—blending an image of the wreck with a night sky photographed a few miles inland, then adding a touch of sea fog to complete the scene.
Yes, there’s more than one way to create the image you have in mind!
Damaraland is defined by its rugged, rocky landscapes—harsh yet mesmerising in their beauty. It’s also home to abundant wildlife, including the remarkable ‘desert’ elephants, perfectly adapted to this arid environment.
And then there’s the wildlife—simply too good not to mention. Every shot, of course, was taken when the sun was six degrees and under!
