Fly Your Drone Safari
Come join me on an incredible adventure to one of Africa's hidden gems, Namibia. Co-hosted with professional photographer Leo Cavazzana, we welcome a group of enthusiastic photographers to join us on a workshop in Namibia. Here we will spend our time learning a variety of camera techniques and skills as we photograph lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, giraffe, zebra, stars, landscapes and much, much more! Together, we will explore the beautiful landscapes and encounter the magnificent wildlife that this amazing country has to offer. From the towering dunes of Sossusvlei to the animal-rich environments of Erindi Private Game Reserve, we will embark on an unforgettable adventure, filled with unforgettable experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. I am confident that this workshop will provide a unique opportunity for everyone to develop their photography skills, while also having an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience in one of Africa's most spectacular destinations.
Important Details
- You will start your adventure by booking a flight to and from Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek (WDH) on any major airline.
- From there, we will pick you up in our private vehicle to begin our amazing adventure.
- We will provide you with photographic opportunities of Namibia's most iconic landscapes and wildlife in their natural environments.
- Leo and I will work with you to make sure you learn to master a variety of different techniques such as photographing birds in flight, shooting in low light situations, understanding AF tracking, photographing the Milky Way and much more…
- The Workshop starts and ends in Windhoek, while visiting the some of the most iconic destinations in Namibia.
- This trip is geared toward photographers of every different skill level, from beginners to professionals. We will work hard to make sure we meet you on your level, answering each of your questions when we are out in the field as well as when we have some downtime at our hotels to focus on the post-processing side of things.
- The group size is limited to a maximum of 12 people, so if interested, sign up today for this fantastic workshop in December of 2023!
What Is Included?
All Photography Instruction
All Ground Transportation in Namibia
All Accommodations in Namibia
All Required Permits or Entrance Fees
Most Meals
What Is Not Included?
All Flights To & From Namibia
Travel Insurance Costs
Any Gifts
Snacks, Alcohol and Some Meals
Tips For Our Guides & Drivers
Brief Itinerary
Where In Namibia Are We Going?
We'll be spending our first night in the city of Windhoek, which is where we'll break the ice and set up our cameras. We'll depart early the next morning to make the long drive to Sossusvlei, where we'll spend another night. After the morning shoot and breakfast, we'll depart to Swakopmund and enjoy two nights there. After breakfast, we'll hit the road to Spitzkoppe and spend another evening there. After the morning shoot and breakfast, we depart to Erindi Private Game Reserve, where we'll spend the remaining 5 nights. We enjoy a last game drive, have breakfast, and depart back to Windhoek on the 21st of December.
What Is In Carel's Gear Bag For This Trip?
With a focus on both wildlife, landscape, and astrophotography on this trip, I recommend the following:
Drone
DJI Mavic 3
Cameras
Canon R6 - 20.1MP; 12 FPS Mechanical; 20 FPS Electronic; 12.7 Stops of Dynamic Range
I'll recommend bringing a camera with a high FPS (frames per second) and a wide dynamic range to make it easier to capture images of both wildlife and landscape. A high MP (Megapixel) would be of benefit if you would want to crop a lot and maintain image quality. A minimum of 10 FPS, 11 stops of dynamic range and a 20MP sensor is recommended, but not essential. More than one camera body is always a safe option, in case anything goes wrong.
Contact me if you are unsure about your camera.
Lenses
Canon RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1
Canon RF 15-35 f/2.8
With longer lenses, you have the ability to fill more of your frame with your wildlife subjects. Wider lenses allow you to capture more of the environment. A telephoto lens is recommended for wildlife and a wide-angle lens is recommended for both landscapes and astrophotography. For astrophotography, a big aperture is of benefit. A minimum of 300mm for wildlife, a maximum of 50mm for landscape and astrophotography, and a maximum of f/4 for astrophotography is recommended, but not essential.
Contact me if you are unsure about your lenses.
Accessories
Leofoto LO-324C Tripod + BV-10 Head
Joby Gorillapod Rig
Godox M1 Light
A sturdy tripod is essential for landscape and astrophotography. The only accessory needed for wildlife is a healthy dose of patience.
Contact me if you are unsure about your accessories.
FAQs
It will depend on the location for the day but will vary from landscapes of some of Namibia's most iconic destinations such as Sossusvlei and Spitzkoppe. On Erindi Private Game Reserve, we will focus primarily on wildlife. Astrophotography will be possible in some of the locations as well.
The workshop begins on December 11th, 2023. We'll be spending our first night in Windhoek, which is where we'll break the ice, set up cameras and allow everyone a relaxing night to adjust to jet lag.
*Please confirm your flights with me before purchasing anything to make sure everything lines up.
The workshop ends on December 21st, 2023 back in Windhoek. I will drop everyone off either at the airport or at a hotel of your choice near the airport in the mid-afternoon on the 21st.
*Please confirm your flights with me before purchasing anything to make sure everything lines up.
For this workshop, you will fly in and out of the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek (WDH)
It is important to emphasize that, despite you won’t require travel health insurance to enter Namibia, it is advisable to hire one in your country of origin.
Tourists visiting Namibia for fewer than 90 days per calendar year are not required to obtain a visa in advance of their arrival.
Yellow fever, if traveling from a yellow fever endemic country.
December in Namibia is the month just before the rainy season starts. You can expect warm days (up to about 32°C), with a chance of some days being partly cloudy with light rain.
We will be staying in one amazing 3-star accommodation and the rest will be 4-star and above accommodations throughout our time in Namibia. Our goal is to get you as close to the amazing photographic opportunities as possible while focusing on comfort and relaxation out of shooting hours.
All of our accommodations provide free internet.
Yes, your tuition fees are based on the idea that you will be sharing a room with another workshop client of the same sex. If you wish to have your own private room, that can be arranged for an additional $750 USD charge. This is on a first come first serve basis and is based on room availability at our hotels.
Refer to the “What Is In Carel's Gear Bag For This Trip?” section above on this page for more information.
This workshop is not overly challenging in terms of the physical activity involved. The most physically challenging part will be to walk a dune at Sossusvlei, which is optional. Other than that, it is easy in terms of physical activity.
My goal is to have each of my clients feel safe, healthy, and comfortable throughout the workshop. We will abide by any local or federal COVID-19 regulations put out by the Namibian government.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
No one wants to miss out on a trip of a life time…but things do happen. In those situations, the following applies…
The first thing to note is that deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable. In addition, all cancellations are subject to a minimum of a $150 service charge to cover PayPal transaction fees. In most situations, we ask for the remaining balance of a workshop is to be paid 120 days from the start of the workshop in question. If you wish to cancel within 120 days from the start of a workshop and we find someone to fill your spot, you would be entitled to receive a refund (minus your deposit and the $150 processing fee) or transfer to another workshop with no penalties or fees.
If we don’t find someone to fill your spot, what does your refund window actually look like?
