Leica Photo Adventure: Namibia | November 3-11, 2027
$16,495 ($2,995 Deposit)
Workshop at a Glance
Physical Activity
Photographic Intensity
Classroom Instruction
Climate/Weather Severity
Food and Accommodations Cultural Immersion Good for Non-photographers-
Join us on an extraordinary luxury Leica Photo Adventure to Namibia! We've partnered with Wilderness, Africa’s foremost ecotourism operator, and photographer Michael Turek, to carefully curate this journey through one of the most otherworldly countries on the planet.
Namibia is vast, extreme, and almost impossibly beautiful. Fly over the world's oldest desert in a light aircraft, the sand dunes burning ochre and orange below you. Track desert-adapted elephants across ancient riverbeds with no other humans for a hundred kilometers in any direction. Fall asleep to total silence in the Hoanib Valley, where the dunes meet the Atlantic and shipwrecks rust into the sand along the Skeleton Coast. Most people arrive expecting a desert. They leave having experienced something far harder to define.
Whether you're a beginner or looking to push your landscape and wildlife photography further, this trip is built around giving you the time, access, and expert guidance to come home with images you are genuinely proud of.
*View images from our May 2024 trip to Namibia here.
Why Namibia?
Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries on Earth, which means vast, uncrowded landscapes where you are often entirely alone with your subject — no other vehicles, no noise, no competing tripods. The Namib Desert is the oldest on the planet, and its light behaves accordingly: at dawn and dusk, the dunes shift through carnelian, rose, rust, and gold in a matter of minutes, with shadows that cut across the sand in ways that reward patience.
Namibia's photographic range goes far beyond the dunes. The Hoanib Valley holds one of the last populations of desert-adapted elephant on Earth, animals that have evolved over generations to survive in an environment that seems designed to exclude them, and seeing them move through that stark, ancient terrain is one of the most visually arresting experiences in African wildlife photography. Then there is the Skeleton Coast, where the Namib meets the Atlantic in a collision of fog, salt, shipwrecks, and sea.
November adds another dimension. As the green season begins, storm light builds over the desert, the skies become dramatic and unpredictable, and the landscapes take on a depth and richness that the dry months simply cannot match. For photographers who understand that the best images come from places that ask something of you, Namibia delivers on every level.
Your photographic guides
Michael Turek is an award-winning British-American fine art photographer who focuses on documentary assignments for clients including The Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Paris Review. He has worked extensively in challenging environments, most recently in Iraq and Tajikistan. His book, CONTRAIL, published by Roman Nvmerals in 2021, is included in the MoMA Archives and Library. His first photographic monograph, SIBERIA was published by Damiani in 2020 — the culmination of three years’ work in Russia with long-time collaborator, writer Sophy Roberts, which received global TV, radio, and print coverage. He is currently working on two long-term documentary projects in East Africa and northern England.
Peter Dooling has been with Leica Store Miami since 2012 and heads up their Leica Photo Workshops Program, planning and leading workshops around the globe. He was born in Philadelphia and received degrees in Geography and Philosophy from Pennsylvania State University. He fell in love with photography as he traveled the world while working for United Airlines and it has been his passion ever since. When he’s not helping people improve their photography in exotic destinations, he’s spending time with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs in Carrboro, North Carolina.
Highlights
* Hot air ballooning over Sossusvlei. An approximately one-hour flight at dawn over the Namib Sand Sea, one of the oldest deserts on Earth. Towering dunes and shifting shadows below, champagne breakfast on landing.
* Wilderness Little Kulala, 3 nights. A luxury tented camp in a private concession bordering the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Direct access to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei for sunrise and sunset photography, without the crowds.
* Hoanib Valley desert wildlife. One of the last strongholds of desert-adapted elephant, lion, and giraffe. Game drives here cover some of the most otherworldly terrain in Africa, with subjects and landscapes that are unlike anywhere else.
* Skeleton Coast excursion. Included on a 3-night stay at Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. Shipwrecks, Cape fur seal colonies, and the collision of desert and Atlantic Ocean.
* Twice-daily camp activities. Morning and evening game drives, guided walks, and specialist activities at each camp, all led by Wilderness-trained guides with deep regional knowledge.
* Light aircraft flying circuit. All inter-camp transfers via Wilderness Air Namibia. The Namibian flying circuit covers some of the country's most dramatic scenery, offering aerial photography opportunities over dunes, coastline, and desert riverbeds.
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Dates:
Wednesday, November 3 - Thursday, November 11, 2027
Cost:
$16,495 - Double occupancy lodging (Single room available for $2100)
Size:
Limited to 6 - 8 attendees (depending on number of shared rooms)
Included in the cost of the trip:
- Double occupancy lodging w/ private facilities (Single room available for $2100)
- Meals from dinner on night 1 to breakfast on day 10
- Scheduled private game viewing activities with an expert safari guides
- All airport transfers and ground transportation
- Private chartered flights within Namibia - note there is a 44 lbs total soft bag allowance per person including carry on
- Transfers to all visited areas as per itinerary
- National park & conservancy entrance fees as per itinerary
- Gratuities for guides and camp staff
- Hot air Balloon flight over the the Namib Rand Reserve
- All drinks (excluding premium branded spirits and French Champagne)
- Laundry service
- In-the-field photography instruction
- 1-on-1 critique/review sessions
Not included in the cost of the trip:
- International flights to and from Nairobi International Airport (NBO)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Additional hotel nights before or after the trip (Wilderness can assist you with this)
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Early/late checkouts
- Premium wine, spirits and champagne
- Items of a personal nature
- Visas (if necessary)
Getting there
Plan to fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek on or before Wednesday, November 3, 2027. A Wilderness representative will meet you on arrival and transfer you to The Weinberg, a comfortable city hotel where the group overnights before flying into the bush the following morning. All subsequent inter-camp travel is by light aircraft with Wilderness Air Namibia. The trip ends on Thursday, November 11, with a private transfer from The Weinberg back to Hosea Kutako International Airport for departure.
* Arrival airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek (WDH), Wednesday, November 3, 2027. Meet and assist through customs and immigration on arrival.
* Departure airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek (WDH), Thursday, November 11, 2027. Meet and assist to boarding gate on departure.
* Internal carrier: Wilderness Air Namibia, reservation code 969305. All inter-camp flights are arranged and included.
* Luggage: Soft duffel-style bags are required for all light aircraft legs. Maximum dimensions are 10" wide x 12" high x 25" long, with an approximate 45 lbs total allowance including carry-on. No rigid frames or hard-sided bags. Confirm requirements with your travel consultant before packing. Remember, laundry service is included at both camps!
* Visas: Check current entry requirements with your government's travel advisory service before booking. Many nationalities receive a visa on arrival in Namibia.
Note on the Namibian flying circuit: Wilderness Air Namibia operates a regional flying circuit with flexible routing. Departure times are confirmed closer to travel and may vary.
Pre & post safari add-onsThe team at Wilderness can gladly arrange any additional African travels either before or after this safari. A few options to consider are South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana or Zambia.
Signing Up
To sign up for this photo safari, checkout here on our website, call 305-921-4433 or email us (workshops@leicastoremiami.com). We are happy to answer any questions you may have. A $2995 deposit, along with the single room supplement fee should you choose it, is required to hold your spot. The balance will be due on August 3, 2027.
We look forward to seeing you in Namibia!
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Itinerary
Day 1 (Nov 3): Arrival in Windhoek
Arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH). A Paragon representative will meet you in the arrivals hall and assist with customs and immigration. Private vehicle transfer to The Weinberg, a well-appointed city hotel in Windhoek, for 1 night on a bed and breakfast basis. Use this evening to settle in, adjust to the time zone, and prepare for an early departure the following morning.
*As with all of our international trips, we recommend arriving a day early, on Nov 2nd, for this trip just in case there are any travel or weather delays. Wilderness can help you to book the additional room night should you wish.
Accommodation: The Weinberg
Days 2 - 4 (Nov 4-6): Namib Rand Nature Reserve
Private transfer from The Weinberg to Eros Airport, then a light aircraft flight to Wilderness Little Kulala. The camp sits in a private concession directly bordering the Namib-Naukluft National Park, giving exclusive early-morning access to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei before day visitors arrive.
All meals, twice-daily activities, park fees, laundry, and local drinks included. On the morning of Saturday November 6, the group takes to the skies for a hot air balloon flight over the Namib Sand Sea at dawn, approximately one hour in the air, followed by a champagne breakfast in the desert.
Accommodation: Wilderness Little KulalaDay 5 - 7 (Nov 7-9): Hoanib Valley
Light aircraft transfer from Wilderness Little Kulala via Swakopmund to Doro Nawas Airstrip, then onward to Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. Set in the remote Hoanib Valley in northwestern Namibia, this camp is one of the few places on Earth where desert-adapted elephant, lion, giraffe, and brown hyena can be encountered in a truly wild setting.
All meals, twice-daily activities, park fees, laundry, and local drinks included. On a 3-night stay, a coastal excursion to the Skeleton Coast is included, covering the fog-shrouded Atlantic shoreline with its shipwrecks, Cape fur seal colonies, and dramatic desert-meets-ocean scenery.
Accommodation: Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Day 8 (Nov 10): Return to Windhoek
Light aircraft transfer from Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp to Eros Airport, then private vehicle transfer to The Weinberg for a final night in Windhoek on a bed and breakfast basis. A good opportunity to review images, visit the city, or simply rest before the journey home.
Accommodation: The Weinberg
Day 9 (Nov 11): Departure
Private transfer from The Weinberg to Hosea Kutako International Airport. A Paragon representative will meet the group at the Wilderness VIP Lounge in the arrivals hall and assist with check-in, passport control, and boarding. International connections should be booked for the morning or afternoon of 11 November.
WHERE WE'LL STAYWilderness Little Kulala
Peace and privacy can be found in all spaces at Wilderness Little Kulala. Sossusvlei entices with its adventures, its landscapes, its tranquility. An exclusive-use gate provides direct access to the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei and the evocative panoramas of Dead Vlei. Climb the 300-metre red dunes and gaze upon the famed Namib Sand Sea World Heritage Site. Float above the world’s oldest desert in a hot-air balloon.
Little Kulala’s décor echoes the local geology, reflecting the surrounding grey and pink limestone that makes this part of Namibia so special. Spot desert-adapted wildlife such as ostriches, springbok, gemsbok, black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, perhaps an aardwolf, or Namibia’s endemic dune lark. Stargaze in one of the darkest places on Earth, contemplating space, and your place in it.
Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Remote Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp rests in Namibia’s famed, ancient Kaokoveld. Search the rust-coloured crags and arid plains for desert-adapted wildlife. Take a thrilling drive to the wild, windswept Skeleton Coast. Hike rocky outcrops, scramble down enormous sand dunes, marvel at desert oases, and dine under impossibly starry night skies.
Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a true desert oasis in a land that seems uninhabitable, but is life-filled. Explore an otherworldly landscape of immense dunes and rocky mountains. Amongst the dry riverbeds, desert-adapted wildlife is revealed. Look out for elephants, oryx, giraffes, and even lions and elusive brown hyena.
The Weinberg
Enjoy the pleasures of city life and the serene atmosphere of Africa in style in The Weinberg hotel in Windhoek. Its iconic styling seamlessly blends old-world splendor with modern lines as well as state of the art amenities.
The hotel’s elegant architecture wraps around a heritage building, which forms the heart of the Am Weinberg Estate.
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Payment
A $2995 deposit, along with the single supplement room fee if you choose it, is due at the time of registration. The balance will be due on August 3, 2027.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Enrollment is limited to 6-8 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:
If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:
At least 90 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 89 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 45 days from the start of the workshop: No refundCourse Cancellation and Other Terms
Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.
In the unlikely event of illness, accident or injury to one of the instructors, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to replace that instructor with a comparable instructor.
In the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to postpone or cancel the workshop.Travel Insurance (required)
It is a requirement of booking that guests provide evidence of comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation), personal accident, injury and death in addition to loss of/damage to luggage and possessions, personal possessions and flight cancellations/delays. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation, nor are we responsible for trip cancellations due to medical emergencies, personal emergencies or other unforeseen events.
Camera Gear Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)
We advise all of our workshop attendees to insure their camera gear against damage, theft, loss, etc. If your gear is not already insured, check with your home owner's insurance to see if they offer coverage. There are several photo specific insurance policies out there as well.
Communicable Illness Protocols
Our main goal on all of our tours is to keep everyone safe. To that end, we ask that everyone do their best to avoid exposure to communicable diseases like Covid-19, influenza, RSV, etc before and during our trip. If someone in our group becomes ill on the trip and we deem it to be harmful to the group, we reserve the right to remove them from group activities where social distancing is not possible.
Single Room Policy
If you sign-up for double occupancy room sharing and there are no other attendees to pair you with, you will be responsible for paying the single room supplement.Transfers
If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit or workshop fee, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.
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