Last year, I fulfilled a dream by travelling through Namibia. In this post, I take you with me on our trip through this fascinating country in south-west Africa. We travelled for a total of 17 days. You can imagine what a videographer and a photographer can produce in terms of images and videos during this time. This is specifically about our drone photos, which we used to capture the beauty of the country from a whole new angle.
We stayed partly in lodges and partly on campsites. We travelled on a pre-planned tour, which we drove independently in our jeep. This meant that we always had time to make spontaneous stops, which is of course incredibly important for photographers. This made the trip very special for me, because the feeling of freedom that I experienced while driving into the African sunset is unrivalled.
Windhoek
Like most Namibia trips, we also started from Windhoek. We didn't expect much from the city - so we were all the more surprised by the diversity we found here. Namibia is a vast country with only 2.5 million inhabitants. At just under half a million, a large proportion of Namibia's people live in Windhoek, making the city a truly vibrant place. Even though there weren't many drone photos for us to take in Windhoek, the city got us in the mood for what lay ahead, both culturally and culinarily.
Kalahari
Endless dunes of red sand, glowing in the sunlight, stretch as far as the eye can see. And yet we can still see antelopes, wildebeest and oryx moving along in the distance. Acacias and baobabs provide green accents in the arid surroundings. Hardly any vegetation, no water.
The tranquillity and unspoilt nature of this place offered me a wealth of peace and inspiration. The Kalahari is a jewel of nature that captivated us with its raw, unspoilt beauty. An absolute highlight right from the start of our trip.
Sesriem
Sesriem is a small but important area in Namibia that serves as an access point to the famous Namib Desert. It is close to the spectacular dunes of Sossusvlei, one of the country's most famous sights. The name “Sesriem” dates back to the time of the early settlers and means “six oars” in Afrikaans, as the pioneers needed six leather oars to draw water from the deep Sesriem Canyon.
The Sesriem Canyon, formed by the Tsauchab River over millions of years, is an impressive natural formation and a favourite destination for hikers and nature lovers. Sesriem offers unique landscapes and a gateway to some of Namibia's most mesmerising natural beauty. This is where we took the most spectacular drone photos of the landscape - after all, the second largest dune in the world has a lot to offer!
Swakopmund
Swakopmund, a charming coastal town in Namibia, combines German colonial architecture with African flair. It was here that we first really realised how closely the (modern) history of Namibia and Germany are intertwined. Founded in 1892, the town enchants visitors with its historic buildings, palm-lined streets and picturesque beach promenade.
Popular with tourists, Swakopmund offers numerous activities such as sandboarding in the dunes, quad biking and dolphin watching. The pleasant coastal climate and proximity to the Namib Desert make it an ideal place for adventurers and those seeking relaxation. We preferred to photograph the coastline here with the transition from the desert to the ocean - just as exciting! The mix of fresh seafood and German specialities was particularly fascinating. Nowhere else will you find bratwurst and oysters on the same menu.
Zwyfelfonstein
Twyfelfontein means “dubious spring” and refers to the unreliable water source in the region. Located in the north-west of Namibia, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its impressive rock engravings. These ancient petroglyphs, which were created by the indigenous people around 6,000 years ago, are among the largest and most important rock art collections in Africa.
The engravings show a variety of animals and hunting scenes and offer valuable insights into the life and spirituality of our ancestors, the prehistoric people. Many things in Namibia made me think about the fact that our ancestors once came from the African continent. Looking at these drawings made me realise once again how short the human lifespan actually is.
Etosha South
Etosha South is the southern region of the famous Etosha National Park in Namibia, one of the most important game reserves in Africa. The park is known for its impressive wildlife, including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and a variety of antelope species. Visitors usually enter the park through the Anderson Gate, which is located in Etosha South. The region offers numerous accommodation options, from campsites to luxury lodges, and is an ideal starting point for safaris.
The huge salt-encrusted basin in the heart of the Etosha National Park in Namibia is also one of the most impressive geological formations in Africa. Perfect for aerial photography. It stretches over some 4,800 square kilometres and is mostly dry, but transforms into a shallow, temporary body of water during the rainy season. This seasonal accumulation of water attracts a variety of wildlife, including flamingos, which breed here in large colonies.
This is where we took most of the drone photos. Impressive in terms of landscape, but hardly comparable to the Kalahari, the animals have made the pictures here unmistakable. The variety of different species is staggering. All the sadder to see that they can only thrive in controlled and protected areas.
Otjiwarongo
Otjiwarongo, a town in the central-northern part of Namibia, is an important agricultural and economic centre of the country. The name Otjiwarongo means “beautiful place” in the Herero language, and the town is known for its pleasant atmosphere and well-tended gardens. Otjiwarongo serves as an important transport hub and starting point for tourists wishing to visit the Etosha National Park, the Waterberg Plateau and other attractions in northern Namibia.
We ended our journey here before travelling back to Windhoek.
Drone photos - why actually?
- Unique perspectives: Drones enable shots from unusual angles and heights that are not possible with conventional cameras.
- Flexibility and manoeuvrability: Drones can be easily controlled to capture different angles and adapt to changing conditions. You can get many shots of the same subject in just one flight. Something I can hardly do with just my camera.
- Environmental protection: We use drones for images, but in Namibia we also learnt about another application. Drones can help conservationists to monitor ecosystems and document environmental changes without disturbing or jeopardising the habitat. Drones are particularly helpful in the fight against poachers.
Travelling through Namibia has once again shown us the special features of drone photography. We now also offer our customers in Germany and Mallorca drone photos as a supplement to the shoot. Our UGC fashion shoots benefit immensely from this. Nothing makes a REEL look more professional than well-filmed aerial shots.
