Travelling Namibia: A lifelong dream from a drone's perspective
Our Namibia trips were the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream. In this article, I take you with me on our 17-day trip through this fascinating country in south-west Africa. As a videographer and photographer, we had plenty of time to produce countless images and videos. It was particularly exciting to capture the impressive beauty of the country from a bird's eye view with our drone footage.
Our accommodation was a mix of lodges and campsites. The planned route took us through Namibia independently in a jeep, which gave us a lot of freedom as photographers - including spontaneous stops to capture special moments and scenery. For me, it was above all the feeling of freedom that made the trip so special - like the moment when I drove into the African sunset.
Windhoek - Our starting point
As with most Namibia trips, our tour began in Windhoek. Although we hadn't expected much from the city, we were pleasantly surprised by its diversity. In a country with only 2.5 million inhabitants, Windhoek is a lively, vibrant place with almost half a million people. Although there were hardly any opportunities for drone photos here, the city was a great cultural and culinary prelude to what lay ahead.
Kalahari - The red expanse and the highlight of our Namibia tours
The endless red sand dunes of the Kalahari glowed in the sunlight and stretched as far as the eye could see. Again and again we could see antelopes, wildebeest and oryx in the distance, travelling through this breathtaking landscape. Acacias and baobabs provided green accents in the midst of the aridity. The tranquillity and unspoilt nature of this place were inspiring and invited us to reflect - a highlight for me right at the start of the trip.
Sesriem and Sossusvlei - gateway to the Namib Desert
Sesriem is known as the gateway to the famous Namib Desert. From here, the road leads to the spectacular dunes of Sossusvlei, including the iconic "Big Daddy" dune. The name "Sesriem" means "six oars" - a reference to the leather oars used by early settlers to draw water from the deep Sesriem Canyon. Our drone shots here were spectacular - seeing the second largest dune in the world from the air was a special experience.
Swakopmund - Between history and modernity
The coastal town of Swakopmund combines German colonial architecture with African flair and reminded us of the close connection between Namibia and Germany. Founded in 1892, the town boasts historic buildings, palm-lined streets and a picturesque beach promenade. While other tourists enjoy sandboarding and quad biking here, we concentrated on photographing the coastline where the desert meets the Atlantic - a fascinating sight. The mix of German specialities and fresh seafood was also unique.
Twyfelfontein - A window to the past
Twyfelfontein, the "dubious water", is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its prehistoric rock engravings. These petroglyphs offer a fascinating insight into the lives of the indigenous people around 6,000 years ago. The engravings tell stories of animals and hunting scenes that reflect the spiritual world of our ancestors. This place made us think about the origins of mankind and emphasised how short the human lifespan is compared to the history of the earth.
Etosha South - pure game viewing
Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is one of the most important game reserves in Africa. Here we were able to observe elephants, lions, rhinos and giraffes in the wild. Particularly impressive was the huge Etosha Pan, a salt-encrusted plain that turns into a shallow body of water during the rainy season and attracts flamingos and many other animals. Our drone shots here were unique - the wildlife and the geological panorama made the images unmistakable.
Otjiwarongo - Relaxing before the journey home
At the end of our trip, we stopped off in Otjiwarongo, an important hub and starting point for tours to Etosha National Park. Here we reviewed our experiences before travelling back to Windhoek.
Why drone photos?
- New perspectives: Drones enable extraordinary shots from heights and angles that cannot be realised with conventional cameras.
- Flexibility: A drone can capture a wide variety of angles in the shortest possible time - a clear advantage for photographers.
- Environmentally friendly monitoring: In Namibia, we discovered that drones are also used to protect wildlife and monitor ecosystems without disturbing their natural habitat.
Our trip to Namibia showed us how valuable drone photos can be. We also offer our clients in Germany and Mallorca aerial photography as a valuable addition to traditional photo shoots - nothing adds as much depth to a video or reel as well thought-out drone images.