Namibia Scouting Mission
Workshop Information Packet
Contents:
I. General Information
II. To Do Checklist
III. Daily Itinerary
IV. FAQ’s
Namibia Scouting Mission 2026
General Information
Welcome!
Thanks again for joining our 2026 Namibia Scouting Mission: The Wild Heart of Africa! We know you’re as excited as we are to begin our adventure! But first, a bit of planning is needed to make sure everything goes smoothly. This document contains important information to help you prepare for our journey. Please take the time to read it carefully.
Workshop Dates
Important note: The workshop dates have changed since it was originally published on our website:
Original Dates: May 11-26, 2026
NEW Dates: May 13-28, 2026
Workshop Overview
The workshop begins when our representative meets you upon your arrival at Hosea Kutako International airport (Airport code: WDH) in Windhoek, Namibia on May 13, 2026 (or earlier) and ends when we drop you off at the same airport to begin your homeward journey on May 28, 2026.
In between, we will travel in two 4X4 safari vehicles and visit various locations in Namibia to explore and photograph its landscapes and wildlife. Group and one-on-one instruction/coaching on landscape, wildlife, and night photography techniques, developing your Photographer’s Eye, image management, and post processing are also part of our agenda.
Take a look at the Daily Itinerary in this packet or on the workshop page of our website for more details about the locations we will visit and the things we can expect to see and photograph throughout our journey.
Balance of Fees
The balance of your workshop fees are due as follows:
Payment #2: due September 10, 2025
Final Payment: due January 10, 2026. Remainder of all fees - the exact amount of your final payment depends on options selected, such as single lodging and any extra hotel nights.
You will receive an invoice by email approximately 2 weeks before each due date. Payments can be made online by credit card. Please contact us if you wish to use another form of payment. Your on-time payment is much appreciated.
Health/Medical
Immunizations – there are no specific immunization requirements to enter Namibia, but you should consult with your doctor or travel clinic about any recommended vaccinations. Malaria prophylaxis may be recommended. The U.S. CDC website also contains general information which may be useful.
Prescription Medications – pack an adequate supply of any prescription medications (and supplements) you take, as they may not be available in India. I also always carry a course of antibiotics when traveling, just in case. You can request a prescription for ‘traveler’s diarrhea’ from your health provider or travel clinic.
Allergies – please let us know about any allergies you have AND the severity of your reactions. It is your responsibility to carry appropriate medications (e.g. Epi Pen) in case of accidental exposure.
Travel Logistics & Documents
International Flights –
Inbound – Book your flights to arrive in Windhoek (WDH) by 1pm on May 13.
Outbound – Book your homeward flight from WDH for after for anytime on May 28 (8:00PM)
Extra hotel nights - if you are arriving in Windhoek before May 13, just let us know your itinerary specifics, and we can book the additional hotel nights for you (~$215/night including breakfast).
Passport – now is the time to double-check the expiration date of your passport. Namibia requires your passport to be valid for at least six months past the date you intend to depart the country.
Visas
US Passport holders – As of April 2025, US Passport holders must obtain a visa to visit Namibia.
Apply online for your Namibia “Visa On Arrival” here. Cost is ~85 USD.
Enter the following as your destinations in Namibia on your visa application:
Na’ankuse Lodge Windhoek
Farm Frauenstein 277, East of Windhoek,
Transkalahari Highway, Namibia
+264 81 677 1345
You will also need:
a passport style photo (head & shoulders) in .jpg format
a scan of your passport in .pdf format
Approval is typically immediate, and you should receive an email with a link to download your e-visa.
Print your e-visa. You must present a printed copy at Immigration in Windhoek.
Other Nationalities– Please check here to determine if a visa is required
Travel Insurance – a policy that includes coverage for medical evacuation is mandatory for workshop participants.
Please forward us a copy of your travel insurance policy (summary page is fine). The primary purpose of this requirement is in case of a medical emergency – cost should not be a consideration in getting you quality medical care. Policies that cover medical evacuation as well as other things like trip cancellation, travel delays, lost luggage, theft/loss, etc. are widely available and reasonably priced.
Notify Banks & Credit Cards – notify your financial institutions about your travel plans to prevent problems using credit cards or ATM’s while traveling.
Phone Carrier – look into your phone carrier’s international roaming policies and rates BEFORE leaving home or you may return to an extremely expensive bill. You may want to pre-purchase a data plan from your carrier.
WhatsApp – is a free communications app that is used widely outside of the US. We will be using this for inter group communications. Please download & install WhatsApp and create an account before arriving in India. You may want to also want to have your loved ones at home install this app also.
What to Pack
Weather Note – expect warm, dry days with high temps in the 70’s to 80’s °F with overnight lows in the 40’s to 50’s . Rain is possible but not likely.
Clothing & Personal Items – thin, cool and quick-drying are the order of the day for this trip. Long sleeves and pants are recommended for protection from the sun and insects. In addition, you should also bring:
Brimmed hat
Warm jacket/sweater for those chilly mornings and nights
Sunglasses
Spare eyeglasses/reading glasses/contacts
Bandanna, buff or face mask – for dust protection
Rain jacket
Sports Bra – the roads can be quite bumpy.
Swimsuit
Sneakers –closed toed shoes with good traction.
Flip flops/sandals – for around the lodge/camp
Sunscreen & Bug Spray
Lip balm
Notes:
1. Choose your clothing based on functionality and versatility. There are no ‘dress up’ occasions on this trip.
2. Laundry service should be available at all our lodges/camps for a small fee. 3 or 4 changes of clothing is all you really need to pack.
Optional items
Snacks
Instant coffee packets/travel mug
Don’t overpack, there are no ‘dress up’ occasions on this trip. Laundry service should be available in most of our Namibia lodges.
Photo Gear – it’s tempting to bring everything you own, but that usually works against you. If you decide to bring the kitchen sink, we strongly recommend also bringing a smaller camera bag/backpack that holds just what you need for each outing.
We’re happy to give more specific brand/model recommendations for specific items. Just ask.
Camera Body – 1 or 2 camera bodies. Mirrorless cameras, especially models that have animal eye-tracking are truly game changers for wildlife photography – highly recommended. Bring a paper or electronic copy of your camera’s operating manual. Your smartphone is also a great camera – don’t forget it.
Lenses:
Long telephoto - 400mm+ (300mm for crop sensor cameras) before adding teleconverters.
A medium telephoto like a 70-200mm zoom will also be useful (especially on the optional helicopter flight).
Wide-angle(s) for landscapes and night photography
Faster glass (f/4 or lower) is ideal for astro photography.
A macro lens or extension tubes is also recommended as we will do some macro photography when out herping (reptile photography) at night. A lot of the animals are not very big so a 100mm macro would be ideal.
Optional – Flash(es)& triggers. We will bring a couple of flashes and triggers for participants to use, but check ahead of time to see if your camera is compatible with the triggers we use. If not, your own macro flash setup is useful.
Filters – a polarizer and ND filters can be nice to have but are completely optional.
Extra Batteries and Memory cards – you will be shooting a lot, maybe more than you ever have, easily in the thousands of images and hundreds of gigabytes (possibly >1TB) total. Bring PLENTY of memory cards and batteries. You should NOT erase/overwrite any memory cards until you get home, even if you have downloaded the images to your laptop or hard drive.
Battery Charger – do not forget! As a backup, you might consider purchasing USB powered camera battery charger. They are inexpensive and let you charge your camera batteries without a wall outlet. Google “(your camera model) USB charger”
Tripod – for night photography.
Monopod (optional) – can provide extra stability. Also useful for low angle shots in combination with a remote release.
Other Gear
Laptop or tablet –highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management in Adobe Lightroom.
Portable hard drive - ideal for image storage/backup. If you are purchasing one, look for a solid-state (SSD) type that is “bus powered” – a drive that gets its power from the computer and does not require a separate power cord (most SSD’s are bus powered). 1TB capacity minimum, 2TB is better.
Power adapters –Namibia runs on 230-volt electricity with Type D or M outlets.
A ‘universal’ adapter like one of these will also work
A small power strip is also handy for charging multiple devices simultaneously, but make sure it is specifically designed for travel or rated for 230+ volts. Here are some options
Voltage converters are not needed for most devices - phones/tablets, laptops, camera battery charger,s and most other electronics have built in voltage transformers and work just fine with a simple adapter.
Check higher power devices like hair dryers and shavers to make sure they are compatible with 230-volt power. Here is a link to a good article on travel adapters if you need more info.
Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics
Power bank – extremely handy when traveling. You can even use it to charge a camera battery in a pinch (USB battery charger required)
Phone Leash - to prevent dropping your phone into a literal lion’s den.
MISC
A Word About Gratuities – Like many service businesses, our guides and drivers rely on gratuities for a substantial portion of their income. I think you will find our local guides & drivers in Indonesia to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you’ve received good service, a gratuity is greatly appreciated. People always ask for guidance, so below are the typical ranges we see:
Naturalist Guides: $10-$15/day
Tipping at hotels and restaurants is not expected, but small gratuities are appreciated.
You can get by with US currency as a tourist, including tips. A supply of small bills is handy for tips and small purchases.
If there’s anything we’ve missed or you have questions, please contact us via email, text/WhatsApp or phone.
We look forward to meeting you in Namibia,
Ken Lee
+1 949-282-9660 mobile/WhatsApp
Leighton Lum
+1 808-398-7689 mobile/WhatsApp
Namibia Scouting Mission
To Do Checklist
___ Send us a copy/photo of your Passport picture page (a cell phone snap is all we need)
___ Book Inbound/Outbound flights and forward a copy of your flight itinerary to us.
___ Let us know if you need any extra hotel nights
___ Purchase Travel Insurance and forward copy of your policy
___ Notify Banks & Credit Cards of your travel plans
___ Check mobile phone carrier’s international roaming policies and plans
___ Make personal packing checklist (click here for a downloadable Photo Trip Packing List template you can customize to your own needs)
Daily Itinerary
| Day | Date | Itinerary | Overnight | Meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13-May | Welcome to Namibia! We’ll greet you upon arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) and transfer to our lodge. Relax after your long journey until 4:30 PM when we’ll gather for introductions, a overview of our upcoming itinerary and some photo tips followed by our first group dinner. | Naankuse Lodge | D |
| 2 | 14-May | Our adventure starts with a sunrise photo session to capture meerkats emerging from their dens, a rare opportunity to capture these charming but elusive creatures in soft morning light.
We’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast back at our lodge and have some time to cleanup and pack before checking out and heading to our next camp near the Quiver Tree forest. After check-in, Leighton will lead our first image review/editing session if time allows. Then we'll head to the Quiver Tree Forest for our sunset destination, where the trees create striking I silhouettes against colorful skies. After dinner, we’ll return for our first attempt at capturing the stars and Milky Way above the forest, a magical ending to an incredible day in Namibia. |
Quiver Tree Rest Camp | B,L,D |
| 3 | 15-May | Today, we travel to Lüderitz, keeping an eye out for macro photography opportunities with smaller desert-dwelling animals like the Namaqua chameleon, horned adder, and Namib sand gecko.
Upon arrival, we’ll take a cruise to visit the South African Penguin colony, capturing playful penguins in their coastal habitat, providing a delightful contrast to the desert landscapes. |
The Nest Hotel | B,L,D |
| 4 | 16-May | We begin today with a sunrise shoot at Kolmanskop, the haunting ghost town in the Namibian desert where sun-bleached interiors and surrounding desert sands provide endless creative opportunities for unique images.
Next, we head to Aus to photograph wild horses roaming the rugged desert landscape, a unique wildlife photography experience in Africa. Macro enthusiasts will also find plenty to explore, from insects to small reptiles, with guidance on capturing intricate desert species. It’s a day filled with dramatic landscapes and detailed wildlife shots for a diverse photographic experience. |
Desert Horse Inn | B,L,D |
| 5 | 17-May | Today, we visit the immense red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. We’ll capture the dunes at sunrise and sunset, when the light creates stunning warm hues and dramatic shadows.
In addition to the landscapes, we'll photograph desert wildlife like oryx, springbok, and various insects. An optional doors-off sunrise helicopter tour provides breathtaking aerial views of the dunes and desert for the truly adventurous. |
Sossus Dune Lodge | B,L,D |
| 6 | 18-May | Today begins with a sunrise shoot at Deadvlei, where photographers have used the striking contrast of thorn tree ‘skeletons’ against the red dunes to create iconic, surreal compositions. Give it a try for yourself - the warm morning light offers perfect opportunities for both wide landscapes and detailed close-ups.
We return to our lodge for meals and some down time before continuing our exploration of Sossusvlei, photographing the dramatic dunes, desert wildlife like oryx and springbok, and sweeping vistas. We’ll focus on the best light to capture the dunes and the fascinating creatures of the desert. |
Sossus Dune Lodge | B,L,D |
| 7 | 19-May | After a final sunrise shoot in Sossusvlei, we’ll drive to Swakopmund through vast desert landscapes, stopping to photograph desert critters including chameleons, snakes, and small mammals.
In Swakopmund, where the dunes meet the coastline, we’ll explore the desert’s stark beauty and focus on capturing the textures and light contrasts of this unique environment. As night falls, we’ll dive into another astro photography session if conditions allow. |
The Delight | B,L,D |
| 8 | 20-May | We start the day with a Living Desert Tour in Swakopmund, exploring the unique desert ecosystem and photographing fascinating creatures like sidewinding adders, desert lizards, and other small species—perfect for macro shots. We’ll also photograph the stunning desert landscapes, learning techniques to photograph the vast beauty of the environment.
Afterward, we’ll drive north to Damaraland, passing through diverse landscapes offering more photography opportunities. Upon arrival, we’ll focus on wildlife photography, particularly the elusive desert-adapted elephants. Capturing these incredible creatures in their harsh environment will be a highlight of the day. It’s a long but rewarding day of landscape and wildlife photography, including the rare chance to photograph Namibia’s desert elephants. |
Brandberg White Lady Lodge | B,L,D |
| 9 | 21-May | Today, we visit the Timbila Reserve, renowned for its diverse habitats and rich wildlife. We'll embark on game drives through savannas and brushwood, aiming to photograph the elusive African Wild Dogs. These endangered animals, along with big cats, elephants, and antelopes, provide excellent opportunities for both portrait and action shots, making it a fantastic day for wildlife photography. | Timbila Glamping Tents | B,L,D |
| 10 | 22-May | Today, we explore the Timbila Reserve with extended game drives, focusing on African Wild Dogs, big cats, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes. The reserve’s diverse environments offer unique backdrops for both wide-angle and close-up shots. Our expert guides will help locate wildlife and we will provide photography tips on motion, light, and composition. Between drives, we’ll review photos and offer feedback, making this a rewarding day to expand your wildlife photography portfolio. | Timbila Glamping Tents | B,L,D |
| 11 | 23-May | Today, we explore the renowned Etosha National Park, a prime wildlife photography destination. Known for its diverse wildlife, especially during the dry season when animals gather at waterholes, we’ll begin with an afternoon game drive. We'll search for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and springboks, capturing shots of animals drinking, interacting, or resting. Etosha’s open landscapes and abundant wildlife provide ideal conditions for both wide-angle and close-up shots, making this a perfect introduction to the park’s magic. | Okaukuejo Camp | B,L,D |
| 12 | 24-May | Today starts with a morning game drive in Etosha National Park, capturing wildlife in the soft sunrise light. Afterward, we’ll head to another part of Etosha for a more intimate experience, photographing new landscapes and wildlife. In the afternoon, we’ll explore Onguma’s waterhole, where elephants, giraffes, and birds gather. | Onguma Bush Camp | B,L,D |
| 13 | 25-May | Today starts with a morning hide session at Onguma Bush Camp, capturing close-up, low-angle shots of wildlife at the watering hole, including elephants, giraffes, and zebras. After a break, we’ll embark on an afternoon game drive to explore the area’s wildlife and landscapes. This day combines intimate shots from the hide with dynamic action shots on the drive. | Onguma Bush Camp | B,L,D |
| 14 | 26-May | We begin the day with a morning hide session at Onguma Bush Camp, capturing close-up, low-angle shots of wildlife at the watering hole, including elephants and giraffes. After breakfast, we’ll head to Okonjima Reserve, renowned for its conservation work with elusive species like leopards and pangolins. The chance to photograph a pangolin will be a highlight, offering a rare opportunity to capture these incredible creatures and bringing a memorable conclusion to our photographic journey across Namibia. | Okonjima Plains Camp | B,L,D |
| 15 | 27-May | Today is a full day of exploration at Okonjima Reserve, a premier wildlife conservation area in Namibia. We’ll start with a morning game drive, focusing on tracking and photographing the Big Cats. With the help of expert guides, we also hope to capture other wildlife like cheetahs, wild dogs, and antelopes.
In the late afternoon, we’ll turn our attention to photographing the rare and elusive pangolin, thanks to Okonjima’s specialized programs. |
Okonjima Plains Camp | B,L,D |
| 16 | 28-May | On your final morning in Namibia, we'll take a short game drive in Okonjima Reserve to capture any last wildlife moments before returning to Windhoek. Afterward, we’ll enjoy breakfast and some time to freshen up, reflecting on the journey. We’ll then drive to Windhoek, arriving at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) for your evening flight. We recommend scheduling your flight for after 8 pm. This marks the end of your unforgettable Namibia photography adventure. Safe travels! | - | - |
FAQ’S:
Q: What are the physical fitness requirements?
A: This trip is rated Easy overall. There is some walking required, but no real hiking. Most of our photography sessions will be game drives, but there will be a few occasions where we’ll be on foot searching for animals, walking around the sand dunes or exploring the ghost town. You should be comfortable walking up to a mile total with your gear. However, the overall physical demand is quite manageable, and we always proceed at a pace that’s comfortable for everyone.
Q: Do I need to do the helicopter tour?
A: The helicopter tour is strictly optional (and additional cost). It’s an activity available for those interested in capturing the stunning desert landscapes from the air. If you’re not comfortable with heights, you can simply enjoy the other fantastic photography opportunities on the ground.
Q: How hot will it be in Namibia in May?
A: May marks the end of summer in Namibia, and temperatures are typically very comfortable, ranging from 73–81°F (23–27°C) during the day. The weather is generally mild, with cooler evenings and mornings, making it a great time to visit. You can expect pleasant conditions for both photography and outdoor activities.
Q: What if I want to arrive early or stay after the workshop dates?
A: No problem at all! Just let us know your arrival and departure details, and we will book the additional hotel nights for you (additional cost).
Q: Is there an extra fee for a private room?
A: Yes, prices are based on double occupancy. If you don't have a travel partner, we will pair you with a same-gender roommate. However, if a roommate is unavailable, you will be charged the single lodging rate.
If you prefer a private room, single lodging is available for an additional $1000.
Q: Can my non-photographer friend/partner attend?
A: Absolutely! Travel partners who may not share your passion for photography are very welcome to join the trip. Just make sure they can handle being part of a group that wants to do nothing but eat, sleep, and talk about photography. However, due to limited space, we are unable to offer discounts for non-photographer partners.
Q: Can I bring a drone?
A: Yes, you can bring a drone to Namibia. However, there are regulations you must follow, including a 120-meter altitude limit and maintaining visual contact with your drone. You are responsible for flying your drone competently and responsibly. There are some restricted areas where drone flying is not allowed, but there are plenty of great locations for capturing amazing aerial shots.
Something we missed? Send us an email or schedule a phone call. We’re happy to address any questions