This FirstLight Photo Expedition returns to two of our favorite places on earth: Botswana, including the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta; and Namibia, home of the Namib Desert, the Himba & Herero people, and stunning landscape. This Expedition offers some of the best photographic opportunities in capturing people, landscape, and wildlife in two of the most photo-rich countries on earth!

I’ve led National Geographic Photo Expeditions to Namibia and hours were consumed driving by safari vehicle from one location to another.  FirstLight utilizes chartered/scheduled aircraft to handle the long distances between the incredible photographic opportunities.

Day 1 & 2:  We’ll arrive in Windhoek, Namibia on May 4th, overnighting at the charming Galton House.  Dinner with our guides who will then drive us to Sossusvlei the next morning.

Photos above: Windhoek cityscape and Galton House

Day 2 & 3:  We’ll drive through the stunning desert to Dead Valley Lodge, within the confines of Namib Naukluft National Park. Being within the boundaries of the park allows us to depart the Lodge before sunrise (lodges outside the park have to wait at the gates for sunrise, the official gate-opening time) to drive to the legendary Deadvlei, an ancient pan (dried lake bed). This place is amazing: the desiccated “forest” of 500+ year-old trees make incredible photographs set within the backdrop of the dunes.

Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft National Park

Photos above: views of Sussusvlei and the dunes, and Brown hyena

We’ll also have two afternoons to photograph the dunes; day we arrive and the next day.  These dunes are the oldest and tallest on earth, a place where the vistas change by the minute with the light conditions.

3 photos below: Dead Valley Lodge

Day 4-7: This morning, we board our private Cessna Caravan, luggage will be flown alongside us in separate plane.  This is an incredibly scenic flight over the dunes, up the Skeleton Coast, to Swakopmund where we’ll stop for lunch.  After lunch we fly onward to Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, a stunning lodge set in the northwest corner of Namibia. We’ll go out both early and late day to photograph wildlife in the desert terrain, as well as visiting/photographing a real, unscripted Himba village.  Additionally, we’ll visit the local, small Herero village of Purros; the Herero women are known for their colorful hats dating back to the German occupation of Namibia.

Purros, Namibia; the Desert, and the Himba & Herero people

5 photos above: Okahirongo Elephant Lodge

Day 8-10:  Flying east to Kasane for our time aboard the Pangolin Houseboat on the Chobe River, within the Chobe National Park. This park is teeming with wildlife (giraffes, baboons, lion, leopard, cape buffalo, cheetahs, wildebeest, impala, hippo, kudu, warthog) and the highest density of elephants on earth. We’re out early in the morning on our photo boat that travels with us – each seat rotates 360-degrees with a fully articulatable tripod mount.  After our morning shoot, return to the houseboat for breakfast & to enjoy lounging (or working on your photos) until we head out late afternoon for more exploring, returning after sunset to enjoy drinks on the upper deck, followed by dinner. 

Chobe River, Botswana; on the Pangolin Houseboat

Photos below: Approaching Pangolin Houseboat and three onboard photos

May 11-14:  Depart the houseboat early, arrive back to Kasane, boarding a scheduled flight to Sable Alley Camp in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. Sable Alley is within the Khwai Private Reserve, one of Botswana’s best kept secrets, The camp is gorgeous, and the wildlife is incredible.

Sable Alley Tented Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Photos below: Sable Alley Tented Camp

If interested, please contact us at: jbdphoto@gmail.com, or call 303 618 1494 for cost.   This will cover everything upon your arrival on May 4, 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia, until our departure from Maun, Botswana on May 16, 2026.  All the listed flights, critiques, accommodations, food & beverages, guides & safari outings, and all gratuities.   

To view a webpage created by our outfitter for this trip, click here

To register for this incredible Photo Expedition, Click Here

Please let us know, as soon as possible, if interested in this unique and incredible adventure.  We’d love to have you be a part of this trip!

Photo above: left, our private Caravan in foreground, and Cessna 210 luggage plane on right.

Jay & Becky Dickman                                                                                                                                                                                          FirstLight Workshop                                                                                                                                                                                jbdphoto@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                                                303 618 1494