Africa
The Flower Sea & The Red Desert
Landscape Photography of South Africa & Namibia
In late August, South Africa's west coast blooms for roughly three weeks a year. We begin with Table Mountain's cloud seas and sunset over the Twelve Apostles, and the southern right whales cruising below the Hermanus cliff path, then head north into Namaqualand, where the whole plateau becomes an orange carpet of flowers.
Across the border into Namibia the palette turns abruptly red: the strata of the Fish River canyon receding into the dusk, then deep into the Namib to hold out for a sunrise at Dune 45 and Deadvlei that splits the red ridges in two.
Over seventeen days, five themes — wildflowers, coast, canyon, red desert and night sky — each get their own complete sessions. Both the flower country and the red desert get two consecutive nights, so the best light is always reserved for the lens.
Highlights
- Flower season timed to the peak: full days at Lambert's Bay and Skilpad
- Cape Town from two angles: Table Mountain above, Cape Point and Boulders Beach below
- Whales at Hermanus, with a spotter calling positions from the cliff
- Fish River canyon — the second largest in the world — at both ends of the day
- Two nights in the red desert for Dune 45, Deadvlei and the Milky Way
- Sandwich Harbour by 4WD and Spitzkoppe's arch at sunset and night
Itinerary
Day 01
Arrive in Cape Town
Arrive in Cape Town, clear entry with the ETA and pick up the vehicle. After check-in, a stroll around the V&A Waterfront; in the evening we move to Bloubergstrand beach for the classic full view of Table Mountain across Table Bay at sunset.
Day 02
Table Mountain · Bo-Kaap · Stellenbosch Winelands
A pre-booked cable car up Table Mountain in the morning — the summit loop with views over the city, Table Bay and the peninsula (if wind stops the cableway, we shoot from the foot of Lion's Head instead). In the afternoon, the Bo-Kaap: a wander along Wale and Chiappini streets among the bright terraced houses. Evening in the Stellenbosch winelands — warm light and sunset over the vineyards and old European-style streets, dinner at a wine estate, then back to Cape Town.
Day 03
Full day on the Cape Peninsula
A full day on the Cape Peninsula: south early to the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Point lighthouse, African penguins at Boulders Beach after lunch, then along Chapman's Peak Drive to Camps Bay for sunset over the Twelve Apostles.
Day 04
Cape Town ⇄ Hermanus
An early start for Hermanus (120 km each way): land-based whale watching from the cliff path, in the peak season of the southern right whale. Return to Cape Town in the evening.
Day 05
Cape Town → Lambert's Bay
North up the west coast (320 km) to Lambert's Bay. In the evening at Bird Island: gannet colonies, coastal dunes and the first west-coast wildflowers.
Day 06
Lambert's Bay → Kamieskroon
Further north on the N7 (320 km), sweeping the flower belts of Elands Bay and the Biedouw valley as conditions allow. Check in near Namaqualand in the afternoon, scout the Skilpad entrance, and shoot flower fields against distant mountains at sunset.
Day 07
Full day at Skilpad, Namaqua National Park
A full day in Skilpad, Namaqua National Park: wide angles over the great flower carpets at sunrise, hillsides in soft morning light, macro work on vygies and bulbs at midday, and silhouettes of flowers against the mountains at sunset.
Day 08
Skilpad revisited → Springbok
Back into Skilpad at sunrise, taking the side tracks for cleaner compositions. Midday transfer to Springbok; in the evening, quiver trees and quartz desert at sunset in the Goegap reserve.
Day 09
Goegap Reserve · R355 flower route
Sunrise in Goegap — quartz flats and springbok antelope — then an afternoon run along the R355 gravel flower route. At night, the Milky Way over the Karoo desert.
Day 10
Springbok → Fish River Canyon
A 6 am start with a full tank: 116 km to the Vioolsdrif border post, out of South Africa and into Namibia, then 260 km to the Fish River Canyon. Evening at the main viewpoint for sunset over the canyon and its layered rock textures.
Day 11
Fish River Canyon → Aus · Kolmanskop
A second canyon sunrise, then through the southern Gobi towards Aus. In the afternoon, long lenses at the Garub waterhole for the wild horses of the Namib; in the evening, into the Kolmanskop ghost town on our photography permit — geometric light and shadow as the sand pours through German-era doors and windows.
Day 12
Aus → Sossusvlei Red Desert
The C13/C14 scenic roads across the Namib, arriving at the gateway of the red desert by evening to check in. We scout Sesriem canyon and shoot canyon crevices and golden dune arcs in the first light.
Day 13
Full day at Sossusvlei
Before dawn, Dune 45 for sunrise side-light cutting shadow arcs across the sand; then into Deadvlei — white pan, thousand-year black trees and towering red dunes. In the afternoon, up the Big Daddy dune; at night, dead trees and the Milky Way.
Day 14
Sesriem → Walvis Bay → Swakopmund
A morning reshoot in the desert, then northwest to the Atlantic coast. Evening on the Walvis Bay lagoon wetlands: long-lens flocks of pink flamingos, plus the salt pans and the textures where desert meets sea.
Day 15
Swakopmund → Spitzkoppe
Flamingos and pelicans again at dawn in Walvis Bay, or an optional 4WD run deep into Sandwich Harbour where the dunes pour into the sea. In the afternoon, east to Spitzkoppe, framing sunset and the starry arch through the giant granite arch.
Day 16
Spitzkoppe → Windhoek
Morning light and texture on the Spitzkoppe granite boulders, then back across the central highlands to the capital — city sunset and afterglow from Windhoek's heights.
Day 17
Windhoek · Departure
Transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport in good time, return the vehicle and fly home — the end of this southern African journey from flower seas to red sand.
Photographs
Included
- Sixteen nights' accommodation (4 Cape Town, 1 Lambert's Bay, 2 Kamieskroon, 2 Springbok, 1 Fish River Canyon, 1 Aus, 2 inside Sossusvlei, 1 Swakopmund, 1 Spitzkoppe, 1 Windhoek; twin-share)
- All meals daily (drinking water included; alcohol and other beverages excluded)
- All ground transport, including 4WD sections into the dunes and salt pans
- All park and site entry fees
- On-location photography tuition and post-processing sessions
Not included
- International flights
- South Africa ETA and Namibia visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Single-room supplement
- Optional helicopter or light-aircraft scenic flights
- Driver and guide gratuities
- Personal expenses
Price
USD 9,800 per person
A USD 1,500 deposit confirms the seat.