#Serra Cafema

[sitting-on-me-bum]

ERG ZHAR MOROCCO

SAND, ICE, ROCKS, WATER

Photographer Albert Knapp’s homage to the main elements of Nature

MESQUITE DUNES DEATH VALLEY CALIFORNIA

SERRA CAFEMA NAMIBIA

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT ALAMOGORDO NEW MEXICO

[redspamedia]

Serra Cafema – Abenteuer Wildnis Die Ursprünglichkeit und die Kontraste von Wasser und Wüste sind überwältigend. Im äußersten Nord-Westen Namibias hat Wilderness Safaris, führendes Öko-Safariunternehmen und Umweltschutzorganisation im südlichen Afrika, das natursensibel gebaute Serra Cafema Camp eröffnet.

[atlasfornewadventures]

Oryx Gazella-Serra Cafema-Namibia by Panos Laskarakis

[wanderlusttips]

Đi tìm vẻ đẹp hoang dã trong lòng Namibia

Đi tìm vẻ đẹp hoang dã trong lòng Namibia

Namibia nằm ở phía Tây Nam châu Phi, sở hữu cảnh quan ấn tượng khiến bất cứ ai cũng dễ bị “đánh gục”. Đó là những hoang mạc rộng lớn, đại dương mênh mông, thế giới động vật hoang dã phong phú và nền văn hóa truyền thống vô cùng đặc sắc.

[rpi]

Namibia được mệnh danh là “thiên đường cát” có sức quyến rũ đặc biệt với những du khách yêu thích sự khám phá. Đặt chân đến đây bạn sẽ được đắm chìm trong…

[goodbearblind]

Posted @withrepost • @benmcraephotography Most photographers or travellers usually think a visit to a tribal village is the highlight of their time on the road & its should be. It should be an experience about meeting the people, making a connection and learning. The photography should really take a back seat. For me personally, this is how I have grown my photography. It is how I have tried to draw a viewer in by making them feel that connection but getting an amazing shot is not always possible. Distances of travel, time of your visit or even the fact that an interaction was not planned could be a factor in why the light is poor or the reason why you “cannot” get a great image of the person you have met. For me there are no excuses, there is always a way, it is just a matter of thinking different. When I run my Photographic Experiences I always try to push these ideas and techniques. The light is only good for a small portion of your visit, so why not take an image of you have made a real connection. Don’t say you will come back later as that moment may have gone, that person may have a chore to do, or may just be passing through. There are many ways to take great images when the lighting is not right. Take this image. It was taken in the far north west of Namibia in Serra Cafema. The light was as harsh as the environment that these beautiful people live in. There was not much space to work in but having an open hut door way gave the perfect location for a stunning portrait. The dark background was achieved by exposing on the Himba woman. Her striking eyes shone down the lens as the ambient light from outside lit her perfectly. It is a technique that I have used thousands of times & if you zoom in on the eyes, there I am along with one of my trip participants who was standing by to see how easy & effective this way of shooting is. Shade provides some amazing light, the eyes & the beautiful colour of a Himba woman’s skin will always pop & is what makes this image for me. Next time you are feeling lost or the light is not right, think outside the box, think shade, think high key, go black & white as there is always an option regardless of how poor the light! https://www.instagram.com/p/B5A9OFlCN8f/?igshid=gprsg80w9k5b

[emporiumbespoke]

Serra Cafema Suite Kaokoveld

[erinoguzer-blog]

AAC Senior Safari Consultant Szilvia Hegyi is currently in Namibia. Join her adventure as she travels through this wonderful country – famous for its stark beauty and diversity of tribes.

Ongava Lodge – Ongava Private Game Reserve

Her journey begins in Ongava and Etosha.  Etosha is one of Africa’s greatest parks in both size and variety of wildlife species. The park is mainly mixed scrub, mopane savannah and woodland surrounding the huge Pan. Ongava is a private reserve adjacent to Etosha, which allows more guests to partake in additional activities (e.g. night drives).

Ongava Lodge

Beautiful 1st day in Namibia: full moon, rhinos, lions, good company

Andersson’s Camp – Etosha National Park

The zoological diversity at an Etosha waterhole can’t be overstated: ostriches, jackals, springbok and oryx

Waterholes are great to spot thirsty felines!

Serra Cafema – Kunene Area

Szilvia departed Ongava today in the morning and flew to her next camp: Serra Cafema. The Kunene River, located in Namibia’s northernmost region, is the only permanent source of water in the area. Thus, it is esentially an oasis for wildlife, and because of the surrounding rugged mountains and sand dunes, also a beautiful landscape.

Himba village visit

Furthermore, The area around the Kunene River is where the Himba people reside. They are considered to be some of the last truly nomadic people in Africa.

The very stylish Serra Cafema

Completely rebuilt in 2018, Serra Cafema’s stylish decor, immersive aesthetic and remote location combine as a perfect refuge after a day’s activity. One of the camp’s highlights is the carefully guided quad-bike excursions that tread lightly on the dunes. Szilvia could hardly wait to hop on one!

Bumping into locals while on a quad-bike excursion

Views of the Kunene River

Szilvia’s final day at Serra Cafema began very auspiciously: in the very early morning, she and her guide Elias drove out to the dunes. But what awaited them was well worth lost sleep: an indescribably beautiful sunrise, painting the dunes with gradually more vibrant hues of red, gold and ocher as the morning progressed.

Sunrise near Serra Cafema

Later that morning, Elias found snake tracks. Not dismayed at the initial lack of success, he persisted until he found a horned adder lying underneath a bush. Eventually the adder left the bush to move around in the open. Szilvia had no doubts that she wouldn’t have seen it without his deft tracking and spotting abilities!

Scenes from Szilvia’ hike though a “lunar-like” landscape

In the early afternoon, Szilvia and Elias began a 2 hour hike through some unusual, yet spectacular scenery. Though a bit challenging, the effort was worthwhile: not only was the trek through some very “lunar-like” terrain, there were also excellent views of the Kunene river and numerous small, cascading waterfalls to see.

More scenes from Szilvia’s hike

Szilvia also noted that, unlike other similar areas elsewhere in Namibia, the experience was very exclusive: except for her small group, no one else was in sight!

Though sad that her stay as come to an end, Szilvia is still elated: she’s off to Skeleton Coast tomorrow! We’ll keep you posted with more of her photographs and stories.

Skeleton Coast

Some members of one of Skeleton Coast’s many seal colonies

Wherever you are on safari in Africa, it’s a good idea to take at least part of your charter flight to watch the landscape as it passes by. In the case of Namibia, however, you should dedicate a majority, if not all, your time to watching the scenery.

From Serra Cafema to Hartmann Valley in Skeleton Coast, Szilvia was treated to one of the most breathtakingly spectacular plane rides she has ever been on. Flights connecting you to different parts of Namibia are experiences in and of themselves!

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp

Szilvia enjoyed lunch at Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. After taking a charter flight to the coast she spent 2 nights at a mobile-tented camp set up next to the thunderous Atlantic Ocean within Skeleton Coast National Park! This is a way to connect with one of the world’s most desolate, yet wild landscape on another level.

Welcome to Skeleton Coast National Park. Population: ourselves!

For the wildlife aficionados, don’t be distraught: despite this being one of the world’s most arid environments, there is plenty of wildlife to see. In fact, they are also incredibly unique, as they have had to behaviorally (and in some instances physically) adapt to these desert conditions. Examples of desert-adapted wildlife here includes elephant, lion, giraffe, antelope, black rhino, leopard and cheetah.

Activities along the Skeleton coast include fishing for dinner, hiking along the beach to find shipwrecks and visiting the resident seal colony.

Seals enjoy the occasional modelling here and there

What’s fascinating about these seal colonies is that they have to be on high alert for both nautical and terrestrial predators, including lions and brown hyenas. Szilvia was fortunate to see several, one of which had a baby seal in its mouth!

Szilvia had a chance to learn about the park’s resident brown hyena and lion populations from not only her guide, but also from Emsie Verwey of the Brown Hyena Project and Dr. “Flip” Stander of the Desert Lion Conservation Project. Sometimes these opportunities arise serendipitously, but we advise all of our clients to try to pre-arrange meetings with wildlife conservationists/experts wherever they go!

The best spot to relax in the mid-day sun!

As Szilvia’s time in not only in Skeleton Coast, but all of Namibia came to a close, she spotted some desert lions after her guide’s diligent tracking. It was a great way for Szilvia to end a very pleasurable and stunning trip!

The post Szilvia Hegyi in Namibia appeared first on Africa Adventure Company& Blog.

[sullivanandrew]

The Himba people of Namibia 🇳🇦 another reason to put Namibia on your travel list. #Repost photo credit @wearewilderness ・・・ The Himba are #indigenous peoples with an estimated population of about 50,000 people, living in the northern part of Namibia especially in the Kunene region. . . They continue their traditional semi-nomadic way of life. The women engage in daily activities such as milking cows, cooking, taking care of the children while the men go hunting, sometimes leaving for long periods of time. . . The red ochre cream that the Himba are famous for is made by mixing animal fat, ash and ground ochre, a stone found locally. Only the women apply the cream to their skin and hair; its function is to protect their skin from the harsh desert sun and insect bites. . . We had the luck to encountered Himba people during our stay at Serra Cafema camp when we were out on a quad excursion. This wonderful camp is one of the most #remote camps in southern Africa and is owned by wilderness Safaris. . #africa #himba #namibia #tribe #nomadic #safari #luxurycamp #thedontforgettravelgroup #travel #adventure #alwayworking #adelaide #wanderlust #reallife #escape #vacation #explore #newadventures #travelagent #luxurytravel #letsgo (at The Don't Forget Travel Group) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKqMQ8jLsL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10a1mqoywcnsq

[jacquesmarais]

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes ... ". ~ T. E. Lawrence And so the countdown begins to #BeyondTheDesertEdge, a human-powered expedition from the #angola border - via the #skeletoncoast, #hartmanns valley and #namibia hinterland - all the way to #walvisbay. I'm privileged to join forces with one of those daytime dreamers, @petervankets, as he navigates this arid wilderness by #mountainbike, laying fat tracks where no man has pedalled before. Together with @peterkirkmedia, we will document every incredible moment of this #wilderness ride. Huge thanks to our headline sponsors @dunloptyres_sa for their backing - we can't wait to test those #GrandTrek beauties! Incredible support from #IsuzuSA, #SparSA, #wilderness safaris and #giantbikes will further help make this dream a reality. Roll on, September! (at Serra Cafema, Kunene River, Hartmann Valley)

[travelplusstyle]

Crossing the mountains at the border between Angola and Namibia. This is the Namib Desert, as we approach the Serra Cafema camp, which is a luxury safari camp run by @wearewilderness. The camp is down on the bank of the Kunene river (too far away to make out from here, but it's there!) Photo © TravelPlusStyle.com (at Serra Cafema, Kunene River, Hartmann Valley)

[tagamark]

How Namibia Changed Me

New Post has been published on https://tagasafarisafrica.com/africa-travel-news/life-in-africa/how-namibia-changed-me/

How Namibia Changed Me

Last year I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the bush for the first time when I visited Botswana. This year, my colleague and travel buddy Mary-Anne, decided to discover Namibia, with all its vast, isolated and endless landscapes.

Before landing in Windhoek, Mary-Anne couldn’t stop uttering, “Ohhh you are going to love Namibia.” The road trip from the airport was the best possible welcome, providing a sense of what was to come.

We flew to Kulala Desert Lodge in a Wilderness Air Caravan, where my fear of flying in small planes returned. The pilots, however, are most professional and assured me I was in good hands. The sight of the desert’s iconic inselbergs and red dunes seen from the air made me giddy with excitement. Sossusvlei loomed large, and I was in awe, (I had never seen dunes that high before). I realised that I didn’t need Mary-Anne to tell me how I much I would love this amazing country – I was already entranced. Our stay in camp was simply astonishing, from the exceptional service to informative drives with our guide. I was particularly fascinated by the fairy circles that are found here. To this day, the fairy circles – and their formation – remain a mystery.

The next morning was focused on tackling a walk up one of the most famous sand dunes in Sossusvlei. I had to prepare myself mentally for “Big Daddy” – the tallest dune in the area at 325 metres, mind you!

We passed Dune 45 (claimed to be the most photographed dune in Africa) and spotted some oryx crossing the desolate landscape, a great way to start an amazing morning. As we reached the starting point I heard our guide asking, “Who is ready to start climbing?”

With the words, “No mountain’s too high” ringing in my head, my mind told me I could conquer the dune. As I came closer, I quickly realised that it was going to be a tough workout. I opted for the dune overlooking Deadvlei (Big Daddy) and started walking slowly. The views from the top, ok halfway (I’d like to think I was halfway), were remarkable, and running down was exhilarating.

I was especially excited to take my own version of an image for the 2019 Wilderness Safaris Photographic Competition – inspired by an iconic shot of this same scene. I just loved the way the white clay and the dead camelthorn tree were depicted in the photograph, and had to try capture it for myself. Our afternoon was spent at Sesriem Canyon, where we saw a horned adder, which was camouflaged in the sand. Carved by the ephemeral Tshauchab River, Sesriem Canyon is some 30 metres deep, and roughly one kilometre long – and well worth a visit.

Our next stop was Serra Cafema, which was a truly humbling experience. I was able to witness the wonderful partnership that Wilderness Safaris has with neighbouring communities in Namibia. The opportunity to visit a nearby Himba community was one I have been looking forward to ever since I started working at Wilderness Safaris. Our guides Stanley and Ballack did a sterling job preparing us for the village visit, even teaching us to say hello (moro moro), and sharing interesting facts about the Himba’s nomadic lifestyle, traditions and culture.

I was especially captivated when the Himba ladies at the village enquired about our lives – this experience touched me, in that we weren’t just tourists coming to their little village, they too were interested in the people who had come to visit them. I learned a lot about the women’s use of ochre paste (otjize) in their hair, which they use as protection against the sun, and adorn themselves with intricate leather headwear. What an experience.

Hoanib Skeleton Coast was our last stop, and a location that is particularly breathtaking because you are in the middle of a remote desert – not a place you’d expect to see a herd of elephants drinking at a waterhole. And yet here they were! I wanted to say that the highlight of my trip was visiting the Skeleton Coast and seeing the shipwreck remains and noisy colonies of Cape fur seals. However, it was my interaction with Emsie, who is currently running a research project on brown hyaena that impacted me the most. After chatting to Emsie, I had a drastic change of perception for this species, and thoroughly enjoyed her very interesting and interactive presentation. The next day, I joined Emsie to see these remarkable, rare animals at one of the dens she is monitoring for her study. We quietly watched the three young hyaena cubs for some time, and I was in awe!

Surreal is the only word that comes to mind to adequately sum up his this life-changing experience.

Written by Wendy Ngcobo Post by Wilderness Safaris

[tripstations]

Top 5 destinations for making (what’s left of) the Summer meaningful

By Christopher Hill on Aug 26, 2019 in Africa, Central America, Costa Rica, Europe, Italy, Kenya, Namibia, Regions, Western Europe, Zambia

We may be in the second half of summer, but there is still time to get out and make a difference with your family. Here are my top 5 recommendations for where to go make your Summer meaningful and bond closer with your kids, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

1. Zambia

Zambia co-hosts the awesome Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe, and this is a sight that is sure to impress. In addition to walking tours, you can also fly above the Falls by microlight or helicopter for breathtaking perspectives.

Adrenalin lovers can whitewater raft on the Zambezi, or bungee jump near the Falls. And of course you can’t go to Africa without safari, and Zambia does not disappoint, with superb reserves such as South Luangwa and Kafue, though Chobe in Botswana is actually closer from Victoria Falls, with easy border crossings. August/September is prime game viewing time in all these game parks.

But to make your trip to Zambia meaningful, you need to engage with the local people and build a house for a family in need. Tragically, HIV/AIDS has ravaged Zambia, leaving many children orphans, often having to be raised by extended family such as grandparents. You can provide the family with a decent place to live – especially important with the coming rainy season, because if the children are dry, they are healthier, attend school more regularly, and thus have better life outcomes.

2. Kenya

August is one of the best months to be in Kenya, specifically in the Masai Mara where you get to observe one of the natural world’s greatest spectacles: the Wildebeest migration. You can make your trip meaningful by helping install an ecological stove for a family living near the Masai Mara, which reduces respiratory problems, or help build a classroom for a school on the edge of the Masai Mara.

Availability is tight, as you would expect during the migration, but Kenya is worth exploring anytime of the year.

3. Costa Rica

Insider’s tip: whilst technically it is the rainy season, Costa Rica often enjoys a dry spell in August, so you can sneak in now, avoid the crowds and enjoy sunny weather in spectacular greenery.

Costa Rica has earned its reputation as the eco-luxury capital of the world, and there are some truly incredible properties that genuinely take sustainability seriously; Kasiiya, El Silencio, Pacuare Lodge, Lapa Rios to name just a few.

Some of the highlights of Costa Rica for you and your family to enjoy are zip lining, whitewater rafting, snorkelling, cloud forests, volcanoes, coffee farms and chocolate making. You can also up the ante with submarine exploration accompanied by a marine biologist, fly over the volcanoes, and even spend a day on an exclusive preserved tract of land in the company of a leading conservationist.

And if you are willing to roll up your sleeves, your family can make their time in Costa Rica meaningful by:

• helping at a wildlife rescue center: preparing meals for rescued or injured monkeys, parrots, sloths and more, feeding them, creating enrichments to stimulate the animals, and assisting the vet on his daily rounds, learning so much about animal behaviour and conservation as you go;

• helping at a medical clinic that cares for Nicaraguan refugees: assisting the doctors by taking notes in session, entering patient data into the computer, and helping put the patients at ease as you help this free clinic provide their much-needed care;

• caring for turtles by monitoring beaches, protecting eggs from predators and removing plastic from the sea.

There are direct flights from London to Costa Rica with BA.

4. Italy

Italy has something for everyone, and when you travel in luxury, you can make a wonderful country even more extraordinary, by experiencing things such as a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel or get access to a wing of the Uffizi Gallery not normally open to the public, drive a Ferrari on a racetrack, or learn how to make your favourite dishes under the tutelage of a Michelin starred chef.

But wait, there’s more: you can add another dimension to your trip and bond closer with your children by preparing and serving meals at a restaurant caring for the homeless and refugees. This will give you all a fresh perspective on life, and your children are sure to appreciate how fortunate they are, all in a setting that is uplifting, dignified and positive.

5. Namibia

Back to Africa, Namibia is unique as it is largely desert, sparsely populated, and blessed with incredible lodges and camps, such as Wolwedans, Serra Cafema, Little Kulala and Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Embark on a private air safari to cover this vast country and enjoy the highlights, such as towering sand dunes, the rugged Skeleton Coast, interaction with the nomadic Himba people, and game viewing, including desert adapted species.

On the subject of desert adapted wildlife, you can leave a legacy by spending a few days reducing farmer-elephant conflict by digging fresh water sources for desert elephants away from human settlements – another amazing way to make your summer meaningful and create treasured memories.

Christopher Hill is Founder and CEO at Hands Up Holidays. Hands Up Holiadays is an award-winning travel company specialising in tailor-made luxury family trips that combine sightseeing with hands-on service projects.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post Top 5 destinations for making (what’s left of) the Summer meaningful appeared first on Tripstations.

from Tripstations https://ift.tt/2Pf0nty via IFTTT

[wysluxuryjetcharter-blog]

Serra Cafema Opens Up a Remote Corner of Namibia

http://dlvr.it/Qn1hvx

[hgilbert14-blog]

Serra Cafema Camp reopens in north-west Namibia

After an environmentally-sensitive rebuild, Wilderness Safaris' Serra Cafema Camp, in Namibia's extreme north-west, has reopened. Located in one of the most remote regions in southern Africa, on the banks of the Kunene River in the Hartmann's Valley, Serra Cafema offers journeys to this extraordinary desert location.

[naturalwellnesssolutions]

Serra Cafema Camp reopens in north-west Namibia | News

Serra Cafema Camp reopens in north-west Namibia | News

After an environmentally-sensitive rebuild, Wilderness Safaris’ Serra Cafema Camp, in Namibia’s extreme north-west, has reopened.

Located in one of the most remote regions in southern Africa, on the banks of the Kunene River in the Hartmann’s Valley, Serra Cafema offers journeys to this extraordinary desert location.

As part of a joint venture between Wilderness Safaris and the 300 000-hectare…

[emporiumbespoke]

Serra Cafema Suite Kaokoveld