Ondjamba Safaris was founded in 1997 and its team is single-minded in its goal to ensure that visitors to Namibia enjoy an unforgettable experience. Whether you want to explore the stark and awe-inspriring landscapes of Namibia’s south, the abundant wildlife and breathtaking contrasts of its northern regions, obtain an insight into the culture of Namibia’s various people, including the traditional Himba or San, or wish to venture into neighbouring Angola and Botswana – Ondjamba Safaris’ experience and personal service will allow you to have the adventure of a lifetime!
Ondjamba Safaris offers customised and personalised tours taking small groups (2-10 people per expedition) using fully equipped four wheel drive vehicles and experienced drivers/guides.  We offer lodging, camping or a combination thereof, tailormaking the safari to fit your schedule and preferred highlights.
Founding member, Dieter Risser, is a born Namibian and a nature lover through and through.  He has traveled Namibia extensively for many years and has a preference for the – as yet – unspoiled parts of the Kaokoland and Damaraland.  This love of nature and his desire to share it with others prompted him to found Ondjamba Safaris Namibia - a fully registered company - and to name it after his first love: the elephant or, in Owambo, the ondjamba.

Dieter is a NATH educated tour guide and has completed an elephant diploma. Yes, he is crazy about elephants – some of his guests have already called him ‘the elephant whisperer’.  Dieter knows most of the dominant bulls and matriarch cows by the names given to them by the scientific researchers in the area.  Long years of theoretical and practical experience with the behaviour of the desert elephant enables Dieter to tell you much about these incredible desert-adapted animals - he reads telltale footprints and points out favorite food sources as well as other fascinating information.

In 2007, Russell Vinjevold joined Ondjamba Safaris.  Like Dieter, Russell has a deep love for and an in-depth knowledge of the bush and the desert. And like Dieter, he firmly believes that a visit to Namibia without the inclusion of Kaokoland, Damaraland and Etosha is incomplete.  His respect for these fragile and breathtaking environments is fundamental to Ondjamba Safaris’ endeavour to share with its guests an extraordinary experience in the one place in the world where visitors can enjoy the specially adapted desert lion, desert elephant, desert rhino and desert giraffe – a concept that Dieter has coined ‘The Desert Four’.

Russell has spent more than 18 years living and working in remote regions of Namibia.  After 12 years of working with the Ministry of Environment, he decided to carry his passion for the bush into tourism and has many years guiding experience under his belt. He has obtained the highest qualification awarded by the Field Guide’s Association of Southern Africa and is also qualified in Advanced Weapon Handling & Dealing with Dangerous Animals.  This background has enabled him to work as a specialised guide for walking trails in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

Russell considers his years of work with Dr Flip Stander as one of the highlights in his career and is still closely associated with this well-known lion researcher and his Desert Lion Conservation Project.  Russell’s fascination with and support of this Project - primarily working towards the conservation of these magnificent desert predators - has been instrumental in the launch of Ondjamba Safaris’ new product “Desert Lion Safaris”, exclusive eco-tours that are conducted in close association with Desert Lion Conservation and enable the visitor to get a first-hand insight into the trials and tribulations that face these elusive cats in their daily struggle to survive in one of the most inhospitable and remote regions of Namibia.

From the inception of Ondjamba Safaris, Dieter’s wife, Dongina Risser, has been preparing mouth-watering recipes for our guests, completing a perfect bush experience.  Many guests have claimed that the meals were one of the highlights of the safari and reason enough to return.

In May 2007, daughter Dana Risser-Wheeling joined the Ondjamba team.  She manages the office and along with Russell’s wife, Tina Vinjevold, they try their utmost to ensure that all booking requests are met to our guests’ satisfaction.  Dana’s husband, John Wheeling, deals in fine African art displayed in our office, and is also available to serve the needs of our clients.