SWA Safaris

When Uwe Sentefol and Callie Zimmer founded SWA Safaris in 1954, they were inspired by their love for the wilderness and an adventurous spirit, rather than by any certainty that tourism and travel would become one of the largest sectors in the global economy, let alone in Namibia. Namibia is now promoted as an all-year-round destination with more than 300 sunny days a year. Attracting over 1.6 million foreign travellers annually, Namibia is renowned as a top destination for those who enjoy nature, grandiose landscapes, spectacular sand dunes, the darkest skies contrasted by the brightest Milky Way, and first-class wildlife viewing. SWA Safaris celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024 and stands as the oldest and most experienced family-owned tour operator in Namibia, offering continued professionalism, vast knowledge, and flexibility throughout Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls. Today, Wilfried Sentefol, Uwe’s son, and his niece Tanja Sentefol are at the helm of the company. Initially, SWA Safaris began with camping safaris using trucks converted to carry passengers, due to the lack of accommodation and roads. Today, the country boasts a wide variety of lodges of all shapes and sizes, and tourists travel in comfortable modern coaches, converted 4×4 vehicles, by plane, or as self-drivers.