Rachelle- just a general caution, not specifically photo related. I don't know about specific security concerns in Namibia (my very vague sense is that it's pretty safe overall), but I would be very wary of traveling alone as a female in South Africa. South Africa's big cities have some VERY dangerous areas and as an outsider it is very hard to tell when you're going from garden variety poor/working-class to Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. If you are not joining a group tour, with all the compromises that entails, I'd seek out some of our South African members and see if they can meet you and play tourguide for a day or two.