Desert and dunes, Namibia

Dune 45 is one of the most accessable dunes in Sossusvlei National Park. The dunes in Sossusvlei are are sequentially numbered starting with 1. The guidebooks say that Dune 45 was numbered 45 because it is 45km from Sesriem camp but our guide was adament that it was just a coincidence.

Dune 45 rises about 180 m above the desert and is towered by the surrounding 330 meter dunes.

This is the famous dune that it seems everyone want to see it and climb up to. It is in the Sussusvlei area and to get to see it on sunrise you have to enter the park as early as they open the gate. It is hard work to climb it all the way up, I thought my winter practice in the deep snow would be helpful but not really, or maybe I didn't practice hard enough :))) The view from up the dune is breathtaking and when done it take just couple of minutes to slide quick down the dune.

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Namibia is a vast desert full of impossibly high sand dunes that seem to go on forever. Just think of it as the largest beach on the face of the Earth and go for it! Hire a quad bike and go tearing up and over the dunes! Now this is serious fun. You also get some great views from atop the dunes that are as tall as mountains. Outdoor adventure at its best. Remember to have something to cover your mouth!

OK I have to be honest – I didn’t climb Dune 45, but Chris did and told me all about it, so I figure I know enough to describe it here! Basically it’s a huge pile of sand and you climb up it – and if you think that sounds easy you’ve obviously never walked on even a small seaside dune. For every step you take forwards you slip almost the same amount backwards, which means it takes a very long time and a lot of effort to get to the top. And this is no ordinary dune – it’s one of the largest in the Namib Desert, at over 150 metres high. From the top (apparently) you get a great view of red sand in waves of dunes on all sides.

If you blow up my photo and peer at it carefully, Chris is the small figure just to the right of the dark shaded area at the top of the dune!

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Dead Vlei is the place that you must visit when going to Namibia. Its one of the unique spots on earth with almost no rainfall but lots of life and interesting scenery. It was also the only spot on our Namibian road trip that 4WD was a must to get to the spot as driving on the sand dunes was necessary.

I will always jump at the chance to go ballooning and here in the desert is no exception.

It does mean getting up before dawn but its worth it.
It does mean you will feel rather chilly in the cold desert air but its worth it.
It does mean paying a lot of money but its worth it
It does mean going without breakfast until after the flight, but they do give you a champagne breakfast and loads to eat afterwards so its worth it.

If you have never done it try it. It is so peaceful and calm, there is no turbulence, no sudden movements , no wind, you just gently drift along enjoying the view.... and what a view!!

Not exactly the Grand Canyon but an interesting insight into the geology of the area.

Explorers, transport riders and early travellers used to lower a bucket down to collect the water and it normally took 6 lengths of thong tied together, hence the Afrikaans name “Ses” meaning six, and “Riem” meaning thong.
The canyon is largely formed from conglomerate (rounded stones in a sandy bed). This was carried down by currents of the Tsauchab River. This rises in the Naukluft and Zaris Mountains to the east, and flows through to Sossusvlei.

The size of the stones corresponds to the force of the water. Its easy to see from the canyon walls the changes in sizes of the stones indicating a change is speed and force of the river.

If you couldn't care a hogs hoot about the geology its still a nice place to go for an hours walk regardless!

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A photographers dream!

I have seen so many gorgeous photos of this place I just so wanted to go there and see it for myself. It didn't dissapoint.

Deadvlei is a clay pan formed from where water runs off after the rains. The dunes have hemmed it in and as a result the water forms a shallow lake and at one point trees were able to grow. Unfortunately now the trees have died leaving a ghostly forest of gnarled trunks and branches set agains the white pan, red dunes and blue sky. The age of the trees is not known and estimates range form 60 to 600 years.

However old they are they are fantastic to photograph and you can wander around for hours getting the perfect shot.

Go early in the morning when the sun rises to capture the most vivid colours and to avoid the crowds. The road is not good so you will have to park the car and walk 2km or take advantage of the local shuttle service which bumps back and forth to and from the sight.