"Vast Dry Plain, The Namib " a Namib-Naukluft Park Travel Page by Waxbag

The “Dune Sea” of Namibia’s Great Namib Desert runs over 200 miles from the Orange River to the South to the Kuiseb River to the North. It contains some of the oldest, largest, and reddest dunes in the world. These giants reach up to 300 meters above the parched river bed.

The Namib-Naukluft National Park covers 23,000 sq miles and is one of the largest parks in the world. The shifting sands are constantly changing here making this one of the most dynamic landscapes in the world.

Sossuvlei is at the heart of the desert and an excellent place to explore some of the largest dunes in the Namib. Sesriem is the main camp that allows access to the park and has good facilities.

This place does not look or seem of this earth. The light and contrasts are a photographers dream.

Cost: ND = Namibian Dollars
$220 ND to camp in Sesreim (for two)
$20 ND each for Admission into the Park
$10 ND per vehicle

One of the most popular dunes, especially for sunrise and sunset views, is Dune 45. It is not the largest dune, around 150 m, but it offers some sepectacular views of the desert.

The cold Benguila current smashes into the Namib coast stripping the moisture right out of the ground. The average annual rainfall is around 0 cm but water laden fog rolls in and out frequently giving those plants and animals adapted to absorb water out of the air a chance for survival. Animals like springbok, gemsbok, ostriches, mongooses, bat-eared fox, brown hyenas, jackals, shovel-snouted Lizards, chameleons, sand snakes, skinks, and dancing spiders have adapted to this harsh environment.