The Sossusvlei and the surrounding sand dunes of the Namib Naukluft National Park are one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. 'Vlei' is the Afrikaans word for a shallow depression that fills with water ,and the Sossusvlei refers to the pan that lies at the very end of the Tsauchab Riverbed where the dunes prevent water (on the rare occasions when there is any) from flowing any further into the desert.
These beautiful, red sand dunes are some of the highest in the world (Some as high as 300 meters) and present some awe-inspiring images against a nearly cloudless blue sky. The midday heat is intense and the sun is so strong that it washes out the colors. The best time to view the Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset when the colors are strong and the shadows are constantly shifting.
The night before our visit, we stayed at the Sesriem gate campsite in the park. In the morning, we were up before the sun and drove the one hour to the 2x4 parking area. We left the truck there and continued by foot for the last four kilometers of our journey to arrive at the Sossusvlei as the sun was rising over the dunes.
After taking some time for photographs, we met up with a park guide who showed us many of the plant and animal species, which live in an environment that on first glance looks devoid of life. There are lizards that keep cool by burying themselves in the sand, Fog Beetles that catch the humidity in the morning wind and plants that store their water inside cucumber-like fruit.
Later, we took the time to climb one of the dunes for a view of the surroundings. It was a hard climb through soft sand, but our reward was worth it - a landscape of stark, high sand dunes stretching to the horizon. It gave me the feeling of insignificance and awe. It was truly an adventure in traveling.
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