Sossusvlei

"It is quite a rush, as Dune 45 is 45km from the gate and one still needs time to climb to the top to watch the sunrise without having a mild heart attack. You DEFINITELY need some degree of fitness and determination to get to the top, but rest-assured, you won’t be the only one breathing like an ox on your way up! The view from the top is absolutely mind-blowing, so put this on your bucket-list and try your best to get there. There’s no need for a boring walk back down, so find a spot and run down the side of the dune with your friends and family and walk back to the car park from there! TOO MUCH FUN! From here, make your way to Deadvlei Pan to explore and photograph this world wonder. Dead Vlei has been claimed to be surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world, the highest reaching 300–400 meters! The clay pan was formed after rainfall, when the Tsauchab river flooded, creating temporary shallow pools where the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. When the climate changed, drought hit the area, and sand dunes encroached on the pan, which blocked the river from the area. The trees died, as there no longer was enough water to survive and the remaining skeletons of the trees, are believed to have died 600–700 years ago and are now black because the intense sun has scorched them. Please note that you will need a 4x4 to get all the way to the Dead Vlei parking lot. Alternatively, park at the parking lot where normal cars can reach and pay to hop onto the shuttle which will take you there."

"Situated in the largest conservation area in Africa (the Namib-Naukluft National Park), Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Characterised by the large red dunes that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan and is a great destination all year round. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters, and provide photographic enthusiasts with wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light. Sossusvlei literally translates to “dead-end marsh”, as it is the place where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River to flow any further, some 60km east of the Atlantic Ocean. However, due to the dry conditions in the Namib Desert the River seldom flows this far and the pan remains bone-dry most years. During an exceptional rainy season the Tsauchab fills the pan, drawing visitors from all over the world to witness this spectacular site."

"Morning is the best time to visit the salt pan and dunes because it will be cooler, and the lighting will be better for photos and views."