Namib Naukluft Park

Namib Naukluft Park, with its size approximately 50 000 km2, it is the largest conservation area in Namibia and one of the largest in Africa. The top attraction in the park is Sossusvlei. Up to 325 m high when measured from the base, the star-shaped dunes at Sossusvlei are a sought-after topic for artists and photographers. The highest point is where the west-flowing Tsauchab River empties itself into the vlei. Early morning when the first sunrays catch the dunes and the warm tints on the sand, from red, maroon, orange to apricot will take your breath away, not to forget to eerie Dead Pan with its ancient skeletons of desiccated white camel-thorn trees.

At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1km in length. The name is translated as ‘six thongs’ - a reference to the fact that pioneer farmers had to use six ox thongs to lower buckets to the pools in the narrow canyon, as at the foot of this gorge, which plunges 30-40 metres, are pools that become replenished after good rains. This is definitely worth seeing on your way out of Sossusvlei. The Namib Rand Nature Reserve, 60m south of Sesriem is Namibia’s largest private reserve and visitors to the reserve are more than likely to encounter gemsbok (oryx), hyena, hartebeest, zebra and some of the more than 120 different bird species recorded. The mysterious “fairy circles” are an ubiquitous feature of Namib Rand.
Namib Naukluft Park