The Namib Naukluft Park is the central part of The Namib Desert. Sossusvlei, Sesreim Canyon and Dune Forty Five being the most well known destinations .
- Experience the spectacular sunrises at the Dunes when the dunes turn dramatically red
- Discover fascinating desert adapted animals, plants and insects
- Visit Sesreim Canyon where centuries of erosion has eroded a narrow gorge with pools that fills with water after good rains
- For a birds eye view of Sossusvlei Dunes why not take a Hot Air Balloon trip ?
- Sossusvlei’s uniqueness, make it one of the most popular ‘ must sees’ on any itinerary to Namibia
- At 325m Sossusvlei’s dunes are the amongst the highest in the world.
If you were to choose one picture to represent Namibia then it would probably be a picture of the dunes in and around Sossusvlei. However there are a couple of misnomers that need to be cleared up to help you really understand the area. The Namib Desert refers to the desert that runs the entire length of Namibia, a total distance of 1500km, the Namib Naukluft Park is the central area, and its in this area that you will find the Sossusvlei and Sesreim. Sesreim marks the entrance to the dunes. Sossusvlei is not itself a dune, but rather a ‘pan’ of clay that sits midst the dunes and only fills with water on rare occasions. Dune 45 is the most popular of dunes as it the highest and most spectacular, other dunes being no less spectacular just a little less high. The entire area is colloquially referred to as ‘Sossusvlei’ but if we were being techinically correct we would refer to this particular area as The Namib Naukluft Park.
Sossusvlei is the top destination in Namibia with monumental dunes up to 325 metres when measured from the base. These star –shaped dunes are a sought after topic for artists and photographers. Formed by strong multi directional winds, they are at their highest most spectacular when the west flowing
Tsauchab River empties itself into the vlei. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from apricot to orange, red and maroon, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the large deflationary clay pans at their bases. When it has rained sufficiently in the interior for the Tsauchab River to come down and fill the main pan, flamingoes and other aquatic birds are drawn to the area.
At the entry to the Sossusvlei in the
Sesreim Canyon where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 kilometre in length. At the foot of the gorge , which plunges down 30 – 40 metres, are pools that become replenished after good rains.
Sesreim derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thong together to draw water from the pools.
Visiting the Sossusvlei area are you are sure to see
Gemsbok and Springbok the quintessential desert antelope. Although they are not confined to the
Namib Desert, or even to Namibia, they are adapted to cope with the driest conditions found in Southern Africa. They drink water when it is available, but can do without it for months on end, as they obtain enough from the plants they eat.
They instinctively migrate to places where fresh grasses sprout after rain. The rest of the time they prefer to graze in the dark hours, when dead grass contains three times as much moistures as it does in daytime, absorbed from dew or fog or even direct from unsaturated air. They also dig up bulbs, tubers and roots for water. In season they consume wild melons and other fruit for their sappy flesh. Staying at the lodges in the Sossusvlei area will give you a chance to discover more about the special adaptations that animals and plants have made to living in the harsh desert conditions.
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Namibia Wildlife Tenebrionid Beetles are our personal favourites. These Beetles live on wind blown debris, but this plant matter contains very little moisture. So the Tenebrinoid Beetles of the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei area have developed a variety of methods for collecting water; one of the species digs trenches or furrows that collect the fog that rolls in off the Atlantic, another species climbs to the top of a dune or rise and raises its abdomen onto which the fog condenses the droplets rolling down its body to be swallowed once they reach the mouth. Another crafty critter conserves mosisture by hitching a lift on another of the species as the move across the dunes.
