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Sossusvlei, a clay pan in the central Namib Desert, is known for the high, red sand dunes which surround it forming a major sand sea. Vegetation is watered by infrequent floods of the Tsauchab River, which slowly soak into the underlying clay. More moisture comes in as a fog off the Atlantic Ocean than falls as rain.
The winds that bring in the fog are responsible for creating the towering sand dunes, whose burnt orange color is a sign of their age. The orange color develops over time as iron in the sand is oxidized, like rusty metal; the older the dune, the brighter the color. These dunes are the tallest in the world, in places rising to almost 1,000 feet above the desert floor. The dunes taper off near the coast, and lagoons, wetlands, and mudflats located along the shore attract hundreds of thousands of birds.
A surprising collection of creatures survive in the hyper-arid region, including snakes, geckos, unusual insects, hyenas, gemsboks and jackals.
Photography in the early morning is particularly stunning as the rich reds and dark shadows of the dunes bring to life the extraordinary vista of the Namib Desert. Walks in the immense moving sand dunes are popular as well as game drives to sight animals such as springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox and aardwolf in this rugged area.
In addition to the following safaris, we can create a customized safari for you.
9 Nights/10 Days — Discoverer Tented Safari
Featuring Etosha National Park, Hoanib River Area and Damaraland
12 Nights/13 Days — Discoverer Tented Safari
Featuring Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, and Etosha National Park
9 Nights/10 Days — An Adventurer Exploration
Featuring Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, and Etosha National Park
