5th October 2009

Leaving Swakopmund, we head south to meet the Atlantic Ocean at Walvis Bay. Continuing our journey we enter the Namib Naukluft Park in one of the oldests deserts in the world. Our base is Sesriem, and a short distance away is Sossusvlei, surrounded by a dramatic sea of sand dunes reputed to be the highest in the world, some over 300m high. There were magnificent views of the desert from the top of the dunes. We had a guided tour on foot from Sossus on Foot who gave us a glimpse into the cultural legacy of the San people, geology and history of the area, flora and fauna. We walked to the Dead Vlei which was formed when the nearby Tsauchab River flooded, forming several shallow pools that eventually receded when the climate changed. The water was present long enough for Camelthorn trees to take root. Dead Vlei hasn't flooded in living memory and the specter trunks are nearly 1,000 years old. The extreme aridity of the desert prevents them from decomposing. The towering dunes which rise on every side of the parched runway are believed to be the world's tallest.

All the dunes are numbered. We climbed up dune 17 with a bottle of red and watched the sunset on Dune 45. Dune 45 is a star dune in the park and its name comes from the fact that it is at the 45th kilometre of the road that connects the Sesriem gate and Sossusvlei. A truly memorable experience.