Namibia
August 2017
With Namibia just a day’s drive away from Cape Town, we thought we'd take an easy week exploring the south of the country. We started in the Richtersveld Transfrontier Park in South Africa and then crossed the border into Namibia. We headed up to Sossusvlei and from there we went on to NamibRand Nature Reserve and Fish River Canyon, before heading back down to Cape Town.
The Richtersveld Transfrontier Park straddles the border of South Africa and Namibia. Rugged and beautiful!
We set up camp on the banks of the Orange River.
The Orange River separating South Africa on the left and Namibia on the right.
Crossing the Orange river at Sendelingsdrift into Namibia
The famous orange dunes of Sossusvlei with an army of tourists making their way up to the top of Big Daddy dune.
The Big Daddy ascent begins! At 325m high, Big Daddy is one of the world’s tallest dunes.
Endless views of the oldest desert in the world from the top of Big Daddy dune.
Looking down onto Dead Vlei, which translates to dead marsh.
The Tsauchab River used to drain into here, nourishing desert life and even trees. But no longer. Some 900 years ago the climate dried up, and the dunes cut Dead Vlei off from the river.
The remaining skeletons of camel thorn trees, which are believed to have died 900 years ago. The intense sun has scorched them black, and because it is so dry the wood doesn’t decompose.
Onwards to Namibrand Nature reserve.
Perks from work, a few nights at Wolwedans Dune Camp.
We spent the day exploring the microfauna of the desert with our guide, Jason. An interesting bug had just dashed under the car…
Jason, pro footballer turned safari guide.
An oryx spotted on the horizon.
Amazing how these creatures are at home in the dry and arid landscape.
These mysterious bare circles in the sand dot the landscape. Numerous scientists have researched the circles but no one has yet been able to ultimately determine their cause or purpose. So they have become known as Fairy circles!
One last dune hike, but this time on horses!
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