April 21st - Sossusvlei/Deadvlei

 Up before dawn so that we hit the time the gate opens. 

This is pure desert time with spectacular dunes. The red colour indicates how ancient this desert is as it takes a long time for the iron ore particles to oxidise - the oldest dunes are 5 million (give or take). The redder the dune, the older it is. 

The actual desert is 55 million years old. Dunes begin as a small bush. No bush = no dune. Every dune in Namibia has a plant at its base. 

Seeing the dunes from the air seems popular.
Big Daddy - the highest of the dunes.
Yes, those are people climbing it.
Jack - wondering whether to climb it.




These camel thorn trees are thought to be 900 years old. The atmosphere is too dry for the dead wood to rot so they remain, petrified.
There is life here.
Sesriem canyon. It used to be 3/4 full of water in the wet season. When we visited, it was completely dry.


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