Endless Horizons of Yellow Ochre and Orange Dunes
THE Namib Desert - with its lunar landscape and towering sand dunes - is the main reason many travelers include Namibia on their Southern African safari.
Believed to be the oldest desert in the world, the Namib holds a mystical allure, and is surprisingly the home to some resilient creatures, and the occasional surreal-looking plant which has made the area its habitat. The easiest way to access the desert is via direct charter from Windhoek Eros, but there are also land transfers into the Namib-Naukluft Park. Either way, a fascinating adventure awaits the traveler. At Sesriem, the Tsauchab River disappears down a deep gorge in the plain leaving pools of water where many animals gather, while the oasis of Sossusvlei is a sea of sand dunes towering 300m (1000 ft) high, stretching as far as the eye can see. This truly beautiful place is home to numerous water birds in the rainy season and antelope and ostrich during the dry winter months.
A unique way to experience the magical beauty of the Namib is by hot air balloon - soaring above the golden sands of this treasured wilderness. But back down on the warm sands, don't forget to take time out to reflect and ponder - and listen to the truly remarkable sounds of silence!
The Namib-Naukluft Park, at 49,768 sq km (19,215 sq miles), is the fourth-largest conservation area in the world.
