Namib-Naukluft National Park

Scenery is breathtaking almost everywhere.

Landscapes. The Namib Naukluft is all about landscapes. The colours of the sand dunes at sunrise, the rugged rock formations of the Kuiseb canyon and the ancient leaves of the Welwitchia plant all invite you to get out and explore this fascinating desert. My favourite place is Dead Vlei, where camelthorn trees that have been dead for 500 years stretch their black limbs towards an impossibly blue sky. The scene reminds me of a Dali painting and I am always double checking if their are any clocks draped over the tree branches.

Secluded. For real.

Rugged. Massive. It is sublime, to experience sunrise in the dunes. But step away from the sunrise crowds, and immediately one senses the weighty responsibility of survival in the Namib Naukluft. The adventure is in that risk, and the awareness of the desert subtlety. Wildlife exposes itself as rustles in the dark and morning tracks. There is much to be learned here.

Good wildlife, amazing scenery, nice people, good food.

Travelling alone I experienced the most wonderful experience on the senses in this Park.

For the past ten years I have travelled alone to some outstanding destinations and most where you would question if that was the right decision. Namibia opened up a huge new world that I had never experienced before. From the tarmac roads to dusty gravel roads that disappeared into the horizon; the route down to Namib Naukluft National Park was just a taster of the most wonderful sights.
I arose early before dawn and with haste headed of into the park to ensure that I was there to experience the sunrise. The sun rose to as a bright electric orange orb cresting over the dunes. Their dark shadows cast across the floor of the park whilst ostrich stirred shaking the sand from their wings and heading off to find more shade. The tourist balloons were up and in the stillness you could hear their chatter and the whoosh as the hot air filled the balloon and took them higher.
I drove further on and left the car in the designated area to be transported by 4 wheeled vehicles deeper to the bigger dunes and Sossusvlei.
Climbing along the ridge to the summit I was surprised how quiet and how few tourists were here but in the distance you could see more arriving. The sun by 10:00 was already high and burning the sand beneath my feet. To the left the parched trees and bushes were shade for more ostrich. To the right was the dried out water source, crusty and dusty underfoot with just a few soft patches where the sun didn't quite reach.
When I look back at my trip to Namibia this sticks very clearly in my mind. This truely is one of the wonders of Africa

Wildlife: Not a great diversity of game, or big numbers, but seeing Gemsbok, Ostrich and Sprinbok in stunning desert scenery was a major highlight.
Scenic beauty: Absolutely unique – wonderful mix of dunefields, rocky outcrops and dry riverbeds with massive acacias. The freedom to move between selected campsites on a self-drive safari was great.
Bush vibe: This park had more of a wilderness vibe that a bush vibe.
Birding: Birding around some of the waterholes (e.g. Ganab) was excellent in the mornings – Sand Grouse and very large groups of Ostrich in these areas.

Incredibly unique ecosystem full of endemic lizards etc... Spectacular mountains for walking and beautiful sand dunes. Home to two unparalleled spectacles: the sossusvlei and the deadvlei valleys.

Great landscape and desert driving. Some animals and lonely feeling.

The beauty of the desert and the dunes, and the well adapted wildlife as well as great guides