The highest sand dunes in the world are to be found in the spectacular Namib desert in Namibia. The highest of these dunes reach up to a giddy 300 metres which makes them one of the true wonders of the natural world. The area where the dunes are found is called Sossusvlei and this is Namibia’s number one tourist attraction.
The place has an immense beauty with just miles upon miles of nothing but enormous sand dunes. The stark beauty of the place is best captured at either dawn or dusk as this is when the light colours the dunes in the most dramatic fashion. The dunes are often turned blood red by the setting sun making them even more incredible and a wonderful subject for photographers and artists. The whole area (and much of the rest of Namibia) has a such a barren, dry and other-worldly atmosphere that it is truly unique.
Some of these dunes are star dunes which means that the dunes descend in a star shape due to the air currents around them. Most are wave or ridge patterns that run in a north-west to south east direction. The dunes of the Namib desert have developed over a period of many millions of years. Vast quantities of sand were deposited into the Atlantic by the nearby Orange river which flows through the Kalahari Desert. The Benguela current off the coast then brought the sand back onto land and is continues to be moved further and further inland by the Atlantic onshore winds. The wind is continually shaping and re-shaping the dunes by forcing the sand on the flatter windward slope upwards to the crest of the dune. From the crest they fall down in the lee of the wind and this makes their distinctive shape with leeward slope always considerably steeper than the windward side.
The local name for one of the biggest slopes is Big Mama and from the top you can enjoy some spectacular views. The bottom is the famous Dead Vlei whose blackened camelthorn trees stand out dramatically against the sand and make an iconic image of the desert. There is not much wildlife to be seen here due to the 40 degree heat during the day and the below freezing temperatures at night-time. However you can catch a glimpse of jackals, springbok, oryx and ostrich as well as plenty of birds and lizards.
The dunes of Sossusvlei are just one small part of this fascinating country. We will look at other highlights in Namibia in the future including the stunning Skeleton Coast, rugged Damaraland and Etosha National Park to name but a few.
