The Dunes (1)

The dunes are like a gigantic beach, and spark a curious question: where does all that sand come from ?
The shifting, dancing sand is a product of both weathering and erosion, originating mostly from the South African hinterland, which are transported to the Atlantic Ocean via the Orange River.



The north-flowing Benguela current then returns the sediment by the powerful ceaseless waves crashing onto Namibia's Diamond Coast.
There it is dried and further thrown inland by the ubiquitous southwesterly winds.
Like other minerals, the desert sand slowly begins to oxidize.
The tiny quartz particles beginning pale, carry iron particles that very, very slowly begin to oxidize.
The coloration begins to change, and the oldest of the dunes turn to deeper shades of red; red with rust.

http://magicnamibia.blogspot.com

http://magicbotswana.blogspot.com

http://magicsouthafrica.blogspot.com

http://magicmadagascar.blogspot.com

http://magicmozambique.blogspot.com

http://magiadinamibia.blogspot.com

http://vagabondoinafrica.blogspot.com

The Sand Sea

Once in sight of the dunes, it is mind boggling to see what the popular conception of a 
desert is.
The dunes stretch, reach, tumble, and drift across the open nothingness along the Atlantic coast.
Covering 34,000 sq. km and extending from the Kuiseb River southwards to Luderitz, lay the sea of sand.



Beneath the younger sands is an ancient desert believed to have formed some 65 million years ago, eventually becoming petrified between dispersed times of moisture and drought.
These fossilized dunes are easily seen in areas of the NamibRand Nature Reserve and in the proclaimed Sossusvlei area.

http://magicnamibia.blogspot.com

http://magicbotswana.blogspot.com

http://magicsouthafrica.blogspot.com

http://magicmadagascar.blogspot.com

http://magicmozambique.blogspot.com

http://magiadinamibia.blogspot.com

http://vagabondoinafrica.blogspot.com

The Oldest Desert

When compared with the Sahara, the Namib is extremely small.
The Sahara is ten times the size of Namibia and thirty times the size of the Namib.

The Namib is one of the world's most diverse deserts in terms of plant and animal life.
One in every five species in the Namib is endemic, including the ancient Welwitschia plant.



There are four broad types of landscapes to be found: the great sand dune (commonly referred to as the sand sea), the gravel plains, the ephemeral riverbeds, and the inselbergs, or island mountains.

Life in the desert is controlled by the infrequent, unpredictable and isolated downpours that quickly get soaked up by the toughest of life in desperate need for water.

http://magicnamibia.blogspot.com

http://magicbotswana.blogspot.com

http://magicsouthafrica.blogspot.com

http://magicmadagascar.blogspot.com

http://magicmozambique.blogspot.com

http://magiadinamibia.blogspot.com

http://vagabondoinafrica.blogspot.com

Namib-Naukluft National Park

The Namib-Naukluft National Park is rich in biodiversity, size and attractions.
It is not only one of the oldest deserts in the world, but is Namibia's most versatile area of conservation home to magnificent sand dunes, the gravel plains, and the isolated Erongo Mountains.



Totaling 50.000 sq. km. of protected desert wilderness, its main feature, Sossusvlei, attracts visitors from around the world.
The word "Namib", Nama in origin meaning the "land of our ancestors", contradicts our general perceptions of a desert as a dry, unihabited place with extreme temperatures.

 

In fact, the Namib was once inhabited by peoples and continues to be so with animals today.
Parts of the Namib can even be cultivated where soil and water are found.
The word "Naukluft" owes its name to the seasonal Tsondab River that, over thousands of years, had eroded and cut a gorge through the Naukluft range during the more humid times in its history.

First named by Afikans farmers as Nou Kloof (Narrow Gorge), it later took its present name Naukluft during Germany's reign.

http://magicnamibia.blogspot.com

http://magicbotswana.blogspot.com

http://magicsouthafrica.blogspot.com

http://magicmadagascar.blogspot.com

http://magicmozambique.blogspot.com

http://magiadinamibia.blogspot.com

http://vagabondoinafrica.blogspot.com

Skeleton Coast, Accomodation, Skeleton Coast Camp

The camp is run by Wilderness Safaris and reservations need to be booked through them or an agent, as they are the only concessionaire permitted to host lodging in this restricted northern section of the park.

In fact it is only accessible by plane.



Wilderness Safaris has flights every Wednesday and Friday, so a minimum stay of 4 days is required.
The camp has 6 Meru-style tents with spacious bedrooms.
A lounge, bar, and dining area are also on site.



If the weather permits, enjoy your evening meals beneath the old gnarled leadwood tree.
Enjoy the solitude, nearby seal colonies, towering dunes, and diverse wildlife including the desert elephant.

www.wilderness-safaris.com

http://magicnamibia.blogspot.com

http://magicbotswana.blogspot.com

http://magicsouthafrica.blogspot.com

http://magicmadagascar.blogspot.com

http://magicmozambique.blogspot.com

http://magiadinamibia.blogspot.com

http://vagabondoinafrica.blogspot.com

Skeleton Coast, Accomodation, Cape Cross Lodge

This Dutch style hotel has 20 elegant rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Choose between courtyard or sea front views, only meters from the ocean.



The sea front rooms boast balconies overlooking the cold Atlantic waters.
All rooms have huge bay windows.

The location makes for an easy morning or evening stroll to the seal colony.

www.capecross.org

http://magicnamibia.blogspot.com

http://magicbotswana.blogspot.com

http://magicsouthafrica.blogspot.com

http://magicmadagascar.blogspot.com

http://magicmozambique.blogspot.com

http://magiadinamibia.blogspot.com

http://vagabondoinafrica.blogspot.com