Spotlight: Namib Desert, Namibia

By: Collins Odogwu

Photo credit: Luca Galuzzi (feature)

Photo credit: Paul Watson (Main)

There are a few national treasures of this kind on the African continent. With the same awe that the Grand Canyon instills in visitors in the United States, the Namib desert, which is recorded as the oldest desert in the world, exceeds every expectation. Maybe it is the orange sand dunes or the lunar landscape encompassing over 19305 Sq Miles, or its vast lands which never seem to end, or perhaps, it is the deep blue hues in the sky at dusk.

The initial thought would be to associate its unique desert like features to a remote and completely arid and uninhabited area. However, animals, insects, and plants have adopted Namib as their home, deriving most of their water from sea mists that roll far inland. It is an incredible ecological process, and the beauty of its complexity in adding to the planet’s ecosystem is captivating.

In your pilgrimage through the journey of self-actualization it is recommended to take a moment to kickoff the shoes and equipped with just the bare necessities on your feet, plunge into the hot soft sand, and experience this world wonder. That is probably the only way to make it to the top of the steep dunes unrelenting and unforgiving of the over-accessorized appendages.
 

A few things a typical visitor would come across in the desert:

• Waking up to some of the largest and brightest coloured sand dunes in the world at Sossuslvei.
• Photographing the landscapes curves and forms, where a bad picture is almost impossible.
• Coming across the ‘picture postcard’ Oryx antelope standing by a lone dead tree in the undulating desert.
• Flying over an endless rippling desert in a small private aircraft or hot air balloon.

Making this trip through this vast seeming ecosystem is incredibly recommended, and almost like pieces in a puzzle, your role in the grand scheme of things begin to make sense.

Take the time out to seriously consider Namibia and the Namib-Naukluft National Park for your next visit, I guarantee you will not be let down.
 

Here is to our spotlight National Park, A true jewel in the crown of Africa, The Namib Desert!

For official travel stories and an inside look into its sights and sounds visit: http://www.namibiatourism.com.na/