Friday, June 10, 2011

Sossusvlei - Sandbox For Adults

After a recent visit to Sossusvlei it was difficult to select only a few images from the more than 600 pics I took and, many of my favorites had to be abandoned.

There are zillions of spectacular pics from Sossusvlei online and all I could do for this post is try to show a representative sample from my visit:



Sossusvlei is about 70ks West of Sesriem.

The access road is the only stretch of tarred road for hundreds of kilometers.

Thank heavens it is tarred because, if it was gravel, the dust from all the vehicles using it would make the journey unbearable and ruin many photo-ops.



Sossusvlei is located in the Namib-Naukluft National Park and visitors are only allowed into the area between sunrise and sunset.

Springbok, Oryx and Ostrich are common along the road and, despite the arid conditions, many weird and wonderful creatures survive here.



If you're into pastel shades and soothing contours this place will blow you away.

When I finally get around to painting the inside walls of my house I want to use a 'peachy' shade similar to these dunes.



Dune 45 is also known as 'the most photographed dune in the world' because of its unusually simple and fascinating shape and its proximity to the road.

It is 80 meters high and it is not very steep, so that it can easily climbed, which makes it convenient for visitors to stop and take pictures.



The obligatory 'Sossusvlei Dead Tree' picture. There are many dead Camel Thorn trees in the area and some of them must be hundreds of years old.


The last 7km to Sossusvlei is a sandy track and can only be reached by 4×4 Vehicles or on foot.

The rule when drving this stretch is 'Don't stop in the soft sand' - keep the vehicle moving until you reach solid ground.



Sossusvlei is the spot where the usually dry Tsauchab River is swallowed by the sand dunes which extend all the way to the Atlantic coast.

This year good rains fell in the Tsauchab's catchment zone and the pan was full - an unusual occurrence.


Visitors climb the large dune at Sossusvlei.


It's difficult to climb in the soft sand and in the heat I was content to sit under a shady tree and watch others sweat-it-out.


Ghost Dance.


Fairy Circles dot the side of a grass-covered dune - some of them have been put up for adoption.

It appears that the boffins have still not solved the mystery of their existence.

'In the oral myths of Himba people these barren patches are said to have been caused by the gods and/or spirits and natural divinities.'




On a sidenote: this week has seen record freezing temperatures in Namibia.

Rare Snow fell in this area and caused a sensation: - "Reports and photographs of the snowfall circulated rapidly and widely across the Internet and inboxes bulged with rare images depicting snow in areas usually associated with heat and dust, not biting cold and white blankets of snow."



Click on the 'location' map below to get a different perspective of the dunes.

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47 comments:

  1. Wow those photos are mind boggling, what a stunning area. The springbok look healthy enough despite the lack of grazing. I had a phone call from a friend yesterday to say that they had snow in Johannesburg. Maybe not quite so rare there but not common. Diane

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  2. Thanks Diane - it's impossible to really capture the beauty of this place ... it must be experienced ...

    ... it's been f-f-f-freeezing here this week and I don't have the right clothes for this weather ...

    ... I was planning to go camping at the Fish River Canyon tomorrow but I'm having second thoughts.

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  3. Great photos as usual. I showed the picture of that sand dune to my wife and she could not believe it was not CGI. I am beginning to realise that Namibia could be a great alternative to the costly safari's of South Africa.

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  4. As ever, stunning and the only way we will ever enjoy it is through your eyes and voice; thanks.

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  5. Thanks Calvin - I'm probably biased but I think that Namibia contains everything that the rest of Africa has to offer (except Tarzan type jungles) ... and more ...

    ... when you decide to visit, please let me know ...

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  6. Thanks Dave - you inspire me to continue blogging this amazing country ... thanks also for the email ...

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  7. fairy circles and peach colored sand. sounds like candy land :)
    and SNOW!!
    Amazing photos, have you ever tried to submit them to a magazine?

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  8. Hehe ... Candy Land is a good description Monica ... and many shades of peachy ... the snow is rare indeed ...

    Thank you, no ... I've not submitted any pics ...

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  9. How about creating a website for your photography..I understand the BS of dealing with selling oneself is not worth the bother..but a website , you could post all your photos..it would allow you archive ...something to think about..unless you already ahve done it

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  10. mmmm ... thanks Monica ... no, I hadn't thought in that direction ...

    ... I don't know what the hassle is, perhaps it's that I don't regard myself as a 'photographer' ...

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  11. What a wonderful pics you have made Graham. I really enjoyed and felt the heat also, so vivid! Thanks again for sharing them with us. You are a great photographer of landscapes, did you know that? Regards!

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  12. Thanks Oswaldo - I hope that someday you'll be able to visit and see these amazing landscapes for yourself ... it's just a short way across the sea from you ...

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  13. Jambo from Kenya! As always your photos are simply stunning. I enjoyed them all. Like you if I do get a chance to visit the dunes, I think I will sit under the shade of a tree while others climb, lol.

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  14. Thanks Penny - Kenya you say? ... I was wondering where you'd disappeared to ...

    ... I must confess that when a party of gorgeous young ladies started to climb the dunes I was tempted to follow them - it's a good thing I didn't because I might have collapsed in a heap and made a fool of myself ... :)

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  15. LOL...I can almost see you panting and collapsing behind a line up of beauties. Good thing you stayed dignified. Keep that camera close so you csn continue to bring us more of your beautiful Namibian landscapes. p.s. do you have any photos of the rare snowfall?

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  16. hopefully this isn't going to be posted twice - my comment that is - just lost the last one......

    But again.... your photos are great, wonderful being able to show the water in the pan. I also like the people shadows on the dune.

    I'm also biased and think eastern Southern Africa is spectacular - but then I haven't visited Namibia yet...
    Sue

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  17. I saw your name on Lonicera’s blog and came to visit. I am overwhelmed by your photos – what a place! I went to Africa a dozen times but never lower than Gabon. I’d like to go south sometimes and am not sure about where. I had not thought about Namibia but after looking at your photos …. I am placing it on my list.

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  18. hehe Penny, yes, that is not a pretty mental picture ... no, I did not see the snow myself and I deleted the mails I got with snow pics ...

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  19. Thanks Sue - I'm sure that you'll fall in love with Namibia ... I hope that when you do visit you'll be able to spend a few weeks or months exploring ...

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  20. Thanks for the visit and comment Vagabonde - I strongly encourage you to visit this part of Africa - you won't be disappointed ...

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  21. Driver's nightmare, photographer's dream... On my bucket list is to photograph perfect sand dunes in late afternoon (cos early morning ain't gonna happen).
    Caroline

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  22. MAGNIFICENT!

    Such stark beauty - not stark - just stark beauty - Beauty's essence!

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  23. Yeah, it's a great challenge driving here Caroline - if you don't get stuck ...

    ... perfect sand dunes abound here, even at sunset ... :)

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  24. stark beauty indeed Kat - one guy I quoted awhile ago said words to the effect that, in the desert, nothing interferes with your vision so you flow outward unfettered ...

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  25. That is a great observation! comment!

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  26. and I have always been partial to the lyrics ..... "in the desert you can remember your name 'cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain"



    A Horse With No Name Lyrics - America

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  27. I love the photos of the very small people climbing up the very big dune against the very blue sky. It puts us humans in perspective beautifully, I think. I like the color of Dune 45 too.

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  28. Yeah, that's one of my all time faves Kat ...

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  29. ... I spend a lot of time thinking about the first humans who lived here Inger, the San people, the first and last to be at one with Nature ...

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  30. Oh wow Graham, you live in such an amazing place and like Dave said, we wouldn't have realised that such beauty exists if without you. Thank you. And I dream of going to Africa some day, and Namibia specific.

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  31. Thank you Fazlisa - I hope that someday you will experience this country in person.

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  32. Fantastic photos! Always enjoy your travels!

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  33. Those sand dunes are spectacular!I think I would sit in the shade also and watch more the more foolhardy climb!
    We have fairy rings here which are usually rocky with hawthorn bushes, and farmers leave them alone and plough around them as it is considered very bad luck to interfere with them.

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  34. Yes, the dunes are awe-inspiring Peggy - there are hundreds of the fairy circles on the some of the dunes and nobody has been able to determine what causes them

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  35. Your photos are absolutely astounding - I love the way you have captured the colours. Would love to know more about those bald cicles....

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  36. hello graham, are you surviving winter?:)

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  37. Hey Graham! How are you doing there? Long time no see you! Have a good time, friend! Regards from Houston, Texas!

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  38. Thanks Jackie, yes, those Fairy Circles are very strange ...

    Hi Fazlisa - winter's been quite harsh so far - Black Frost destroyed many plants ...

    Hi Oswaldo - you must be on vacation in Texas?

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  39. Ha ha ha, not really Graham. I came for work until the end of the month. It is my seventh trip to Texas. There must be a link between this land and me. Good to know about you, friend!

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  40. long time no post.
    I see many agree that your photos are a joy to see. But honestly I enjoy the background story just as much. I would have never thought my blogging would allow me to interact with guy building a stone house in Namibia. all the best.

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  41. Hey Graham, haven't seen you post in awhile. I hope you get your mojo going :-) Seriously, I thought maybe you were away but I see you have commented recently. So just glad to know you are there. Hope you're keeping warm.

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  42. Hey Graham, long time since you posted. So you are experiencing winter?
    Last week the temperature soared to 46 celcius with the humidity..It felt like hell!!
    ..I wonder what winter is like in Namibia, how cold does it get?

    Take care
    Monica

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  43. Hey Oswaldo, lisleman, Penny and Monica - thanks for the comments Friends - I'm home building and my Internet connection seems worse than ever ...

    ... it's freaking cold here, unusually ... I heard about your heatwave in the North ... don't forget your Hats ... :)

    take care hey ... I hope to be bach in about three weeks ...

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  44. Fantastic photos!
    Coming to you from OceanGirl's site, Live High. You were one of her recommendations for the Pay it Forward blogfest.

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  45. Fantastic pictures! I found you from the blog hop (Oceangirl's post). Nice to meet you!

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  46. Thanks Alex and Lydia for your visit and also to Oceangirl for guiding you here ...

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