Namib-Naukluft National Park

We found ourselves somewhere in the southern Namib, the oldest desert on Earth. At the crack of dawn, we went to Sesriem to enter the splendid Namib Naukluft National Park and it's amazing 50,000 square km. expanse. We started at the foot of a vast sea of sand, the same one we saw from the window of our Cessna only days before. It makes you feel small, insignificant, and lost in a universe dominated by gigantic dunes hundreds of feet high.

The dunes seem alive, slithering and changing their shape in the wind and forming whimsical formations. The Sossusvlei dunes also change their color with the changing rays of sun, reflecting in an infinite array of chromatic glory ranging from deep orange to fiery, extraterrestrial red. Your eyes scan the horizon looking for movement, but there's nothing. Our guide, though, assured us that the dunes were home to hundreds of small and unique creatures that have adapted to this harsh climate.

There's nothing better than enjoying a good freshly-brewed coffee in the Namib desert while the sun is slowly slipping below the horizon. Sosussvlei is one of the most-visited places in Namibia and perhaps also the most photographed. You can escape from the "camps" before dawn and head down the road at night (fun!) and safely choose a place to plant your stove, make our coffee, and prepare to enjoy the show!