When arriving at Sossusvlei we may explore the big loam-pan on our own. As a second opportunity we could go up another dune to look condescendingly at the Vlei. After the strain on dune 45 we were content with staying on the bottom and climbed over a little sand-rampart to a depression.

Now and then the river Tsauchab floods the Vlei and establishes the base of life for the few animals and plants. But the most time there is drought in the depression and only the bushes which have deep roots and camel-brambles can reach the ground water. So we are soon getting to the cracked, pale-grey and at the same time very hard loamy-ceiling.

Many withered trees proof how bad the living conditions are here. And still we find black beetles at the Vlei which crawl apparently aimless over the loam-pan. Like on dune 45 the wind lashes the loose sand over the dunes. Now and then land spouts are formed which bring red grains over the Sossusvlei to our feet.
Where ever a small hindrance is, a hassock, maybe stone, sand heaps are formed. Backwards the low-rooted marram grass can make it to settle the enormous dunes.

We think it is nice that at the Sossusvlei we have enough time for a long walk after the only short residence at the Quiver Tree Forest and the Fish River Canyon Park. So we are able to enjoy and assimilate the tour better.
At the same time the Vlei is so big that the most time we didn’t meet anybody and are able to explore the landscape unhurriedly. At least till we are back at the starting point. There namely a big colony of bayas is settling which are making always for amusement and shortening our waiting time for the jeep.

<<< back - next >>>