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If you’re looking for a life-changing desert safari experience, Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft National Park should be on your list. The park encompasses some of the world’s most iconic desert landscapes, including towering red dunes and expansive salt pans, offering landscapes perfect for photographic safaris. Far from barren, the Namib Desert is home to a stunning array of desert-adapted plant and animal life.
Must-Visit Areas in Namib-Naukluft National Park
This national park is a must-visit for photographers. The unique landscapes are truly stunning sights to behold:
Sossusvlei: Climb Famous Dunes
Sossusvlei is Namibia’s most visited attraction due to its landscape of undulating burnt orange and apricot-coloured dunes towering above the desert floor. The world’s tallest dunes can be found here. Climb them for spectacular views of the region. Dune 45 is one of the most famous and climbed dunes, measuring in at 170 m/557 ft. Big Daddy is a towering 325 m/1,066 ft tall and rises above the Deadvlei.
Deadvlei: Photographer’s Dream
Deadvlei, located within Sossusvlei, is a white clay pan famous for its desiccated trees. Formed when the Tsauchab River flooded, the trees grew thanks to the abundance of water. The change of climate and the water drying up caused the trees to desiccate instead of decompose.
These dead camel thorn trees are estimated to be over 900 years old and are fascinating subjects for photographers. The contrast between the black trees, white pans, red dunes, and blue sky is a striking image.
Sesriem Canyon: Unique Geological Formations
Sesriem is a natural canyon that was carved by the Tsauchab River millions of years ago that’s worth exploring due to the stunning rock formations. Early Afrikaans explorers in the region named the canyon; they had to use six (“ses”) belts (“riem”) tied together to create a rope to lower buckets into the canyon to collect water.
When’s the Best Time to Visit Namib-Naukluft National Park
The dry winter months (May to September) are the best time to visit Namib-Naukluft National Park; the weather is cooler and there is little to no rainfall, making this time of the year ideal for desert exploration. Winter temperatures in Namibia hover around 28 degrees Celsius/82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Animals Found in Namib-Naukluft National Park
The desert-adapted wildlife you can spot here includes Hartmann’s mountain zebras, gemsboks, and springboks. Other species you may find are klipspringers, baboons, meerkats, and hyenas. There are also over 250 species of birds and many reptiles present. Birders can look out for the Monteiro’s hornbill, Augur buzzard, and Lappet-faced vulture.
How to Get to Namib-Naukluft National Park
Namib-Naukluft is approximately a four- to five-hour drive via transfer from Windhoek. There are nearby airstrips that accommodate charter flights for quicker access.
