After a long period of drought, Namibia was blessed with a very good rainy season in 2021. We wanted to follow and enjoy this special feature on our trip. Until now, we were lucky to find water even 3 months after the heaviest rains. Therefore, we cherished the hope to also experience water in the Namib. We should not be disappointed - both the Sesriem Canyon and the Sossusvlei held water for us!
Sesriem Rest Camp
Our next campsite was the Sesriem Rest Camp. We chose it because it is located within the Namib Nakluft National Park. This allows a very early departure in the morning to see the sunrise in Sossusvlei. Also the way to the Sesriem Canyon is pleasantly short.
Water in the Namib - Bathing in Sesriem Canyon
We spent the first day exploring Sesriem Canyon. Last we had experienced it without water and very dusty. The canyon is compared to the Fish River Canyon only a tiny, but is almost completely walkable. Normally it takes about 1-2 hours to explore the canyon carved into the rock by the Tsauchab River.
This time, however, a complete exploration was not possible. At least not on foot. Because also here waited beside juicy green above all also water in the Namib for us. Already in February we had seen pictures how locals bathed in the canyon. Exactly this pleasure was now also granted to us. Clear summary: to descend at 35°C into the shady Sesriem and to take a refreshing bath there, one should not miss at present!
Sossusvlei
Short info about Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is not only the namesake, but also the largest and best known of the vleis in Namib Nakluft National Park. In general, vleis are depressions where water collects when it rains. However, the vleis in the area of Sossusvlei are not only fed by the rain itself, but also by the Tsauchab River. This river runs dry in the vleis, stopped by the red sand barriers of the Namib dunes, which are up to 375m high. On pictures of the region one finds however most frequently the Deadvlei. Deadvlei itself is cut off from the Tsauchab River by the dunes and is therefore completely dry. The remains of vegetation, however, wait like unreal sculptures for the visitor's gaze.
Water in the Namib - in Sossusvlei could still be bathed
The next morning we started at 6.15 am in a queue of cars the good 65km in the direction of Sossusvlei. Here the last 4km are to be driven only with a 4x4 car - deep sand is to be crossed. Whether for the first or repeated time, the deep sand promises early in the morning its pure adrenaline!
Just in time for sunrise we started our hike towards Dead Vlei. Wonderful dawn slowly moved over the dark red dunes. In Dead Vlei the few surviving trees also greeted us with lush green. Slowly we worked our way up the dune behind which Hidden Vlei is hidden. When we reached the dune crest we could hardly believe our eyes - the Hidden Vlei was also full of water! Here, too, we were to find water in the Namib!
sunrise at Sossusvleiwater in the Hiddenvlei at SossusvleiSossusvlei dunes view from the top of a duneSossusvlei dunes in the morning lightentering the 4x4 area of the Sossusvleimorning fog at sunrise in Sossusvlei
After an extensive exploration and photo tour, we went back to our car. As it should be for such a morning, the breakfast utensils were unpacked. Cafe, eggs and bacon - this is what a typical Namibian breakfast in nature looks like!
Finally we drove the complete round through the Sossusvlei - also here were still many water places which invited to a bath.
breakfast at Sossusvleileftovers of the rain season at Sossusvleistorchs at Sossusvleioryx in front of the dunes at Sossusvlei
After the wedding traditionally follows a honeymoon. The destination was clear - Namibia! But how to plan a honeymoon as a self-drive camping safari in the current time? How do family and friends react to such a plan? How unproblematic is a trip to Namibia in times of COVID-19?
Curious?...
There are always two parts to traveling. The journey to the destination and the journey itself. With Namibia as a destination, the destination country is first considered safe. However, a flight is inevitable. This brings us to the point where many currently have reservations.
But what is flying really like in...
Almost every Namibia trip starts in Windhoek. So did the big safari honeymoon. However, in addition to the usual things that every other traveler experiences, there were a few more items on our itinerary. In sum, enough to spend a complete week in Windhoek. What exactly - you can read...
After spending our first week completely in Windhoek, it was time to go on the actual trip. According to our plan, the route should first go south. After a drive of about 3 hours on the well paved B1 we reached the Bagatelle Kalahari Desert Ranch near Mariental. Our first...
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