SOSSUSVLEI photography by keith carver

It is a very long trek to reach Sossusvlei, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of southwest Namibia. But once there, you have arrived at an enchanted place like none other. It is dominated by massive wind-sculpted sand dunes, some of the largest on Planet Earth . Their color ranges from orange at mid-day to vermillion in early morning or late afternoon. Sossusvlei is also the home of Deadvlei, an ancient hyperarid marsh with dessicated skeletal trees that have been there for over 800 years. In the dawn hours at Deadvlei, it feels like you have arrived on Planet Mars. The trip is worth it.

Oryx
Dune 45 is at the 45 km marker from the Sesriem Gate to Sossusvlei.
Dune 45 is a popular dune-climbers destination at Sossusvlei.
Nature photographer Yehudi Hernandez on the ridge of Dune 45

DEADVLEI

Originally formed as a shallow marsh from the Tsauchab River, Deadvlei was created when the sand dunes shifted to block off the river's waters over 1000 years ago. The sun-blackened skeletal camel thorn trees in Deadvlei are over 800 years old. Due to the hyperarid environment they have not decayed. Reaching Deadvlei is via a soft sandy trail, about 0.7 miles from the parking lot.

A hyperarid marsh with ancient skeletal sun-blackened trees over 800 years old
photographers at dawn
These camel-thorn trees died over 800 years ago
Big Daddy sand dune
A lone camel-thorn tree
Deadvlei clay tile floor
trudging over the sand dunes out of Deadvlei

photography by Keith Carver

with Nature's Tapestry 2016 Namibia tour

Credits:

©Keith Carver Photography

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