Namib Desert

We have left Cape Town and are travelling on a 12 day camping tour of Namibia.

Namibia is a North-Western neighbour of South Africa. It is a former German colony, but gained self-rule in the 1990's. There is only 2 million people and lots of open space. The cities seem wealthy and have many people of European origin (mostly Dutch and German).

Interestingly, the country is one of the driest in Africa, including the Saharan region. It has a classic West coast climate where cool ocean currents inhibit the creation of rain-bearing winds. Namibia is home to the Namib and Kalahari Deserts.

We left Cape Town on an overcast day. The temperatures were in the low twenties and it was raining on and off. Two days and 400 kms later we are in a baking desert, looking at 300 metre sand dunes and wilting in the 37 degree heat (and this is Spring!).

Take a tour with us through the Namib Desert:

Our tour group - spot the old couple in the picture. Now spot the tour guide.

A shy oryx

Us, at the second largest canyon in the world (Fish River Canyon). I wonder what the third largest is?

Desert plains in the evening sun

Desert lookout

Some of the red sand dunes

Des on top of Dune 45

Just love the effect of wind, sand and sun on nature

Dune 45 - a tough climb

The Sossusflei sand dunes

Dry and barren

Three U.S. tourists taking Movember a little too far!

And this was around noon

The beauty of the desert (the large tree is a quiver tree)

A great location for a camp site

The stony valley floor, surrounded by sand dunes

Another sunset shot (it is a herd of oryx in the foreground)

Despite the oppressive conditions, there is a diverse range of plants, insects, mammals and reptiles. The environment works in balance, except when people interfere with it. God is so talented!