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The access road from Sessriem to the Sossusvlei (Sossus means "blind river" in the Nama language, Vlei in Africaans stands for sink) is paved, but it ends about 5 km before the actual destination in a large parking lot . If you are not only traveling with an off-road vehicle, but can also drive in the sand with it, you can do the remaining kilometers by motor. For everyone else there is a shuttle service as an alternative, which should also be used if you are not sure about your driving skills in the sand. We passed some stuck 4X4 off-road vehicles with our Hilux on this route ...
After hiking through the Sossusvlei, the dry bed of the Tsauchab River, the desert in nearby Deadvlei shows its menacing side. A clay-salt pan has formed here, which is surrounded by mighty sand dunes. This vlei has long been separated from the water of the Tsauchab by a large sand dune. Many camel thorn trees that died hundreds of years ago show that there was once water here. The extreme dryness of the desert has preserved them and preserved them as silent witnesses. They are impressive as photo motifs and they can also produce a very special effect when shooting at night with the Milky Way in the background. (Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures at night but other photographers were more successful).
At the edge of the Dead Vlei is the “Big Daddy” elevation, which is probably the highest sand dune in the world at 300 meters above sea level. If you are in good shape, you can climb "Big Daddy" - but to master 300 vertical meters in the sand and in the heat is no small matter and, above all, costs time. The ascent can then take up to two hours and there is no ice cream seller waiting upstairs. If you are going to take photos in this area of the Namib, you have to prepare well and it is best to decide in advance which motifs are to be created, because after all you only have daylight available. After exploring the Dead Vlei, the clock slowly ticked for us, because before sunset you have to be back in Sesriem, where you were registered at the entrance. So the ascent of the "Big Daddy" dune was unfortunately for us, also the views from the dune level should be wonderful - maybe a reason to come again.
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