The morning demands an early start. A cup of coffee or tea before departure and our day's adventure beckons, as we want to experience the day awakening offering grand views onto the dunes en-route to Sossusvlei. Even a morning grouch will be delighted by what is to follow. Entering the Namib Naukluft National Park shortly after sunrise, the first rays of sunlight paint the mountains of sand into a colour variety of apricot, red and orange, contrasted against a crisp blue skyline, enrapturing our senses, and providing an opportunity to capture this awesome landscape on film. You will be captivated by the surreal Deadvlei surrounded by some of the highest dunes on earth and Sossusvlei, where the dry Tsauchab River ends abruptly amongst dunes. Take the opportunity to walk up one of these majestic dunes to admire the desert landscape beneath. The mostly dried white vleis compete in dramaturgy with the red dunes and deep blue skies, with gnarled and weathered camelthorn trees in Deadvlei providing the essential contrast. After going up onto the dunes you descend over rocks into the Sesriem Canyon. Anyone who did not know that the canyon was here would easily miss this 30-meter deep and one kilometre long canyon carved out by the Tsauchab River. Early settlers had to bind six (Ses) Lether straps (rieme) together to reach the water at the bottom of the canyon. Speaking of water - a welcoming keyword in this desert heat! A welcoming and refreshing pool or a cooling drink filled to the rim with ice cubes awaits us back at the lodge. Back at the lodge, we unwind and recapture the day's experiences.
Meal
Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Sossusvlei
Your Accommodation
Kwessi Dune Lodge
At Kwessi Dunes, you'll find 12 cool and comfortable (and air-conditioned) chalets all with canvas walls and thatched roofs. Each bedroom has a separate "star gazer" room, completely open to the sky, and the perfect spot from which to watch the celestial theatre show above. Views from the rooms, the main area and the swimming pool are of the vast, desert vistas and when you can bear to tear your eyes away, enjoy quad biking, scenic drives and walks, hot air ballooning, helicopter flights, horse riding and day trips to Sossusvlei.
