Africa

[Visited: July 1994, February 1995, July 1999]

Arguably the driest area in the world, the huge Namib desert also contains one of the most imaginative desert landscapes available - still largely untouched by man. The wind deposits the sand everywhere as it pleases. The contours of the dunes are constantly being redefined, always changing very sharp lines, waves, ribs, holes. Each dune shows a different shade of yellow, orange, and red. One is orange, the next salmon, another more like apricot, and the fourth golden. And these colours change with the movement of the sun.
But even more impressive is the environment, the complete picture. The dunes lie next to each other, complement each other, seem to effortlessly blend into each other. The colours are in a contant battle for contrast with the grey of the valley above which they rise. Near most dunes there are lonely trees, dusty, constantly struggling to survive against heat, drought, sand, wind, and the nibbling of animals.
I have rarely been in a landscape which provokes so many emotions. At the same time it is soft and sweet, merciless and harsh. The animals which roam these areas, are to be envied for their unlimited freedom, but pitied for their constant battle against the elements. At the end of each day, the colours of the dunes become intensely beautiful, deeper and deeper, until they suddenly disappear in the black night.

Around the World in 80 Clicks

Personal travel impressions both in words and images from Sesriem (Namibia). Clicking on the pictures enlarges them and enables you to send the picture as a free e-card or download it for personal use, for instance, on your weblog. Or click on the map above to visit more places close to Sesriem.
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