Namib Desert - Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei

The red sand dunes near Sossusvlei, Namibia are the oldest and tallest in the world, some towering over 1000 feet from trough to crest. The environment here is extremely harsh, hot and bone dry. During our October visit, springtime in Namibia, temperatures were around 45 degrees Fahrenheit at night and rose to well over 90 degrees by noon.

Large Image: Dune 45 at Sunrise (1) Dune 45 at Sunrise (1)
Dune 45 at Sunrise (1)
Large Image: Namib Dune Ridge (1) Namib Dune Ridge (1)
Namib Dune Ridge (1)
Large Image: Dune 45 Ridge Walk (1) Dune 45 Ridge Walk (1)
Older couple, man and woman, walking along sand dune ridge, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Namibia
Large Image: Dune 45 Ridge Walk (2) Dune 45 Ridge Walk (2)
Older couple, man and woman, walking along sand dune ridge, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Namibia
Large Image: Dune Ridge Walk (3) Dune Ridge Walk (3)
Couple walking along sand dune ridge, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Namibia
Large Image: Dune Silhouette Dune Silhouette
Dune Silhouette
Large Image: Acacia Tree and Dune Acacia Tree and Dune
Acacia tree at base of sand dune, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert
Large Image: Dead Tree and Dune Face, Dead Vlei Dead Tree and Dune Face, Dead Vlei
Dead Tree and Dune Face, Dead Vlei
Large Image: Twisted Acacia Tree and Dune, Deal Vlei Twisted Acacia Tree and Dune, Deal Vlei
Twisted Acacia Tree and Dune, Deal Vlei
Large Image: Lone Tree, Dead Vlei Lone Tree, Dead Vlei
Lone Tree, Dead Vlei
Large Image: Dune Face Abstract, Dead Vlei Dune Face Abstract, Dead Vlei
Dune Face Abstract, Dead Vlei
Large Image: Dead Vlei Trees (1) Dead Vlei Trees (1)
Dead Vlei Trees (1)
Large Image: Dead Vlei Trees 2 Dead Vlei Trees 2
Dead Vlei Trees 2
Large Image: Namib Dunes Namib Dunes
Namib Dunes
Large Image: Dune Shadows 2 Dune Shadows 2
Dune Shadows 2
Large Image: Dead Vlei Dead Vlei
Dead Vlei
Large Image: Trekking to Dead Vlei Trekking to Dead Vlei
Group of people trekking through desert sand dunes toward Dead Vlei, Namib Desert, Namibia
Large Image: Dune Trekking, Namib Desert Dune Trekking, Namib Desert
Dune Trekking, Namib Desert
Large Image: Dune Ridge Footprints Dune Ridge Footprints
Dune Ridge Footprints
Large Image: Dead Vlei Mineral Deposits Dead Vlei Mineral Deposits
Dead Vlei Mineral Deposits
Large Image: Dune Trekkers Leaving Dead Vlei Dune Trekkers Leaving Dead Vlei
Dune Trekkers Leaving Dead Vlei, Namib Desert, Namibia
Large Image: Dune Shadows 1 Dune Shadows 1
Dune Shadows 1
Large Image: Namib Dune Ridge (2) Namib Dune Ridge (2)
Namib Dune Ridge (2)
Large Image: Sun-baked Dry Lake Bed, Dead Vlei Sun-baked Dry Lake Bed, Dead Vlei
Sun-baked Dry Lake Bed, Dead Vlei
Large Image: Tok-Tokkie Beetle Tok-Tokkie Beetle
Tok-Tokkie Beetle
Large Image: Safari Truck at Sossusvlei Safari Truck at Sossusvlei
All terrain vehicle, safari truck, Landrover with driver and woman, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Namibia
Large Image: Thorn Bush with Fruit 1 Thorn Bush with Fruit 1
Thorn Bush with Fruit 1
Large Image: Thorn Bush with Fruit 2 Thorn Bush with Fruit 2
Thorn Bush with Fruit 2
Namib Desert Galleries: Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei | Ballooning | Namib-Naukluft Park