The drive to Sossuvlei is one of the most scenic drives we have had on the trip, once you hit the Kuiseb Canyon and drive through the pass, it is amazing….   the road is either sand or gravel and the quality is variable therefore you have to take it easy, which gives you time to see appreciate the view.

Our first thought on arrival at Sesriem, was OMG, it’s roasting hot !!!!!!  A sharp contrast from Swakopmund………..  We booked into Sossus Oasis and to our advantage the sites with private ablutions were full and they had to put us in the Over-spill camp (site 15).  What a win !!!   We were soon set up, enjoying some peace and quiet….  Not to mention some great views of the mountains and dunes.

The first day we took a drive to the 65 kms mark where the Bradts guide said you needed to take the shuttle to Dead Vlei, turns out you can actually drive there with the right vehicle.  We didn’t know this and had decided to walk the 5kms or so instead and do some birding en-route.  Whilst it was heavy going at times with the sand and sun, we had great fun watching vehicle after vehicle getting stuck in the sand.  And, we are proud to say – none were Land Rovers !!!!!  We suggested to everyone that they should let their tyre pressures down and stop revving the car to death as they were just digging in deeper.  The ones who took this advice managed to drive off, the ones who ignored us were still stuck there when we were on our way back – by shuttle this time….

We only found out that to see Dead Vlei you have to climb over the dunes.  By this time it was too hot and we decided to come back early the next day but to drive down.  There are two routes to Dead Vlei – an easier one, and one that is a hellavu climb……..   yup……. Andrew is very persuasive, ‘just think how scenic it will be’  so upwards and onwards we went !!!!    In case you think the dune wasn’t that high…check out the size of the people in the picture !!!!

Of course, what I forgot to take into consideration when my darling husband was being so persuasive was, that what goes up, must come down.  Again, there was an easy way and a hard way…   Or, as Andrew put it – a long way and a short way !!!!  Since he had dragged off his shoes and socks and headed down the short/hard way – I had no option but to follow suit. OMG – the short way did not seem all that short but it sure as hell was steep !!!!!!!!

Again, in case you think the short way was not that high, check out the picture Andrew took below.  Yup, that’s me at the top of the slope coming down !!!!!!  I was terrified but it sure was fun and I would do it again ……

All too soon, our time at Sossuvlei had come to an end and we made tracks for Aus or Luderitz.  If you haven’t guessed already, Sossusvlei is on our re-visit list !!!!!