21.08.2021: Namib desert
After yet another absolutely outstanding breakfast 🍳🥓☕️🥣, we hit the road again. Today’s plan: around 350 km of tarmac and gravel — roughly a 30/70 split — heading for Sossusvlei and the world’s oldest desert, the Namib.
It turned into a long drive, but every single kilometer was worth it. The reward came in the form of endlessly changing landscapes and regions, each more striking than the last. And once again, our accommodation couldn’t have been better placed. The chalets are built in gentle half-circles, all facing the first dunes of the Namib — pure desert poetry.
We briefly — very briefly 🥶🥶🥶 — tested the pool, then spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing poolside, soaking in the stillness.
Dinner, however, was something truly special: a beautiful, mouthwatering grill buffet under the open desert sky. A perfect ending to an already unforgettable day 🤩
22.08.2021
During the night, we were all jolted awake by strong winds — and unfortunately, they showed no mercy by morning. Still, today was the day: off to the world-famous Deadvlei, with its preserved camelthorn trees standing in a white clay pan, framed by the glowing red dunes of the Namib.
I’d been looking forward to this for a long time. But that’s nature — it does exactly what it feels like doing 🤷🏼♂️. And that, too, is Africa: raw, unpredictable, shaped by powerful natural forces. Before we knew it, we found ourselves right in the middle of a desert storm.
Not something that would stop us. So despite the fierce wind, we climbed the iconic Dune 45 💪🏼. The view up there had something truly special — dramatic, intense, and unforgettable. We stood there happy, windswept, and very much alive.
Next stop: Deadvlei itself. Same story, same conditions 🤷🏼♂️ — but honestly, it didn’t matter. Even wrapped in a desert storm, this place remains magical and hauntingly beautiful.
To finish the day, we took a walk through Sesriem Canyon — a perfect, grounding end to a wild desert adventure.
