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Watching the sun rise from the top of the 120 metre high dune 45. So named because the dune is 45 kilometres away from Sesriem. Also managed to spot a lone gemsbok wandering across the plains below.

Canyonvlei which is totally dry now but which had fast rushing water in the distant past that gouged out up to 2 metre high canyons in the mud and sand of the pan.

Deadvlei was the former sossusvlei before the sands of the desert formed a wall and cut off the flow of water leaving the pan dry and lifeless. There are petrified trees left that are over 900 years old.

Sossusvlei is a clay pan in the middle of the desert that only has water in it after very heavy rainfall. The clay prevents the water draining away for some time but the scorching sun continually dries up the edges of the lake towards the centre and the desert sands will eventually move in and reclaim the pan. Jaquie and Lars were lucky enough to still see the vlei when it had a lot of water in it but the expectation was that it would be dry in three months.

Namib Desert Tips & Recommendations:

• Take your swimming costume with you if you are planning on camping at Sesriem. There is a pool of water at the bottom of the gorge (rain permitting) that you can swim in to provide a respite from the sometimes fierce heat.

• The most spectacular sunrises are to be found at the top of a sand dune so if you can stomach the early wake up call the experience is well worth it.