Overland Cape to Vic Falls

Day 5 – 230 km

Day 5 is the day. We wake up before dawn and rush to Dunes Sea of Sossusvlei. We hike a 145 m high Dune 45 and watch the sunrise of the dune’s rim. Unbelievable sunrise of the huge red sun, unbelievable setting among orange dunes. This place is absolutely out of this world. My tries to capture “it” are nothing more than pathetic.




After breakfast we ride 15 km further into the park. We leave our overland truck for 4x4 and drive to the parking lot, from which a 1.5 km hike to Deadvlei (dead or dry lake) begins.

The contrast of white cracked bottom, black trees, orange dunes and bright blue sky has been capturing my imagination for quite sometime now. The place is surreal. I just took my sandals off and walked on the cracked bottom for an hour until the sun was just unbearable.

Sossusvlei is the paradise for professional photographers. I have seen the magic photo collections from the dunes. Maybe one day I will come back and see them properly.







Early in the afternoon we arrive to the smallest town in Namibia – Solitaire. It has a lodge, a gas station and a store with a postbox. Even the smallest town has its very personal landing strip of Solitaire International.



Day 6 – 290 km

We are already used to getting up in the dark, taking down the tents and leaving the campsite with the first rays of sunrise. The best time to travel (or hike or take pictures) is between 5:30 am and 10 am when shadows are long, light breeze cuddles your cheeks and the sun does not burn your skin. After 10 am the heat makes you dizzy and the quest for the shade begins.

We see oryx, springbok, zebras and a huge family of baboons – they too are avoiding the midday heat and only visible early in the morning (or afternoon).

Gorgeous Oryx that can survive without water for 20 years



Today we are leaving Namib-Naukluf National Park area crossing the Tropic of Capricon and driving through a beautiful Kuiseb Canyon. In the afternoon we arrive to Swakopmund on the Atlantic Ocean, the third largest city in Namibia with 30,000 people!