Tourism Guide Africa Travel Guide Oct - Dec 2018 Edition

2 km from Sossusvlei. A notable feature
of Deadvlei is that it used to be an oasis
with several acacia trees; afterwards,
the river that watered the oasis changed
its course. The pan is thus punctuated
by blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid
contrast to the shiny white of the salty
floor of the pan and the intense orange
of the dunes. This creates a particularly
fascinating and surrealistic landscape
that appears in innumerable pictures and
has been used as a setting for films and
videos.
Dune 45
Dune 45 lies 45 km past Sesriem on the
road to Sossusvlei. It is 80 meters high
and it is composed of 5-million-year-old
sands. Dune 45 is one of the biggest attractions
because of its location to the
road through the desert. It’s also one
of the most photographed dunes in the
world.
Hiddenvlei
Hiddenvlei is a 2km walk from the end
of the 2×4 track and the route is marked
with wooden polls. This vlei is the least
visited of all the vleis letting those who
make the journey enjoy some solitude in
the beautiful desert surroundings.
Solitaire
A tiny settlement at the intersection of
the C14 and C19, Solitare started as just
a single cottage in 1948. Christoffel van
Coller and his wife Elsie built the cottage
and aptly named it Solitaire due to its remote
location. Over the years a few more
facilities were added and today you will
find a filling station, a small shop, accommodation
and Big Moose’s Bakery.
Solitaire is only 83km north of Sesriem
Gate and, if only for a taste of Big Moose’s
Apple Strudel, is well worth a visit! Take a
seat outside of the bakery, in the shade of
the trees and feast on this exquisite treat,
while ground squirrels and weavers fight
over the crumbs that escape your fork.
Need to Know
Be careful as you drive so that you don’t
get stuck in the loose sand.
It can get very hot in summer so bring
along lots of water to keep yourself hydrated
and also have some sunscreen.
The dunes are very photogenic you will
need a good camera.
Don’t also miss an opportunity to ride in a
hot air balloon over the majestic Sossusvlei
dunes.
Accommodation
There are various accommodation providers
around Sossusvlei who cater for a
wide range of visitors. Whether you are a
discerning traveller looking for a luxurious
desert retreat with all of the conveniences
that your heart desires, or a family looking
for self-catering accommodation to
suit your budget, or you are feeling more
adventurous and looking for a campsite
on which to pitch your tent, there is an establishment
to suit your needs.
For accommodation options visit
http://www.sossusvlei.org/accommodation/
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