Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert rivals a visit to Etosha as the highlight of a Namibian safari. Surrounded by its distinctive dunes of red-orange sand, Sossusvlei is especially breath-taking in the early morning, when the dunes are transformed into explosions of colour by the first rays of the sun.

Typically you rise with the sun to see this exhilarating sight - some of the largest dunes in the world, rising more than 1000 feet above the desert. This is paradise for the photographer, as the shadows create a magnificent contrast of colours. Marvel at the gemsbok and other animals that manage to survive in these dry conditions. The energetic can climb one of the dunes such as Dune 45 or Big Daddy, for a panorama of the endless dune landscape and the changing play of light. Afterwards you may like to visit Sesriem Canyon. Unless you have your own 4x4 vehicle, you’ll need to join an organized excursion from your Sossusvlei lodge as the final approach is deep sand.