BIRDING THE ANCIENT NAMIB
6 NIGHTS
NAMIBIA
ALL YEAR
In mesmerizing Sossusvlei, diverse bird species adapt amid towering red dunes. Transitioning to the legendary Skeleton Coast, coastal birds like pelicans and terns grace shores. Mesmerizing seabirds then dance along windswept coastlines.
Nestled in the lush Omaruru valley, a birding paradise emerges with 200+ species, including endemics. A captivating realm awaits avid birdwatchers amid picturesque mountains.
ITINERARY
Accommodation: Sossusvlei Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Activity included: Birding with your guide
Optional activities: Sossusvlei and Sesriem excursions, Sunrise and Sunset Horse rides, Nature drive in the evenings
Upon arrival, you will be met by a Safariwise representative and transferred to Dead Valley Lodge. This setting makes it the ideal destination for visitors wanting to explore this section of the Namib Desert, without having the longer early morning drive associated with accommodations located further away.
Sossusvlei is a clay pan in the central Namib Desert, lying within the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia. Fed by the Tsauchab River, it is known for the high, red sand dunes which surround it, forming a major sand sea. Vegetation, such as the camel thorn tree, is watered by infrequent floods of the Tsauchab River, which slowly soak into the underlying clay. The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are often referred to as the highest dunes in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world, the sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just one excellent reason to visit Namibia. The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset; the colors are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities.
The midday heat is intense and best spent in the shade, while sunset also offers excellent photo opportunities at Sossusvlei. 'Vlei' is the Afrikaans word for a shallow depression filled with water (well, a depression that might sometimes be filled with water!), and the name 'Sossusvlei' should strictly only be applied to the pan that lies at the place where the dunes close in, preventing the waters of the Tsauchab River from flowing any further—that is, on the rare occasions that the river does flow as far as this.
During exceptional rainy seasons, Sossusvlei may fill with water, causing Namibians to flock there to witness the grand sight, but normally it is bone dry. This particular 'vlei' is actually a more-or-less circular, hard-surfaced depression that is almost entirely surrounded by sharp-edged dunes, beyond which lies a formidable sea of rolling sand, stretching in unbroken immensity all the way to the coast. However, the name 'Sossusvlei' nowadays applies to the whole area—an area that encompasses the great plain of the Tsauchab River together with the red dunes that march along like giant sentinels to the south and north of the plain.
The second attraction of the area is Sesriem Canyon, which is only a few kilometers from the campsite, the entrance gate, and main Nature Conservation office. The canyon derives its name from the fact that early Afrikaner trekkers had to use six ('ses') leather thongs (a thong is a 'riem') so that their buckets could reach the water far below. The canyon begins as an almost imperceptible but nevertheless deep cleft in level, stony ground, and then widens until it finally flattens out onto the plain. Because it is so deep and sheltered, it often holds water well into the dry season—an invigorating sight in such a barren and stark environment.
Many of their guests marvel at the desert beauty from a bird's-eye view in a hot air balloon or by aircraft. A visit to The Adventure Centre is recommended. There is a wide variety of activities to enjoy in the area including Sossusvlei excursions, desert scenic flights, bush dinners, nature drives, sundowners, guided sunset walks, hot-air balloon flights, and eco-quad biking. Airstrip transfers to and from the lodge are available for guests of Sossusvlei Lodge.
Birds to look out for include Sociable Weaver, Common Ostrich, Ruppel’s Bustard, Cape Sparrow, Scaly Weaver, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Ludwig’s Bustard, Kori Bustard, Secretary Bird, Burchell’s Courser, Rosy–faced Lovebird, Dusky Sunbird, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Pygmy Falcon, White–backed Vulture, Lappet–faced Vulture & Dune Lark.