We arrived at Sesriem campsite and were surrounded by a much different landscape than the past three nights that we had spent beside rivers. We were not near any natural running water and there were many less green trees. Another big difference is how nice this campsite was. I can assure you I have never been happier to see flushing toilets and big showers. It was a much-needed break after bush camping for 3 nights.
My first day started off very early when I woke up at 4:00 am. We had to get up well before sunrise in order to allow us time to drive to and hike up ‘Dune 47’ in time to see the sun come up over the huge red sand dunes. Once we arrived the dune looked even bigger than I imagined. It looks like a big hill made purely of sand; no rocks, no trees, and no footsteps. It seemed so untouched, just like snow before someone walks in it. But soon there were lots of footsteps on a specific ridge of the dune as all of us wanted to make it as high as possible. Some scurried up all the way to the top while others of us struggled a little more and settled about half way up which was plenty high for me. We all sat on the ridge with the wind blowing and I never thought I’d be so glad that I had on a long sleeved shirt in the desert!
On my last Interim trip to Egypt we climbed Mt. Sinai very early in the morning in order to see the sunrise as well. It was interesting to compare these two sunrises that I climbed to see just a year a part. Both times I was partially on my hands and knees and both times I was seeing the sunrise in a completely different way than before. Mt. Sinai was very rocky and Dune 47 was just the opposite with no rocks. I doubt that wind had a very big impact on the creation and movement of Mt. Sinai while the wind has a daily impact on the sand dunes of Sesriem.
After climbing down from our spot where we sat to see the sunrise we had some breakfast and then headed into Sossusvlei. We all hopped into 4WD trucks to drive through the sand because I doubt the bus would have made it. We walked around and up and over the dunes and Burger helped us explore and learn about some of the animals and plants that are actually capable of living and thriving in this harsh environment. We saw the shovel-nosed lizard who can dig under the sand in order to protect himself from the extreme heat. Burger warned us about the blister beetle who excretes a highly poisonous substance that burns the skin. We also learned about the oryx who can go his life without drinking. Burger also pointed out a spot in the sand that was dried oryx urine and the fact that it was still there proves the lack of water and excess of waste in their urine. We also saw the nara plant which is very common in the dunes landscape. It is a very thorny plant without leaves and it produces a fruit that has enabled the existence of many species of animals throughout the years.
Although I never would have thought of how rich this landscape is with plants and animals, I learned that life really is abundant in the extremely harsh environments. The dunes go on for miles and miles and you feel that the sand is endlessly surrounding you. Sossusvlei is a memorable place that is different from anywhere I have ever been or seen.
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