In the Nama language, Namib means vast, and this is an understatement. This park is the largest conservation area in Namibia and one of the largest in the world, at almost 50 000 km². The parched Namib desert has endless orange dunes blown into razor sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind.

The famous Sossusvlei sand dunes at 300m, are the highest in the world, and just begging to be climbed, a particularly beautiful sight at sunrise, when the colours change from burnt orange to red to mauve as the sun climbs higher.

Gravel roads traverse this section and into the middle dune area and Sesriem canyon, apart from driving in and walking among the dunes you can appreciate the magnificence of all this light aircraft or a balloon ride over the dunes. Animals, insects and plants have adapted to live in this generally inhospitable region and apart from infrequent rains, rely on the sea mist that rolls far inland.