1294-1294 Travel Guide

Dead Vlei is a surreal natural wonder in Namibia's Namib Desert. White clay pan surrounded by the world's highest sand dunes, dotted with centuries-old dead camel thorn trees — creating a surreal painting-like scene with orange dunes, blue sky and white ground, one of the world's most photographed landscapes. In the Sossusvlei area of Namib-Naukluft Park. About 900 years ago it was a marshland; shifting dunes cut off water, trees died but didn't decay in the extreme aridity. Reaching it requires driving to Sossusvlei then hiking about 1 km through dunes. Early morning (6:00-8:00) is best for photography — low sunlight turns dunes orange-red with long shadows. Dune 45 and Big Daddy Dune (~325 m) are nearby must-sees. Visiting to experience Earth's most surreal landscape is an unforgettable Namibia experience.