NAMIB-NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK, NAMIBIA
In
depth guide to the seasons, animals, birds and wildlife
habitats of Namib Naukluft, Namibia
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In
the Nama language, Namib means vast, and this
is an understatement. The Namib Naukluft
Park is the largest conservation area
in Namibia and one of the largest in the world,
at almost 19,305 square miles (50,000 km²).
Parts of this park resemble a lunar landscape
while other places rise with the purple-hued
rocky mountains of the Naukluft Mountain massif.
Just as tall and certainly as impressive are
the stunning orange sand dunes of Sossusvlei,
blown into razor sharp ridges and peaks by the
wind. A few gravel roads traverse the northern
section of the park and another leads into the
middle dune area of Sossusvlei and Sesriem canyon.
The park also incorporates the estuarine lagoon
at Sandwich Harbour which is a wetland protected
from the ferocious Atlantic Ocean and from any
treadmill of visitors as permits are required. |
Animals,
insects and plants have adapted to live in this
generally inhospitable region and get most of
their water from sea mists that roll far inland.
Although almost 200 miles (320km) from any main
road, a visit to Namibia would not be complete
without venturing into the Namib-Naukluft Park.
If not on foot or vehicle then by light aircraft
or hot air balloon, for the best view you will
ever get of an endless rippling desert. The
trip is worth it as the solitude is immeasurable,
and your place in the great scheme of life takes
on a new perspective and a curious insignificance.
SOSSUSVLEI
The largest sand dunes in the world are awesomely
enormous and eerily enticing. The feminine curves
of Sossusvlei's rich ochre sea of sand, rise
tantalisingly to almost 1,000 feet (305metres),
which is 300 feet (91metres) more than their
nearest rivals in Arabia. Discarding shoes and
plunging bare feet into the hot soft sand is
the best way to climb to the top, but each step
forms a mini sand slide and footprints look
more like an insect trail as they are dwarfed
by the sheer size and immensity of the dunes.
Geologists
suspect that this supreme desert, that covers
most of the Namib Naukluft National Park, is
the oldest desert known to man. The older the
dune the brighter the colour from slow iron
oxidisation and a zillion tiny fragments of
garnets. These dunes refract spectacular colours
with the changing light and turn from burnt
orange through reds to deepest mauve.
About
two-thirds of a mile (1km) away from Sossusvlei
is the Dead Vlei – a salt encrusted dry
lake named for its large dead camel thorn trees.
These tell of a time when plentiful water allowed
them to grow to full height, but as the climate
changed and the water disappeared they died.
Amidst this desperate scene comes new life in
the form of a few young camel thorn trees struggling
bravely to survive and on the western slopes,
some bright green !Nara melons defying the shifting
sand.
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ANIMALS
& BIRDS
Apart
from infrequent rains, the flora and fauna of
the interior relies on a regular mist that rolls
up to 62miles (100km) inland. All creatures
make use of this life-giving moisture and the
head-standing beetle has come up with a unique
adaptation. As the fog descends it tilts forward
and droplets of moisture run down grooves in
its body to its mouth.
The
Anchieta's dune lizard has an interesting way
of coping with the scorching sand, and does
a kind of thermoregulatory dance putting only
two feet down at a time and hopping from one
pair of legs to the other, using the tail as
a stabiliser. |
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Snakes
are common in the Namib, but few of the 20 species
are ever seen. At sunset you may hear the staccato
clicking call of some elusive bird, but this
is in fact the nightly call of a male barking
gecko.
There
are mammals here too and the impressive black
and taupe, spiralled-horned oryx is master of
the vast shadeless wilderness. With the conformation
of a stocky pony, he is the thoroughbred of
the desert with unique adaptations enabling
him to live in this harsh environment. The oryx
can survive with a body temperature as high
as 113°F (45°C) (which is usually lethal),
because the animal cools blood to the brain
by passing it through the nostrils first. Springbok
are also able to survive for long periods without
water, as long as they can find food with a
moisture content of no less than 10%. Spotted
hyenas inhabit the Namib Naukluft Park but are
rarely seen, while black-backed jackals are
more visible. Jackals eat almost anything including
rats and mice, birds, insects, reptiles, fruits
and berries and therefore survive well in almost
any terrain.
The
Sandwich Lagoon is an important wetland of pristine
beauty, which attracts in the region of 200,000
birds to the lagoon and mudflats. Flamingoes
constitute the largest percentage of water birds
here, who usually fly inland to breed during
the rainy season. The lagoon also supports several
endangered Red Data species such as chestnutbanded
plover, white pelican and blacknecked grebe.
SEASONS
On the rare occasions when it rains, the desert
responds amazingly quickly, producing a miracle
of yellow flowers, green leaves and sprouting
grasses. Ephemeral (short lived) plants appear
as if by magic and replenish the seed bank for
next year.
Rainy Season: rain usually
falls in late summer from February to April,
but an 8 year study showed that most showers
in the southern Namibia (Sossusvlei area), occurred
in the months of December, March and April with
an average rainfall of 63mm per annum. However,
rainfall is erratic and unpredictable and the
high summer temperatures cause fast evaporation.
As a result the Namib is classified by international
standards as 'hyper-arid'.
Temperatures: From November
through to March the daytime temperatures rarely
peak below 95°F (35°C) or drop lower
than 59°F (15°C) at night. From April
to October daytime temperatures range between
a very pleasant 77°F (25°C) to 95°F
(35°C), with June, July and August recording
the lowest night-time temperatures around 41°F
(5°C). Temperatures are recorded in the
shade and the air feels considerably hotter
under the scorching sun with heat radiating
off the dunes.
NAMIB-NAUKLUFT
SPECIALITIES
· Walking up the largest and
brightest coloured sand dunes in the world at
Sossuslvei
· Photography where
a bad picture is almost impossible
· Coming across the
'picture postcard' oryx standing by a lone dead
tree in the undulating desert
· Flying over an endless
rippling desert in small aircraft or hot air
balloon
· Walking to Dead Vlei
and the white cracked arena on which stand long-dead
trees
· Appreciating the small
creatures of the desert like head-standing beetles
and barking geckos
· Water birds of Sandwich
Harbour
· Night gazing into
a crystal clear sky full of falling stars and
satellites
· Immeasurable space
· Heightened self awareness
and perspective on the meanings of life
FACTS
Sandwich Lagoon is only accessible with a permit
and is difficult to get to
Sossuslvei lies within a national park which
is closed from dusk till dawn so there is no
off-road or night driving
Malaria is most unlikely to be contracted in
the desert
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Follow the links below to Namibia's premier wildlife regions
and game reserves.
PRIVATE
SAFARI LODGES WE RECOMMEND IN THE NAMIB-NAUKLUFT REGION |
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