The highlight of the area is the dunes within the National Park, which opens at sunrise to enable visitors to climb the dunes before it gets too hot. For us, sunrise was at 6.30am and the “relative cool” 30 degrees, compared to 38 degrees in the middle of the day. The road through the park is initially tarmac and then sand for the final 5 km and runs between the dunes which form a horseshoe shape.
The first major attraction is Dune 45, which is the 45th dune, 45 km into the park and 45 mins drive. It is very scenic, close to the road with a car park and therefore very popular to climb and/or photograph. It is 130m high; we decided to take photos and move onto the dunes at the end of the road which are quieter due to access being limited to 4WD vehicles. The options for climbing were Big Daddy and Little Big Daddy at 170m and 110m respectively. Both have great views and access to Dead Vlei, by walking down the steep side of the dune (or running, hopping or sliding on your bottom).
We chose Little Big Daddy, climbing a narrow path along the crest which is wiped out each night by the wind. The walk through the sand was hard work but the views and the exhilarating decent made it very worthwhile.
Dead Vlei is a stark landscape comprising a pan which has had no water for over 100 years leaving the ground baked and the 500 year old trees dead.
Satisfied with our early morning exertion our guide provided breakfast under trees by another dune, Big Mamma.
Shilli-Fully Travels 