Sossusvlei, Namibia

We left Windhoek and headed to Sossusvlei.  On the way, we stopped and took mandatory pictures as we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. 

Sossusvlei, in the Namib Desert, is known for its gorgeous red sand dunes, which are some of the largest sand dunes in the world. 

This part of the trip was so cool!  The sand dunes were stunning!  Some of the views made me feel like we were on another planet.  The star gazing at night was wonderful too.  I don't know if I've ever seen so many stars at once.  Namibia is one of the top destinations  in the world for star gazing because it of it's low levels of air and light pollution and smaller population. (There are three times more people in Luanda than in all of Namibia) 

The weather was pretty cold in the mornings and then overbearing hot in the afternoons.  The food at our lodge was great (lots of game meats to try), the canvas tent/rooms were air-conditioned and the people were super friendly.  

Our desert lodge.  This about as 'roughing it' as I like to get. (with
A/C)

Afternoon drinks and a few rounds of cards (Sleeping Queens)

Dinner under the stars.  

Orxy

Those beautiful red sand dunes in the morning light

Posing with a large spider.  That's as close as she dared get to it.

Our climb up Dune 45 (notice the tiny cars and people off to the right)

Resting after our climb up the dunes

Deadvlei.  This place was so amazing that even my little iPhone camera pics came out great!

Rainbow

Sunset drive

Reagan enjoying the sunset

Rock paintings

That thing in the tree is a weaver nest.  It's a home to birds about the size of my hand.  They keep building and building and sometimes the trees fall because the nests are so heavy.  The birds live several generations in one nest.

Next up on the trip - Swakopmund