Sossusulei is a salt and clay pan located in the southern part of Namibian desert in the Namib-Naukluf Park in Namibia. It lies on the Tsauchab River that flows into the dune-field of central Namib but never really reaches the ocean. Here, the pan is super dry that the mud is cracked. The color is silvery-white at the light of the sun, the mounds of sand that have accumulates from nara bushes and camelthorn trees and the sand-dunes together to top 300m high gives it a dreamlike atmosphere. It is so far the highest sand dunes in the world.
The name Sossusulei is often used to embrace a bigger area that includes Dead Vlei and other High dunes. The name came from the word Sossus that means “point of no return”.
Sossusulei may be known for the high sand dunes but what really pulls people to come and see the place is the impressive color composition. There are traces of iron oxide in the sand coupled particles of garnet that accounts to the dune’s brilliant color.
There are many things to see and so much more to do in this desert. The place features Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon perfect location to watch the sunset. The Namib Desert has beautiful high dunes from 100 to 450 meters tall including some petrified dunes. The Sossusulei and Dead Vlei are two side-by-side valleys in the Namib. One has living trees and gets some rain and snow while the other one is just completely dry and trees don’t grow, totally water less. You can also see occasional springbok, gemsbok and ostrich around the area.
So much to see but so much more to do. You can watch the beautiful sunrise by climbing Dune 45 or any other in the dark and watch the sun rise from the oldest desert in the world. You can also go hiking from the end of tarred road in to Sossusulei.