A dune with a view

So after our desert skills training with Boesman we were ready to tackle the dunes of Sesriem and Sossisvlei. First stop was meant to be Sossusvlei where a 4wd would meet us half way and take us in. Only they didn't turn up. Change of plan meant we headed up Dune 45 for sunset instead - my fingers were crossed that über guide would find a solution so that we did get there the next day.

Namibia is famous for its dunes - the sand originates in the Kalahari, gets spread down to the orange river, from there it flows into the sea - and then gets blown over to form the magnificent dunes. Some of them are as high as 325m and are part of one of the oldest and driest ecosystems on earth.

We started our ascent in plenty of time for sunset -Dylan had the drinks bag. Über guide wasn't with us but had suggested just wearing socks to avoid burnt feet. We had an 80m high dune to get up. I started just after the fools who decided to run it. My feet were trying to imitate a springbok - just the front if my feet penetrating the surface. Calves started to burn 1/3 of the way up
. My fear of heights kicked in when the sheer drops either side got above 40m.A few people turned back -but I just dug my toes in, didn't look either side of me and pushed on.

At the top others were laughing and joking. I focussed in sitting my arse down as quickly as possible. I wasn't going anywhere. Dylan tried to throw me my drink - I had visions of free falling 80m down. The man saw sense and came to Mohammed instead.

I celebrated with my drink and surveyed the landscape. Utterly beautiful - but very, very harsh. This isn't a place I'd want to get stuck in. As the sun started to set a pair of Oryx started fighting on the ground.

The end of a day really doesn't get any better - running down the dune was also a hell of a lot more fun than climbing up.....