The arid landscape of the Namib Naukluft Park in the heart of Namibia seems to be endless and it is the fourth largest nature reserve in the world. In the northern region, between the river valleys of the Swakop and Kuiseb, vast fields of scree cover the majority of this fifty thousand square kilometre conservation area. The remote world of stone and rock seems so strange and unreal that one of the valleys in this region is called Moon Valley.

Further into the Namib Desert and the colours of the surrounding landscape grow more intense. It is as though both earth and sky are competing against each other to see who shines brightest.

The majestic and world famous blazing red dunes of Sossusvlei tower more than three hundred metres over the landscape. In this extremely hot, arid and treacherous ocean of sand even the trees seem to have given up their struggle for survival. Most of the waterholes have dried out and now this region’s wildlife must prepare for yet another period of interminable draught.

The impressive yet strangely formed Kokerboom, or Quiver Tree, is in reality not a tree at all but a high growing variety of the aloe plant. The name of the plant comes from the bushmen who made quivers for their arrows from its large branches. The Kokerboom, acacias and various low-growing varieties of bush make up the characteristic vegetation of the region.

At the end of the day the fiery sky seems to emulate the warm red colours of the mighty sand dunes and amid the beautiful scenery the magnificent world of the Namib Naukluft Park gradually merges with the intense glow of sunset.