Iconic, majestic, and unique, the towering orange dunes of the Namib-Naukluft National Park inspire a sense of otherworldliness, as your eyes take in the sheer scale of the panoramic views in front of you, and you are enveloped by the quiet whispers of the wind moving over the sand. Even on the widest setting, a camera doesn’t quite convey the magnitude of this untouched, undulating place.

The Dead Vlei, best known as the site of the petrified trees standing on the cracked white vlei (dry lake) is the most visited area of the park. Most visitors will come in from the publicly accessible road leading 60km into the park from the Sesriem gate, though the Kulala reserve does have a private access road for guests partaking on its guided activities.

You’ll need a decent amount of puff to reach the top of the snaking Big Daddy dune, or famous Dune 45, though for those feeling less energetic, the views from the bottom are equally rewarding. As well as the Dead Vlei itself, make time to explore the next-door pans of Sossusvlei and Edenvlei, as well as the mysterious fairy circles and the Sesriem Canyon. For those wanting a unique aerial view, hot air ballooning or helicopter flights can be arranged.