Dune 45Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Dune 45 of Namib Naukluft National Park, the view from it at sunrise 1
One of the Namib Naukluft national park's sand dunes, named for its position — 45 kilometres from Sesriem gate.
It has a height of about 85 metres.
Like most in the area, its sands are millions of years old and reddish brown in colour — due to a high iron content.
It takes less than an hour to summit, with the path normally being windy, and every step up the incline bearing the usual 'sinking of the foot' and 'backward sliding'.
But this is neither the highest or the toughest climb in the area. The highest is at Big Daddy Dune.
What to do thereHike to its summit for amazing views of the surrounding desert, the Tsauchab river valley and other dunes. Also possible are picnics, and camping at Sesriem.
Make sure to have lots of refreshments, food, shade, sunscreen, hiking shoes and clothing for warm weather.
Best time to visitEarly mornings or evenings of any day of the year, when temperatures are low enough for comfortable hiking.
Location of Dune 45At the heart of Namib Naukluft national park, right next to the Tsauchab river along which runs the only road to the area.
It also is within Namib desert.
How to get thereBy road, less than an hour's drive from Sesriem gate using a tarmac road.
Although 4x4s are not necessary for this location, they may be required for other locations down the road.
The nearest airstrip is at Sesriem.
References1. By User: (WT-shared) Shaund at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22906833
It has a height of about 85 metres.
Like most in the area, its sands are millions of years old and reddish brown in colour — due to a high iron content.
It takes less than an hour to summit, with the path normally being windy, and every step up the incline bearing the usual 'sinking of the foot' and 'backward sliding'.
But this is neither the highest or the toughest climb in the area. The highest is at Big Daddy Dune.
What to do thereHike to its summit for amazing views of the surrounding desert, the Tsauchab river valley and other dunes. Also possible are picnics, and camping at Sesriem.
Make sure to have lots of refreshments, food, shade, sunscreen, hiking shoes and clothing for warm weather.
Best time to visitEarly mornings or evenings of any day of the year, when temperatures are low enough for comfortable hiking.
Location of Dune 45At the heart of Namib Naukluft national park, right next to the Tsauchab river along which runs the only road to the area.
It also is within Namib desert.
How to get thereBy road, less than an hour's drive from Sesriem gate using a tarmac road.
Although 4x4s are not necessary for this location, they may be required for other locations down the road.
The nearest airstrip is at Sesriem.
References1. By User: (WT-shared) Shaund at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22906833
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