Namib Sand Sea

The beautiful red sand of

the Namib Sand Sea flows right up to the actual waves of the ocean.

It’s one of the world’s only coastal deserts, with dune fields winding over its three million hectares. There are two dune systems at work here, one that is ancient and one that is young. It’s also known as the world’s oldest desert, believed to have been formed by the erosion of materials from thousands of kilometers away. While it is incredibly arid, with fog as the primary source of water, the desert still boasts a wide array of endemic wildlife, including the Welwitschia plant, the Dune Lark, and various reptiles and invertebrates.

The Namib Sand Sea was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.