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Desert Dreaming in Sossusvlei

Desert Dreaming in Sossusvlei

Frontpage Article, South Africa - Regions & Parks

I have just spent a few phenomenal days at &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Although I have been to the desert a good few times before this was a first stay – and it was all I had hoped and more. Staff service and romantic accommodation aside (all excellent), it was the space, serenity and detail in the desert that was so inspiring. Spending time with resident astronomer Terry was great as we had close up views of Jupiter and its moons amongst others. My camera was on fire most of the time as there are just so many opportunities and angles to explore. Thanks to the team there for an amazing stay. (Alastair)

The Namib Rand Reserve is a photographer’s paradise – colour, texture, space, contrasts and more…

Two incredible women posing beneath the impressive Sociable Weaver nest – purposefully offbeat to get them all in!

If there is one wildlife reason that stands alone for visiting Sossusvlei and the Namib Rand, it is the Gemsbok What a magnificent antelope!

I have always maintained that every lodge needs some wildlife in camp to make it come alive – these Sociable Weavers came in from their giant nests everyday ‘to entertain us’!

It requires a little sweat, but the views from the dune tops and the freedom to get down how you please are both worth it!

One doesn’t normally associate dragonflies with deserts – I found this huge Orange Emperor dominating a rock pool at a remote waterfall on the edge of the desert.

Within 2 days of the rains, the insects emerged – none smarter than this busy pink-winged hawk moth which fed and pollinated the dainty white flowers in front of the bar!

I snapped this shot from behind the lodge one morning when the air was clear after rain the previous day.

It is hard to put into words the silent, weightless feeling of rising in a hot air balloon in the desert dawn. Namib Sky were fantastic every step of the way.

One of the distinctive sounds of the desert is the croaking of Korhaans – we were treated to these two males as well as a female not far from the lodge one afternoon.

The morning shadows created a surreal scene wth Gemsbok and Ostrich below.

Frontpage Article, South Africa - Regions & Parks

Singita Lebombo turns it on…

I had a brilliant week at Singita Lebombo – far from the madding crowds as they say and with lots to see. On the first afternoon we had a Honey Badger approach us on a bush walk as we headed to a rocky view point. The following evening it was lions, leopard, African Civet and serval. The birding was superb with loads of cuckoos, nest-building weavers, Burnt-necked Eremomelas at a nest (look that up!) and the arrival of the Amur Falcons all the way from their journey across the Indian Ocean and down the east side of Africa. We also got see the gradual demolition of a giraffe carcass from the lions to hyenas to vultures and beetles. It had been some time since I last really sat watching and hearing hippos for extended periods of time and this was probably the highlight of the trip. The diversity of this landscape and the chance to really explore makes this one of my favourite destinations. (Alastair)

There are superb hippo viewing opportunities by vehicle and on foot along the Nwanetsi River

This is an elephant’s way of saying “I am watching you!”

We sat for ages watching the hyenas devour the giraffe bone by bone – the vultures just waited for marrow to shoot out as they fed.

I simply could not get decent photos of these fish as they fled the hunting crocodile.

We had photographed a good number down at the river, but this Globe Skimmer was hovering around the Land Rover as if we were an elephant flushing insects!

The fantastic geology in this part of the world is complemented by an array of attractive lizards like this Flat Lizard species.

We found a rather lean-looking pride of lions on the Mozambique boundary. Here the cubs were fighting over sinew and a chance to lick the ground…desperate times indeed.

I saw this elephant bull and wondered just how large he might be when he really grows up one day!

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Desert Dreaming in Sossusvlei

Singita Lebombo turns it on…

Desert Dreaming in Sossusvlei

Singita Lebombo turns it on…

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Desert Dreaming in Sossusvlei

Singita Lebombo turns it on…

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