Located in
Namibia :: Namib-Naukluft
:: Sesriem Area
Category:
Activity :: Hiking
The ancient sand dunes of Sossusvlei forms part of the Namib Sand Sea World Heritage site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1430) and travellers are reminded to minimise their impact on the environment when visiting this eco-sensitive area by adhering to a few simple guidelines:
• Stay on the main trails rather than walk criss-cross over the sensitive vegetation areas – they may seem bare and lifeless, but many plants remain dormant until the first rains.
• The “lifeless” trees in Dead Vlei are preserved by the harsh, dry climate and are estimated to be about 900 years old. Do not damage them by climbing on them, or break branches off for firewood or keepsakes.
• The red dunes in the area has been formed over millions of years. Limit the shifting of sand down the dunes by following the trails of others, rather than sliding or running down, taking half the dune down with you.
Address : | Sesriem, Namib Naukluft, Namibia |
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“We are greatly concerned about the deterioration of this pristine and eco-sensitive area! Since 2000 tourist numbers have greatly increased and the clay crust of the vlei is being trampled to dust. People ignore the rules and climb onto the ancient trees. Their branches lie scattered around and sand from Big daddy dune is flowing onto the pan from the east where tourists run down the slope onto the vlei. In other parts of the world, pristine, unigue places are protected by building walkways around them and limiting visiting hours and tourist numbers. We do hope that something will be done soon to save this amazing heritage for future generations !!” - Mietsie Visser, 2017/05/04