With a combination of gigantic red dunes, dead trees, and dried-up marshes, Sossusvlei’s landscapes are distinctly like no other. This African destination hosts curvaceous land shadows and striking terrain that begs to be photographed.

“Sossusvlei in Namibia is probably one of the most photographed places in Namibia. I was there too, and this is my impression of this beautiful place…That day I barely held my camera, I walked for 7km,in dry heat, I had very little water and it was +45 C with no wind! The hottest weather I had ever experienced. My wife was with me and she felt sick, from the heat. I couldn’t spend more than few minutes in the valley, for those reasons. Well I am glad I have seen it.”

“Sossusvlei is one of the oldest and driest ecosystems on earth.’Vlei’ is the Afrikaans word for a shallow depression filled with water (well, a depression that might sometimes be filled with water!), and the name ‘Sossusvlei’ should strictly only be applied to the pan that lies at the place where the dunes close in, preventing the waters of the Tsauchab River from flowing any further — that is, on the rare occasions that the river does flow as far as this. During exceptional rainy seasons, Sossusvlei may fill with water, causing Namibians to flock there to witness the grand sight, but normally it is bone dry. This particular ‘vlei’ is actually a more-or-less circular, hard-surfaced depression that is almost entirely surrounded by sharp-edged dunes, beyond which lies a formidable sea of rolling sand, stretching in unbroken immensity all the way to the coast. However, the name ‘Sossusvlei’ nowadays applies to the whole area — an area that encompasses the great plain of the Tsauchab River together with the red dunes that march along like giant sentinels to south and north of the plain.” – I. B.

“Sunrise on Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Namib-Naukluft National Park.” – Dietmar Temps

“Sand dunes rising from a floodplain in Sossusvlei, Namibia. Taken before dawn from the top of Dune 45.” – Rob Kroenert

“Deadvlei, Namibia. Part of the Sossusvlei area in the Namib desert, Africa. Amazing area with a landscape like no other.” – Michael Baynes

Enjoy, and share, more photos of this stunning African area in the Sensational Sossusvlei gallery.