From my 328-foot perch atop the dunes of the Namib Desert’s Dorob Nationwide Park, I really feel increased than the colonial German buildings of Swakopmund. Town appears so small from right here, regardless of the actual fact it’s solely a 20-minute drive away. What makes the scene much more otherworldly is the deep golden sand in opposition to a brilliant cerulean sky peppered with clouds that appear like Mom Nature used her ToysRUs artwork spinner. I breathe within the air and inhale the scent of sand — which I by no means knew even had a scent — whereas the African solar tans my pores and skin. Immediately, I’m sandboarding Namibia’s highest business dunes in what is usually touted because the world’s oldest desert. It’s really an unbelievable Africa journey expertise. And proper right here, on this Namibia journey information, I’ll be sharing this epic journey with you.
Infinite desert
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Reaching New Heights
Let me clarify that phrase. Namibia‘s highest dunes are in Sossusvlei, reaching dizzying heights of 5,853 ft; nevertheless, operators don’t supply excursions at these dunes, although you may deliver your personal board to glide down or just climb up, a problem because the sand slides out from beneath your ft. I’m informed by my Alter Motion Sandboarding information, Steve, in addition to George, my Vulkan Ruine Excursions & Transfers information that the view in Sossusvlei is excellent since you don’t get the salty mist from the Atlantic as you do in Swakopmund. Nonetheless, I’m in love with this place. Swakopmund is a phenomenal coastal metropolis with a wealthy German heritage nonetheless seen by means of ethnic eating places, lederhosen outlets, German chocolatiers and architectural components like bolstered stone arches and uncovered half timbering. A seashore vacation spot within the African desert suffering from historic constructions is sort of a sight to behold, although these dunes appear much more magnificent, their chocolate swirl ice cream sands altering with the wind.
Wandering Swakopmund
Eco-Pleasant Journey
Curiously, sandboarding a really eco-friendly non-motorized exercise, pending you allow with all of your trash and function beneath a go away no hint philosophy, one thing Alter Motion is passionate out. Furthermore, they don’t assemble lifts however as an alternative have boarders carry their very own gear, aiding those that have hassle. There are two various kinds of sandboarding you may join, standup sandboarding and lay down sandboarding. I’d really performed standup sandboarding in Chile’s Atacama Desert so I made a decision on the lay down. Plus I used to be informed it might give me a cooler perspective with my GoPro (see video under).
Preserving My Ego
“We’ll be specializing in six completely different routes,” explains Steve, as soon as we huff our technique to the highest of the dunes with our boards. “Be sure that to maintain your legs straight, stiff and shut collectively, and the entrance of the board pulled up.”
Steve giving our group a sandboarding lesson
One extensive eyed woman from Holland friends over the sting of the Black Diamond-esque path asks nervously, “And you actually haven’t seen anybody get badly harm?” Steve smirks. “The one factor you may harm is your ego.” That’s onerous to imagine if you’re about to propel your self headfirst over the sting of a sand cliff. This one is definitely the biggest within the park, a star dune with six faces. The routes vary from uber steep to the uber curvy to the über excessive. Principally, you’ll be gasping fairly a bit, although it’s possible you’ll need to attempt to not or the crunch of sand between your enamel will develop into very acquainted. Truly, although, the wipe outs are essentially the most enjoyable. Whereas some in our group are swish sand ballerinas, others (
cough cough probably me) are surprisingly elephant-like. When sandboarding it’s necessary to maintain the board pulled up, form of like a Cobra Pose in yoga in case you have been holding and pulling up your mat. While you do the other — push the entrance of the board down into the sand — you’ll possible propel your self excessive right into a spiral rolling movement, type of like a drunk undercover agent. That is additionally the way you get an attractive sand tan.
Sandboarding selfie
Top AND Pace
At one level Steve begins clocking our occasions, and I handle to hit 45 miles per hour. It’s superb how shortly clean chipboard in opposition to modern sand can transport you from Level A to Level B. It might be superior to have this type of transport again in Brooklyn, although the pavement and lack of hills could be a difficulty. You utilize your ft as an anchor to sluggish you down when wanted, digging them into the nice and cozy granules. While you overlook to do that, it’s possible you’ll find yourself head first into an adjoining dune. Fortunately, I prevented this explicit misadventure.
Discuss surreal
The precise trickiest half is strolling up and down the sand dunes with the sand boards. With every step, the sand strikes out from beneath ft, inflicting your knees to buckle and your physique to lurch ahead. The perfect sections of sand are the agency bits, strong beneath my ft.
Have a look at that sand tan!
After we end sandboarding for the day we’re requested to carry out one ultimate group job. “Bounce within the air, act like zombies and drag our chosen victims by means of the sand. We’re making a film!” Ah, the film. The tour bundle contains lunch and video footage of the day, although apparently all of the peace indicators and winking faces I made on the digicam whereas barreling down the dunes wasn’t cinematic sufficient. However hey, everybody likes zombies.
Cooling down and coated in sand
After beers and sandwiches within the sand, we head again to the Seaside Lodge Swakopmund for the day, the employees visibly gasping after I step into the foyer.
What’s mistaken with them? I’m wondering. Oh yea, I appear like a unclean Santa Claus with a beard made from sand.
Having fun with a cup of java after a soothing bathe
Showering by no means felt so good, sand melting off my physique like wax, the sensation of shedding an undesirable pores and skin for one thing purer is pleasant. A reviving cup of espresso waits for me on the balcony, the place I pull up a chair and snuggle as much as sip. I hear cool Atlantic Ocean waves crashing onto the shore whereas watching paragliders’ colourful parachutes weaving by means of a blue sky shrouded in salty mist. It’s a rejuvenating vacation spot, and one I had no concept existed in Namibia till I visited.