I retired from teaching in August 2016 ( almost 5 years! – can’t believe it!) and had set up a nice routine of heading off somewhere every June (which we could never do before) when Covid hit! The first of those trips was to Namibia in 2017…. So this day 4 years ago we got ourselves up and on the road before dawn for the amazing dunes at Sossusvlei. Thank you Google’s Rediscover this Day for the memories!
I really like the photo of people walking up the dune – second best is their foot prints in the sand. 🙂
I don’t know what time they got up at that morning! The gates to the park open around dawn but then its about 60km into the main dunes as I remember… If your accommodation is within the park then you don’t have to wait at the gate of course – you can head off before light…..
Looks like such a great trip!
It really was – one of our favourite ever…a great experience..
Great memories for you and also brought back memories of my own visit, although I didn’t tackle any of the high dunes! I love the photo of the footprints going up the dune and the tiny figures of people at the top 🙂
I didn’t make it all the way to the top – it got quite narrow and I began to panic a bit …. of course I couldn’t turn back because I’d have to pass by all those coming up behind me… so I sat and slid all the way down on my bottom!
An incredible experience, I’m sure, and one I haven’t had, so your pictures really enthralled me. Wonderful looking back, isn’t it? We never holidayed in the summer but ventured forth every winter for long periods of time, an open ticket which we came back on when the money got tight! Summers were for the occasional European city break as it was difficult to prise my husband away from his garden at this time of year.
Ah – the reverse of us really… We could only travel during school hols – and of course for many years we just had a summer trip – we used to camp so could stay away for longer. As circumstances eased over the years, we started to take the odd city break – maybe at halloween or Easter (still school hols prices of course..) Himself is only semi retired so we’re still restricted but I’d love to head off for a few months in Jan/Feb sometime…
The mountainous red/orange dunes of Sossusvlei and the blazing African sunsets would definitely cure my wanderlust. What a place to explore – Namibia is unlike anywhere else on Earth, and I am glad to see you had a chance to visit 🙂 Aiva xxx
You would love it Aiva! A great place for self travel!
Beautiful photography!
The colours were amazing – the clear blue sky against the sands… just gorgeous..
So lovely, Marie, well done! To walk in so many others footsteps!
We’re very lucky to have had the chance to visit such an amazing place.
Hope the sun is shining for you in Terryglass Inez!
The sand dunes in southeastern California are miniscule compared to these, but they always seem to being a sense of timlessness and peace; wish I were there too. Thanks for sharing!
The narrow ridges were busy in spots but you just had to turn your head to the left or right to feel alone on the planet. Glad you enjoyed. XXXXMarie
Wow, what an experience that must have been! I also used to work in school as an special education assistant and just retired a couple of years ago to work in a preschool. Makes for much more flexibility for booking vacations…when there isn’t a pandemic happening!
I always imagined us being retired and getting travel options for almost nothing because not tied to school hols. We’re not there yet but at the moment getting a bargain is the least of my concerns – I’d be happy to pay almost anything to get going again!!!
Lovely…looks like a wonderful trip!
It really was – we loved it Jyothi. The national park there is the only one in Africa where you don’t need a guide which gave us wonderful freedom. We had great variety – the dunes, safari, desert, rock art, bit of hiking….can’t recommend it enough.. XXXMarie
Namibia looks amazing – deep colors, I imagine footsteps sliding in the sand, blazing sun. I have wandered the dunes along beaches and mountains (Sand Dunes in Colorado), but these are real desert dunes. Thanks for sharing.
I know I’m repeating myself but the trip to Namibia was one of our best travel experiences ever. Glad you enjoyed!
Oh those photos are wonderful Marie, how incredible Namibia looks 🙂
Another place for your wish list Hannah!!
It is never ending!!! 🙂
And how great is that!!!!
Great pictures. What tour company did you use to visit Namibia?
We arranged a self-drive itinerary with Trailfinders in Dublin. It’s straightforward – unless you’ve enough time to go to the very north and/or very south of the country, everyone follows pretty much the same route – the only decision is clockwise or anticlockwise!
Great colours ..I know what you mean about your travelling routine! Have just read Australians can’t travel until middle of next year ..I will have to apply for special dispensation to visit UK and then have to do two weeks quarantine in a hotel
Not sure if I’m ready for that
I know you’re hoping to get back to see family – I’m not a bit surprised that it’s being pushed to next year. Things might ease a bit re quarantining in the autumn… Its funny – we always felt that Australia was so far away – but I’ve pals with kids in England and they might as well be Australia the way things have been….
Yes that is true. It’s great we have Skype anyway.
Skype and Zoom has been a saviour this past year….