Sesriem; Kem Desert Quiver

This morning we set off to the dunes just after 6:00 am. The gate to the park opens at sunrise (6:30 am) and closes at sunset (7:45 pm). The people staying in the camp inside the park naturally leave a bit earlier.

Everyone wants to be one of the first (or THE first) at the dunes! The one who climbs up the untouched ridge of the dune first and makes the first footprints in the sand. The one who reaches the top first. And can take the most beautiful photos without many "trample marks" from others.

But there are other advantages to leaving early: only at sunrise (and sunset) do the dunes cast very dark shadows, which look beautiful, and it's not so hot yet because the sun is really intense (when we set off in the morning it's 27 degrees Celsius, by the time we return around ten-thirty it's already 36 degrees!).

But back to the gate:

When we arrive there is already a line of cars. We were convinced that we would be one of the first so this surprises us. Turns out we are vehicle number 22. And the "Chinese bus" from our camp is clearly ahead of us still!!!! The rangers are nice, they let us all pass without paying (we have to do that when we leave later). And then the action begins. There are still 64 km to the famous dunes of Sossusvlei. Technically, only 60 km/h is allowed. But no one cares. Everyone races at at least 100, overtaking like crazy in the race for the first spots at the destination. It's really crazy. We stay in the middle of the pack because we have no chance of being one of the first. Luckily, the road is paved and easy to drive on.

By the way, the sun rises beautifully, time seems to stand still.

On the way, there are countless photo stops, but for now we want to continue to the destination.

At a parking lot about 5 km from the famous dunes, we switch to a park vehicle (for a fee) that safely takes us through the deep sand with its all-wheel drive (on the way back we see with some schadenfreude)

some stuck vehicles from people who think they can do it with their car themselves...)

When we arrive at the famous dunes, quite a few people are already crawling around like ants on the dunes.

Nevertheless, we enjoy it and climb the big dune with the children. At some point, when it's high enough for us (it's really exhausting for the children too) we sit down and enjoy the view. And the silence, because up there you only hear the wind. The two play with the soft red sand, let it trickle through their fingers, and we take many photos in all directions and of us. After a while, the kids want to continue, and we have a great time sliding down the steep dune. There you can see the "Deadvlei" (but our kids don't want to join anymore). So we slowly head back. We drive the loop to the beautiful "Big Mama" of Sossusvlei, which is the most beautifully shaped dune of all (at least for us). And it still looks exactly the same as 18 years ago when Konstantin and I were here! By the way, back then we camped inside the park and were the first ones at this dune and the first ones to reach the top, alongside about 6 other vehicles in total.

Today there were 66 vehicles, including several small and large buses alongside cars. It's the low season. At peak times, there can be 500 vehicles!!!!

Tired from the climb and the heat, we enjoy the cool and breezy ride back to the parking lot in the open vehicle. Lio laughs loudly at every sand dune on the way that lifts us up on our seats and has a lot of fun. Once our driver has to help a stuck car get out (they've been trying for an hour without success), while we still enjoy the great view at this spot.

Then we head back to the park exit in our own car, each deep in our own thoughts and memories. And only driving at 60 km/h, we enjoy the passing dune landscape that slowly disappears and turns rocky and hilly again.

We pay the park entrance fee, the kids get the promised ice cream, we get a cold soda, and back "home" we take a nap.

Because we are all quite hungry, we still have a grill despite the almost unbearable midday heat of almost 40 degrees Celsius, and it tastes simply wonderful again.

In the evening, we cool off in the pool and enjoy a beautiful sunset that makes the camp look stunning with its colors.

At the bar, the children drink a goodnight milk and we have an overpriced cold water because there is Wifi only there. It's nice to be here mostly without a phone in hand.

Lio to our cabin: "This is the kind of house I've always wished for!!!"

And a little later: "Mama, I wish for a house like this for Christmas, and I'll give it to Papa... and Maxima, with and you!"

It's also the most beautiful camp for all of us so far!