Dune 45

On the 2nd. We got up before dawn (even well before our typical 5-5:30am starts) so that we could drive to and climb Dune 45 to catch the sunrise. Our campsite was surrounded by a low rock wall to keep out the creepy crawlies and we were happy for that although Jen and Rachel said they saw a Scorpion on the way to the bathroom. The headlamps we bought before the trip have turned into a godsend as they help us when its dark (which is usually during diner ad setting up or tearing down the tents).

In any case, it was bloody early when we dragged ourselves up yet another dune - at least this time we didn't ha ve to lug snowboarding equipmen! We made it in time but it wasn't as spectacular as expected because it was well up before it crossed the mountains around the dunes althougj the colours on the dunes themselves was spectacular.

After running down the dunes (that was fun!) we took some 4x4's into DeadVlei and Soussusvlie which are a deadlake with petrified trees and a salt lake respectively. The dead lake was spooky as it looks 2-3 yrs old but then you find out its been hundreds of yrs.

We saw some beetles and a dung beetle pushing a turd ball at least 3 times hhis size. Shawn also tormented a poor gecko with a shadow which he'd learned from Boisman the day before.

Waiting for the sun to come up (some are happier about it than others!)

It could be Mars

Here comes the sun....

Simon, one of the Aussie boys, climbing back up the dune

Mostly all awake now

They grow up right from the desert floor

Stunning

Having breakfast at the foot of the dune

In a million years or so, these will be fossils!

Note the chick behind her...  this little camera has an amazing zoom (12x optical and 48 times digital).  I was a good 500 yards away at least.

At the salt lake we saw some Jackals and a pair of Ostriches with a chick. You could also see the clay fossils of others running shoes. Its easy to see how limestone fossils are made.

It was 40 degrees in the shade. (Helena from Brazil and Monica from Oz).

The beginnings of the Fish River canyon.  They were swimming in there a few months ago.

Then it was off to walk in fish river canyon. It was completely dry but a few months ago was swimmable and rages in the rainy season. They'll get 6" of rain in January after nothing since last March. No sign of it yet though!

Then it was back on the truck for another 380kms. All om dirt rosads. Argh!
Finally we arrived at the bottom of the fish river canyon and the difference was astonishing. By then, it was almost a mile deep and across. Its the second biggest in the world after the Grand Canyon. Stunning.