Desert exploring experiences

Like a scene from a National Geographic doc, the terracotta landscape of Sossusvlei must be seen to be believed. It's here that towering dunes stop the barely-flowing Tsauchab River and hide a world of desert-adapted wildlife from the coast. Depart from the lodge in a 4x4 and let your breath be well and truly taken away by the star-shaped monoliths that are constantly shifted by the wind. Brave a trek to the peak of 'Big Daddy' for the ultimate snap of an oryx strolling in its shadow or walk amongst the dunes as your guide tells you how this place came to be. Stop for a chilled drink and, if you choose an afternoon excursion, catch the sunset before returning to home base.

Within the great, red desert of Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei has lured photographers and nature lovers for years. Join your desert-adapted guide on an excursion to this lunar clay pan where fossilised camel thorn trees form ghostly silhouettes against the amphitheatre of dunes. Your guide will share the 600-year-old story of how these petrified trees came to be. For any shutterbugs amongst you, sunset or sunrise makes for the best photos of this surreal fluke of nature.

Head inland from the coast where you'll be kitted out for a day of exploring the dunes by quad bike. Your seasoned guide will lead you through the arid Swakopmund River mouth and into the vast, red world of shifting dunes. Zoom through the desert in search of heavyweights like 'Big Billy' (a cooling drink is your reward) and blast down the adrenaline-pumping 'Devil's Dip' before tackling the corkscrew trails to reach the 'Table Top' where spectacular sea views await. This is an all-in and all-adventure way to see the Namib Desert and you can choose to make a few pitstops along the way to see the smaller creatures of the dunes. You'll be returned to your hotel in Swakopmund a little dusty but with wonderful memories.

The name may not give it away but Sandwhich Harbour is one of the most stunning spots on Namibia's west coast. Leave Swakopmund on a 4x4 drive to explore the wetlands that form part of Namib Naukluft Park, which has become a sanctuary for birdlife, from guzzling pelican to Cape Cormorants. See the rose-hued flamingos of Walvis Bay before cruising past the lagoon, shimmering salt pans and marshes to spy on spectacular feathered wildlife. Finish off your morning in Sandwich Harbour with a picnic amongst the dunes.

Taste adventure on a heart-pumping horseback ride across epic Damaraland. With the haughty Brandberg Mountain as your backdrop, your sure-footed guide will take you on a journey across this vast and rugged landscape. Your real guide will be there too, letting you in on the facts of life out in the desert, while you keep your eyes peeled for strolling elephant, rhino and oryx. There's no better way to get close to the game and begin to unravel the enigma of Namibia's hinterlands! If you're up for a full-day or multi day excursion, this can be arranged too.