Sesriem Canyon and Sesriem Camping Sites
Accommodation at the Entrance to Sossusvlei Dunes, Namibia
Jul 3, 2009
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Namibia is the dune landscape at Sossusvlei with Dune 45 allegedly being the most photographed freestanding dune in Namibia. Visitors to these spectacular dunes often neglect to visit the seemingly unattractive canyon approximately four kilometers away from the Sesriem campsites.
Explore Sesriem Canyon on Foot
From Sesriem campsite, a dirt track leads to the entrance of the one-kilometer long gorge and Sesriem Canyon. The canyon was named by early travelers who extracted water from the gorge by using six thongs tied together, hence the name Ses (six) riem (thong). After good rains, the canyon can hold water for several months and visitors will often find pools of water in a dry season on the canyon floor.
From the parking area visitors descend into the canyon by way of a well-trodden path. The walk is not difficult, but several natural, narrow, rock steps prevent wheel chair access and the sandy bottom makes getting across the bottom nearly impossible without help.
Once on the canyon floor, the calcrete layers are clearly visible. According to Willie and Sandra Olivier in An African Adventurer's Guide to Namibia, Struik Publishers, 2003, these layers were caused by alternating layers of gravel, sand and pebbles, which were cemented into calcrete conglomerate and lifted upwards some two to four million years ago. Visitors walking the length of the canyon floor cannot miss these clear layering in the walls of the canyon.
Several bird species use the canyon as nesting place and frequently the air on the canyon floor reverberates with the sounds of doves crooning above. Parts of the canyon may be inaccessible to visitors due to floods dislodging huge boulders and depositing it at a narrower part of the canyon. During the summer months, the temperature drops significantly when tourists descend into the shadows of the Sesriem Canyon.
Sesriem Campsite, Sesriem Shop and Fuel Station
Sesriem campsite is managed by the Namibian Wildlife Resorts and is situated at the entrance to the Sossusvlei Dunes. The rustic campsites are fairly well spread out to offer campers some form of privacy. Large Camel Thorn Trees provide shade to the campsites and most sites have a brick fireplace. At some campsites though, the fireplace consists of circle of stones on the ground, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
The communal ablutions have recently been upgraded and tapped water is available to the campsites. On occasion, the water supply is interrupted so tourists must make provision to be self-sufficient in respect of drinking water. The mineral content of the water also might not be to every traveler's taste. A swimming pool offers cool refreshment after a day exploring the nearby dunes.
As the campsites are unfenced, various desert herbivores may visit campers during the day. It is common to see Springbok and Gemsbok grazing a short distance away from the campsites in the tall grass.
The shop at Sesriem provides basic foodstuffs, mostly non- perishables. The shop stocks limited curios and clothing is limited to t-shirts and hats. Tourists should arrive well prepared in the event that the shop is out of stock. Next to the shop, a small cafeteria operates out of a normal window, but their times are erratic and depend on the amount of stock available.
Motorists can re-fuel at the filling station which carries lead-replacement and unleaded petrol as well as diesel. Tourists should always carry an amount of spare fuel, as the distances between filling stations are vast.
Although the Namibian Wildlife Resorts fees may be prohibitively expensive to some foreign tourists, camping at Sesriem campsite is worthwhile as campers have a beter chance of seeing the sunrise over the dunes at Sossusvlei.
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