I am standing on top of the highest dune I managed to climb in the early hours just in time to watch the sun rise over these magnificent dunes. By just standing still and allowing the passing sun to paint the palette across the sand, I witnessed the transformation of colors around me from a soft ivory, to gold, to deep ochre. It was stunning and awe inspiring.

As I looked around me, the vista of dunes went on for as far as the eyes could see, broken only by the dry ancient river beds cutting through them, shining tiles of ancient clay. Beyond the dunes looking toward the west in this picture, my mind pictured the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean. This setting lifted me up in a surreal form of levitation until I felt like I was literally on top of the world.

(For reference and scale, there is a group of people standing in the middle-right part of the frame.)

For group tours through Namibia that includes a visit to Sossusvlei see: http://www.which-way.com/