Deadvlei: The Spooky Yet Stunning Place That is Worth Visiting

When you plan for a vacation, you choose a destination that has breathtaking views, is peaceful & could be visited with a family. Most of the people find beaches a perfect destination for the vacation. 

If you love photography and want to explore a unique place,  then Deadvlei is the most visited place that contrasts between the black trees and white pans. From sunrise to sunset, the splendor of this vibrant place is worth capturing. 

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The trees here are approximately 900 years old and have not been decomposed due to the dry climate. It is a white clay pan inside the Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia. Deadvlei translates to the dead marsh. The pan is referred to as Dooie Vlei and is fully Afrikans name. It is surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world, which rest on the sandstone terrace. The pan is formed after rainfall and creates temporary shallow pools. 

When the weather changed, the sand dunes encroached on the pan and blocked the river from the area. There is no water to survive; therefore, plants and trees can’t live a long life. However, some species of plants remaining have adapted to survive the morning mist and little rainfall. The trees that died years ago have turned black due to the intense sunlight. 

With no water, the trees didn’t survive, but they didn’t disappear. The tree’s skeleton is trapped in a white clay marsh and can be captured against a blue sky.

Is Deadvlei the 8th Wonder of the World?

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Among the towering red dunes of Namib-Naukluft National Park, the area is known as Sossusvlei. It is a unique and weird landscape. The red dunes have surrounded the area, and the sand here is rusted. The red dunes look contrasting with the white floor of Deadvlei. One can spend hours walking around the place and capturing mesmerizing pictures. 

The land itself is surreal, and at night, the place highlights the best skies in the world. Even though it looks weird, the place is considered as the most beautiful dead place on the earth. Some even feature this place as the 8th wonder of the world. 

Close to the Sossusvlei, there lies a fascinating Deadvlei. It is cut from the Tsauchab River by a sand dune. At the edge of the Deadvlei, you can climb ‘Big Daddy,’ also known as Crazy Dune, which is the highest sand dune worldwide. 

If you are planning to visit this unique place, then arrive in the morning hours. It would take nearly 2 hours to climb the dune. The best time to click pictures is in the morning hours or late afternoon when the sun plays with the shadows. You must leave the park before the sunset, as it is not safe to stay in the night. 

The Namib Desert - The Oldest Desert Worldwide

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The Namib Desert is a conservation area within the oldest desert worldwide. It is located along the Atlantic Coast and covers an area of 50,000kmsq. Here are other most famous deserts from around the world that are worth visiting. 

Namib is the largest protected area in the country. It was formed by collaborating several regions, including Naukluft and Sandwich Harbour. A small part of the park is allowed for visitors. The protected area is nearly 500km long and around 100 km wide. 

Things to Do and Places to Visit in Deadvlei

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Ever-Changing Sand Dunes

If you own a vehicle, then it is easy to travel through dunes. The beautiful dunes are best captured in the morning and afternoon. At this time, the dunes look more vibrant and colorful. 

ELIM

ELIM is situated 5km inside the park gate and can be accessed easily. It is partially covered in vegetation and looks distinctive compared to other dunes. It is an excellent location for sunrise, where you can capture the daybreak and beautiful mountains to the east. 

Surreal Landscapes

Hiddelvlei is a round walk from the 2WD car park. You can capture lone trees spread across the barren landscape. 

Final Words 

Do you know Deadvlei is also used as a filming location for several years? There’s something unique about everything that is seen here. If you are visiting Deadvlei alone, then you can spend the full day here. Apart from Deadvlei, these unearthly places should be visited once in a lifetime. 

Have you ever visited this place? How was your experience? Do you know any other place like Deadvlei that is bizarre and beautiful as well?