Namibia’s foremost attraction, though Sossusvlei itself is a clay and salt pan, the name is used to refer to both the pan and the surrounding area. Encompassed within the Namib-Naukluft National Park, these are some of the oldest and most immaculate landscapes in the world, the desert sands said to have been blown in from the Kalahari millions of years ago. These sands have formed a vast sea of towering dunes, most over 200 metres tall, ranging through hues of pink, orange, and red. Nestled among the dunes are the ‘vlei’, salt pans, formed by the ephemeral Tsauchab River, stark white against the colours of the dunes. The most famous, and most pictured, are Sossusvlei (dead-end marsh) itself and Deadvlei, with its silvery bottom and skeletal trees. Also encompassed in the Sossusvlei area is the atmospheric Sesreim Canyon, also formed by the Tsauchab River - walking through this narrow, 30 metre deep canyon is a must.