Hike Big Daddy Dune

The Namib Desert has some of the highest sand dunes in the world, one of them being "Big Daddy." It got this nickname because of its height of 380 metres. Not only is it one of the highest sand dunes in the world, but its in the worlds oldest desert.

It's not the height that makes this climb difficult, it's the soft sand that you sink into, the heat, and only the brave take this on. You find yourself stopping to rest every few steps.

Most camp out in one of the sites near by, and leave around 7 am so you can try start the climb before the sun gets to hot. From the camping area, it takes roughly an hour to get there. You drive on a long straight road, and reach a parking lot, some hike here, but if you have 4 wheel drive, you continue going straight and then you reach the parking lot for Big Daddy.

Being in the desert, it gets VERY hot. Most climb the dunes in runners, but end up taking them off because of the amount of sand that collects in them. I wouldn't recommend going barefoot, as it can get as hot as 50 degrees celsius and your feet will blister, so climbing in socks is ideal. 

The view from the top is breathtaking. You can see the desert for miles around you. The hike is very difficult, and the weather takes a serious toll on your body, but it is worth it. Push through and conquer the climb.

It takes about 2-3 hours to climb this dune, and then you can run down the face in about 45 seconds-1 minute, straight into Sossusvlei, or more commonly known as "Dead Vlei." (Vlei: flay). Once you reach the bottom, you can walk around the vlei. There is a lot of great photo opportunities down here with the old trees and cracked desert floor. 

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