Originally Posted by
TheCrackedJack
I'm asking because I may be going to South Africa soon and I'm wondering if I should squeeze in a visit to the Namib Desert and stay at Wolwedans or one of the other lodges.
Now, I'm just curious if the expense of flying to Windhoek and then getting another flight to these lodges is worth it if the Namib isn't much more scenic than the American Southwest or the Atacama (which I might be near next year).
So, doesn't anyone have any insight on where the best desert lodge or experience may be found if one is looking to relax in the middle of nowhere with some great scenery to keep them company?
Wow. I thought Sossusvlei was fantastic - go at sunrise or sunset if you can.
I've lived/backpacked all over the Southwest. The deserts are incredible (IMHO), but other than perhaps White Sands National Monument, I saw nothing I consider comparable to Sossusvlei. Completely different kind of desert. The pictures really don't do it justice (hard to believe) and there's more interest up close than you might expect. Try to see the less-visited Dead Vlei.
I also spent a week mountain biking in/around the Atacama Desert. Also amazing and completely different from the deserts of the Southwest or Sossusvlei. Some incredibly amazing vegetation and riding across the salt lakes was amazing. Flamingoes, hot springs...wow! When I was there, the lake had broken up a bit in places. The salt crust (like ice on a freshwater lake) was several inches thick, but where it had broken up the plates of salt looked like ice.
Three very different kinds of desert, all stunning and well-worth visiting IMHO.
Can't comment on South Africa, haven't gotten there yet!