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3.5 amazing hours, Namib Desert (#4 in series)

 

 

Just before 5 pm we arrived at Kulala Desert Lodge.

At this point the sandstorm had raged for circa 45 minutes.

We rushed out of “our” vehicle, and into the Lodge’s hub/reception/lounge.

From there, the nearest of the nearby sand sea’s huge dunes is usually spectacularly evident.

At this moment, it was invisible.

(eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the featured image was taken through a window, albeit the lounge’s nicely clean, clear glass…as is also true of the next two photos)

One minute later, “the view” was truncated further.

 

 

Namib sandstorm, viewed from Kulala Desert Lodge, 4.59 pm, 21 November 2022. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Another minute later, however, the storm was abating.

 

 

 

Namib sandstorm, from Kulala Desert Lodge, 5.00 pm, 21 November 2022. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Accordingly, we briskly walked outside, and within a further minute we were inside “our” thatch-topped, partly canvas-walled tent/cottage hybrid.

Our luggage having speedily followed us, I walked out onto “our” deck, which faced north-ish.

The sandstorm was rapidly retreating/abating, and the magnificence of the local landscape was beginning to become apparent.

 

 

 

Namib sandstorm, abating…apparently. 5.02 pm, 21 November 2022. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

Very shortly thereafter, the storm rallied.

 

 

Circa forty seconds after previous photo – sandstorm not spent, yet. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

As you will see in this series’ next chapter, just six minutes later the wind really had “died”…and we were about to enjoy something very few tourists ever experience in the Namib.

Published in Americas and Eurasia and Africa nature and travel photographs