#1A’s “landscape view” image was taken at 11. 56 am on 22 November 2022, when I was standing close to the rim of Sesriem Canyon.
#1B’s “much closer view” was taken four minutes later, when I was inside the canyon, heading down to the then mostly-dry bed of its “creator”, the Tsauchab – a river that last managed to reach the Atlantic Ocean many thousands of years ago.
Nowadays, Sossusvlei is the Tsauchab River’s terminus.
During its very occasional “flood events” the river delivers water into Sossusvleii’s vlei.
I have not seen the river flow, but in 2006, in the aftermath of the best rains in thirty years or so, we did see the vlei in “freshwater lake” mode.
All things are relative.
In this particular desert, Sesriem Canyon’s walls and floor are relatively wet, relatively well-vegetated places.