Lauderitz, Namibia - It's early morning and the sun's rays are still too weak to dissolve the cloud of mist hovering over the countryside. Only later will the mist rise into the cloudless sky and then fade away over the desert. "Namibia is a cold country with a hot sun," says Marion Schelke who organises tours of the African nation. "Due to the abrupt change from cold, damp night to boiling hot day, the region is one of the most inhospitable in the world."
The word Namibia means desert or "broad country" but which ever meaning you take, both apply when you come to Namib-Naukluft National Park which is 50,000 square kilometres in size, making it bigger than Switzerland, and is composed almost entirely of sand.
Tourists have access to the two main attractions the park has to offer: the Sossusvlei salt pan and Sesriem Canyon, both of which are surrounded by massive sand dunes.
A trip into this fairytale world begins in Sesriem Camp where the park gates open at sunrise. The sand dunes are being constantly remodelled by the wind and have a red-golden colour thanks to the sun's rays.
It is comfortably cool in the morning, allowing a climb of the 380 metre-high "Big Daddy" sand dune.
Walking up the sandy dune is not easy, but the view of the apparently endless sea of sand that stretches into the distance from the top is worth it.
You can also see the bed of the Sossusvlei salt pan lake which is fed by the Tsauchab River every few years.
Another sight worth visiting is Sesriem Canyon which is named after six belts that settlers used to tie together to reach buckets 30 metres deep in the canyon.
Bring fresh drinking water with you as the canyon itself is rarely filled by the Tsauchab River.
The road south along the Namib Desert passes by the impressive landscape of the Nubib Mountains and the dune grass that sways in the wind.
A few kilometres from the road, Duwisib Castle appears in the distance like a mirage. The castle was built in 1909 by a German colonial officer called Hansheinrich von Wolf in the middle of a desolate area.
Today, the castle is a museum and in the neighbouring farm, visitors can stop off for refreshments including homemade apple cake.
Another place worth stopping off is Spes Bona which can be reached along the sandy D 707 road.
Visitors are few and far between here and you will likely be alone with nature, if you venture to this region.
In the distance, the dead straight road blends with the blue sky and white clouds. The only things limiting the view are the craggy Tiras mountains on one side and the red dunes of the Namib on the other.
After 123 kilometres, the D 707 traverses the C 13 which leads to the small town of Aus which is best known for small groups of wild horses that have learned to survive the harsh conditions of the desert.
There are several stories about how the horses came to live here, but they are probably descended from horses that belonged to the South African army that was stationed here during World War I.
With a bit of luck, you will get a chance to observe the horses as they drink from a watering hole near Garub.
"The horses symbolise the freedom that people have lost. That explains why so many people are fascinated by them," says Piet Swiegers who runs a nearby farm.
The most important town in southern Namibia is Keetmanshoop, 150 kilometres inland. The Kokerboom is a species of aloe that can store large quantities of water in its trunk, allowing it to survive in long periods of drought.
There are about 250 Kokerboom trees in Keetmanshoop, providing a spectacular backdrop for photographs, which are best taken in the morning or evening, that show Namibia's natural wonders at their best.
Internet: www.namibia-tourism.com.
