The Tallest Sand Dunes in the World

From my film archive - Africa Part 2

Leaving Cape Town, I fly over the endless sands of the Kalahari Desert and land in the capital city of Windhoek, Namibia.

The next day, I begin the long journey in a four-wheel-drive through the dry, desolate landscape. Eventually seeing a few beautiful Quiver trees shaking in the wind and some stray Oryx in the distance.

I arrive at my lodge for the evening, exhausted from the day’s rough travels. Setting up my panoramic camera to capture the night skies, while I try and get a few hours of sleep, anticipating the next day’s adventure.

Leaving very early in the dark of night, as we still have a long drive to get to Namib-Naukluft Park before sunrise. I have the beautiful entertainment of bouncing eyeballs reflecting the headlines of our vehicle, as shapes of bouncing Springboks finally appear out of the black.

At the Namib-Naukluft Park gate, we beg the guard to let us in. Racing the sun to catch first light on the dunes, the tallest sand dunes in the world!

I am surrounded by these incredible mountains of drifting sand. Soon the winds kick up into an all-out sandstorm. I continue to try and work in these intense conditions.

I position the truck to try and shield me from the piercing sand, blasting my eyes and equipment. I see the dunes actually changing shape right in front of me. This is one fierce sand storm.

Most of the day is spent wrestling with the storm and attempting to compose images as best as I can see. Finally, late in the afternoon, the winds drift away, just in time to catch the last rays of deep orange light raking across the highest of dunes. Once again we race to leave the park before the gates are locked.

Now it’s time to try and clean all the sand out of my delicate equipment and rest my beaten eyes.

And yet another incredible day comes to an end…

The Okavango Delta

From Namibia, I take a small aircraft to Maun, Botswana. Landing on a narrow airstrip, lined with even smaller planes waiting their turn.

I climb aboard one of these smaller planes and we take off, floating over swampy grasslands, spotting elephants, giraffes, and zebras grazing below.

Soon we arrive at the world's largest inland delta, the Okavango Delta. All the water reaching this delta disperses or evaporates but does not flow into any ocean or sea. I have arrived at yet another one of my life long dream destinations.

The camp is set on higher ground with the protection of trees. Meals are served at a long table with a beautiful view of the savannah and a few Hippos being lazy.

After another long day, I settle into my rustic cabin. Drifting off with the distant roar of lions, I wonder, am I dreaming? The roar seems to be getting closer, but I somehow find it southing. This is AFRICA.

The next morning we head out in search of wildlife. We use a boat called a Mokoro, which is a hollowed-out tree version of a canoe. My guide asks “What would you like to see?”, “Elephants”, I say.

We stop on a bit of land, my guide sets up camp and begins to cook breakfast. I wander around looking for images. Suddenly, like a scene from an old comedy movie, my guide runs by yelling “Elephants”! Surprised, but I realize the danger, I grab my heavy gear and run too.

Later my guide tells me of his friend who was recently killed by an elephant…

We safely return to camp. I am invited to my guide’s village, a one mile walk away. He tells me that he has to do this walk in the dark every day to get to work. He has no torch (flashlight) and walks in fear of the great danger of lions at night.

His home is a tiny shack with a piece of cardboard on the ground. This is where he sleeps, with his girlfriend and three children. I am surprised they are not married, but he tells me he needs three cows to offer to his girlfriend's family before they can be married.

He has no money for a torch or the cows needed for his wedding. I donate what I can to help out. He will at least be able to get a torch for those dangerous walks to work in the dark.