It’s time to be dazzled by another desert, the ancient Namib Desert, one of the oldest deserts on the planet, home to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei. The 5-hour (360km) route to Sesriem heads west, passing the towns of Mariental and Maltahöhe and onto the gravel and the meandering Tsaris Pass. From Sesriem the journey is northwards to the spectacular scenery of Namib Desert Lodge.