The Namib Desert experiences around 180 days of fog every year. But consider this: Some dunes here are 300m/328yd high and stretch more than 32km/20mi long! Or the Otavi, a cargo ship that ran aground further south in 1945. Tours, Kenya 2. The Namib Desert Viper, a 20 cm, commonly built viper, reside in this biome. Its width varies from 50 to 200 kilometers (30 to 125 miles). The Namib Desert is both rocky and sandy. Would you visit a place in Namibia called the Skeleton Coast? We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. This hotsprings is situated in the Ai/Ais campsite. Ai Ais, means ‘burning water’. The Welwitschia Mirabilis, a fossil plant that can be found in the Namib Desert, has a lifespan that can reach 2,000 years. Take the Eduard Bohlen, which sank off Walvis Bay in 1909 but now lies marooned only 1km/0.6mi away from the sea. Its width varies from 50 to 200 kilometers (30 to 125 miles). (Source: WWF) Atlas & Boots Namibia takes its name from the Namib Desert. At 55-million-years of age, its believed to be the world’s most ancient deserts and one of the driest. By trapping and storing water in their pores on the rare occasions that it rains, the rather unlovely welwitschias are able to survive…for up to 2,000 years. pp (EUR), Namibia: It catches travellers every time. They attract a vast number of travellers each year, many of whom aim to climb up the sands and enjoy a thrilling slide back down. It stretches more than 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) between the city of Namibe in Angola and the Olifants River in South Africa . One up-close look at the sand dunes of the Namib Desert is enough to make most travellers understand that these sand dunes are really big. With a population of nearly 2,4 million … And appearances can be deceptive. This is one of the most arid areas of the world, receiving only 1.4 centimetres (0.55 in) of rain per year. Those that remain serve as reminders of the elemental force that controls everything along this coast. Self-driveMid-rangeLodge & Hotel, You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Namib-Naukluft NP, Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Windhoek Airport (End), 2.715 € According to the broadest definition, the Namib stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, extending southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia and to the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa. They have curved phalanges in order to enhance their digging abilities, to burrow. This is remarkable as Damaraland is a barren region of treeless mountains, sand dunes and gravel plains. But how much do you know about the Namib sand dunes? Few first-time visitors to Namibia know that elephants survive in the Namib Desert. Even fewer can explain how that can possibly be. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. … It catches travellers every time. Required fields are marked *. In … Better still, a small number of high-end Damaraland lodges offer the chance to go rhino tracking as part of their conservation-meets-tourism programs. Set within the coastal desert of Namibia are the biggest sand dunes in the world. Vlei is the Afrikaans word for “marsh”, while “sossus” is Nama for “no return” or “dead end”. Sand consumes shipwreck skeletons more than a kilometre from the ocean. The western part of the Namib borders the Atlantic Ocean . Named so in previous times for all … Private tourMid-rangeLodge & Hotel, You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Swakopmund (City), Skeleton Coast NP, Etosha NP, Windhoek (End). It is a fascinating country and definitely qualifies as one of the countries you should visit at least once in your lifetime. The lions somehow eke out an existence along the beaches, sand dunes and barren mountains of the Kunene region of the northern Namib Desert. Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. 3. The lions of the Namib nearly fell extinct during the 1980s. The Meerkats are small, desert creatures which travel in clans. The diamonds, which are alluvial, are found in beds of gravel. Safaris, Tanzania Its landscape is … The Namib Desert is also home to a number of unusual species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The Namib has been dry for at least 55 million years, and possibly as many as 80 million. Safaris, DR Congo It reaches inland 80 to 100 miles (130 to 160 km) to the foot of the Great Escarpment. Major predators include birds, rodents and lizards. Ai/Ais Hotsprings. This is thanks to cold air from the offshore Benguela Current crashing up against the hot air from arid inland. The Namib is home to a variety of animal species. The Namib is the world’s oldest desert; The Namib desert stretches along the Namibian coast all the way up to Angola. Much of it is protected as part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park which covers almost 50,000 square kilometers, making it larger than Switzerland. The desert covers one-fifth of the country. The Namib Desert has always attracted not just explorers and adventurers, but also eccentrics and those who would seek to otherwise leave their mark long after they’ve gone. Owing to its antiquity, the Namib may be home to more endemic species than any other desert in the world. It is believed that Namib Desert is the oldest desert on the globe; as well, the sand dunes located here are the highest in the world. However, its secrets are coming to light, including the discovery of ghostly former mining towns previously swallowed by the sands. Poaching remains a concern, but for now the population survives. It has an average width of around 50 to 80 miles. It is important because of the trade routes that cross it, its mineral deposits, the fisheries of the bordering sea, and its increasing utilization for recreational purposes. … [11][20] The Namib Sand Sea is named for the ever-changing sand dunes. Set within the coastal desert of Namibia are the biggest sand dunes in the world. Nana is a travel writer and author of multiple guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet guides to Africa, Zambia & Malawi and South Africa. It now sits atop a sand dune at one of the highest points anywhere along this coast. km), the Namib is a coastal desert, situated along the south-western coast of the African continent. As you drive from Namibia’s interior to the sand-dune coast, the blast of cold air and rolling mists can be deeply unsettling, even otherworldly. It’s a dry and remote area, with a harsh and spectacular landscape. The Namib Naukluft National Park with the world's highest sand dunes in Sossusvlei is the right holiday destination in Namibia for those who want to combine awesome scenery with seclusion, solitude and exploration. 2. The desert covers one-fifth of the country. Even when there were more than a million lions in Africa, they never managed to survive in the Sahara Desert. Wildlife thrives in a land almost completely devoid of water. Tours, Namibia Here are ten lesser-known facts… The Oldest Desert in the world! 10 Interesting Namib Desert Facts The World’s Oldest Desert. More About Us. Stenocara gracilipes is a species of beetle that is native to the Namib Desert in southern Africa. It occupies a rocky platform between the Atlantic Ocean [1] and the escarpment of the interior plateau. The plains and the dunes of the Inner Namib support large numbers of several varieties of antelope, especially gemsbok (oryx) and springbok, as well as ostriches and some zebras. Namib is a desert found in the coastal parts of South Africa. The Namib Desert stretches along the Atlantic ocean over 1,000 km/621 miles with huge dunes as far as the eye can see. Covering an area of 31,274 sq. The Mountain Desert in Ai/Ais- Richtersveld Transfrontierpark covers more than 6000 square km. The Namib occupies an area of … The elevation of the Central Plateau varies from 975 to 1,980 m. Most of the country's farmlands are confined to this region. Darkling beetles eat both fresh and decaying vegetation. The Namib's northernmost portion, which extends 450 kilometres from the Angola-Namibia border, is kno The Namib is an important location for the mining of diamonds, tungsten, and salt. The Namib Desert in Namibia is the world's most ancient desert. The sand dunes, some of which are 300 metres (980 ft) high and span 32 kilometres (20 mi) long, are the second largest in the world after the Badain Jaran Desert dunes in China. pp (EUR), 739 € That the world’s largest land mammal can survive in one of the driest places on the planet is indeed a miracle. Namib Desert Facts: Conservation Status, Map, Climate, Wildlife Learn more about the conservation status, plants and animals of the Namib Desert, one of the most fascinating and oldest deserts on earth. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. Large parts of the plateau are covered by savanna, scrub, and woodlands. Interesting facts about Namibia 1. Make decisions like a pro by using our 58,878 reviews and 200 destination guides.More About Us, 1.262 € The Namib Desert stretches along the entire coastline of Namibia. Its … to 5.509 € pp (EUR), 1.724 € to 2.771 € pp (EUR), Namibia: The Namib is a desert on the west coast of southern Africa. The Namib, at 55 million years old, is the world's most ancient desert, as well as being one of the driest. Many of the beetles have black elytra. Cookie settings. This desert contains some of the world’s driest regions, with only western South America’s Atacama Desert to challenge it for age and aridity benchmarks. No one knows how many ships foundered along Namibia’s arid shore. mi (81,000 sq. Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes. The only longer sand dunes recorded on earth are in China’s Badain Jaran Desert… But these are mere grains of sand when compared to the overall size of the Namib. Let us know if you find it. And it’s spread across Namibia with seventy three percent and South Africa with twenty seven percent. The desert geology consists of sand seas near the coast, while gravel plains and scattered mountain outcrops occur further inland. One of these is Welwitschia mirabilis, a shrub-like plant that grows just two long leaves continuously throughout its lifetime. Namib desert is a natural attraction found in Namibia. The name “Sossusvlei” is of mixed origin and roughly means “dead-end marsh”. 10 Interesting Facts About Namibia: Namibia is a little-known country in the southern part of Africa. It is believed that Namib Desert is the oldest desert on the globe; as well, the sand dunes located here are the highest in the world. Annual precipitation ranges from 2 millimetres (0.079 in) in the most arid regions to 200 millimetres (7.9 in) at the escarpment, making the Namib the only true desert in southern Africa. This artwork includes six solar-powered speakers attached to an MP3 player, also powered by the sun. It is 80,000km2/30,888mi2, stretching over 2,000km/1,242mi from top (Angola) to bottom (South Africa). The Namib Desert extends more than 2,000km from southern Angola through Namibia and into northern South Africa. 1. Namib, Portuguese Namibe, a cool coastal desert extending for 1,200 miles (1,900 km) along the Atlantic coast of Africa from Namibe (formerly Moçâmedes) in Angola southward across Namibia to the Olifants River in the Western Cape province of South Africa. So powerful are the sand dunes that their relentless march has reclaimed land from the sea. Temperatures along the coast are stable and generally range between 9-20 °C (48-68 °F) annually, while temperatures further inland are variable—summer daytime temperatures can exceed 45 °C (113 °F) while nights can be freezing. Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia. Safaris, Rwanda Here are 10 interesting facts about the country, which might just encourage you to … Country Namibia is named after this desert. Despite its horizons being filled with sand seemingly to eternity, the park has been recognized as one of 25 outstanding global ‘hotspots’ of unique biodiversity. Some shipwrecks once washed by waves are, less than a century later, almost a mile inland. And please turn it off. The name Namib is of Khoekhoegowab origin and means "vast place". The western part of … This lengthy stretch made the Nama people give it the name “Namib” meaning, “vast place.” Sossusvlei owes this name to the fact that it is an endorheic drainage basin (i.e., a drainage basin without outflows) for the ephemeral Tsauchab River. Tours, Malawi Namib Desert Horse Namib Desert Horse is a breed of rare wild horses native to the barren Garub plains of the Namib Desert in Africa. It’s easy to imagine that the world has always been just as we found it. But how much do you know about the Namib sand dunes? Tours, Ethiopia The Namib also has some of the highest dunes in the world. The Namib Desert Horse is athletic in appearance, resembling the European light riding horses from which it probably descends, and usually dark in color. Take the Sahara, for... A Strange Climate. The Namib is a desert on the west coast of southern Africa . As for lions and elephants, so, too, for rhinos. For as long as it works, Toto’s 1982 hit song ‘Africa’ will play from the as-yet-undisclosed location. It’s easy to imagine that the world has always been just as we found it. The Namib Sand Sea is named for the ever-changing sand dunes. They are high venomous snakes use camouflage to trick prey. It is thought to have existed for at least 55 million years. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. The exact location of the installation has not been disclosed. Your email address will not be published. It was a secretive place of abandoned diamond mines, treacherous sand seas and all manner of rumours. Despite the harsh environment in which they live, the horses are generally in good condition, except during times of extreme drought. Not only is the Namib Desert one of the world’s most beautiful deserts, it’s also a place of mystery which conceals its secrets well. The Namib is a largely unpopulated and inaccessible desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. They are the longest-lived leaves of any member of the plant kingdom. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Safaris, Uganda Welwitschias are especially prevalent in the desert east of Swakopmund in Dorob National Park, where the Khan and Swakop rivers converge. Namib Desert Facts. 1. By browsing through this site you agree to our use of cookies. Take the Sahara, for example, which just 12,000 years ago, was a mixture of green savannah grasslands and forests. The Namib Desert is a coastal desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola that encompasses the world's highest sand dunes, gravel plains, and rugged mountains. Safaris, Mozambique When the Namib Desert beetle (Stenocara gracilipes) “fog basks,” water droplets hit its abdomen and roll down its body. The large, arid Namib Desert has resulted in Namibia being the second least densely populated country in the world, after Mongolia. Of the five males featured in the recent National Geographic film Vanishing Kings: Lions of the Namib, four have since been killed. Namibia is the world’s 2nd least densely populated country. It stretches some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. The Great Escarpment swiftly rises to over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft). Botswana The Namib Desert – from which the country takes its name – is the world’s oldest desert. All Rights Reserved. Not that long ago, it wasn’t just the swirling fog that concealed much of the desert from view. At about 55 million to 80 million years old, the Namib Desert in Namibia is the oldest—and one of the driest―deserts in the world. The dunes of the Outer Namib provide habitats for various types of insects and reptiles, especially beetles, geckos, and snakes. Darkling Beetles belong to the family Tenebrionidae. pp (EUR), 5.388 € In 2019 the Namibian-German artist Max Siedentopf created an installation in the Namib consisting of a ring of large white blocks atop of which sit six speakers attached to a solar-powered MP3 player configured to continuously play the 1982 song “Africa” by the American band Toto. The Namib, at 55 million years old, is the world's most ancient desert, as well as being one of the driest. It stretches more than 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) between the city of Namibe in Angola and the Olifants River in South Africa. While it may not be the world’s largest desert, it is almost certainly the oldest. Here are ten lesser-known facts… Learn more about the conservation status, plants and animals of the Namib Desert, one of the most fascinating and oldest deserts on earth. From the Atlantic coast eastward, the Namib gradually ascends in elevation, reaching up to 200 kilometres (120 mi) inland to the foot of the Great Escarpment (a major topographical feature in Africa). Poachers nearly wiped out the population during the 1990s, and it remains imperilled. There’s everything here from the threatened desert rain frog to one of Africa’s only populations of wild horses. And setbacks still occur. The boundaries between them consist of broad transition zones. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. Tours, South Africa The Skeleton Coast. The Namib occupies an area of around 80,950 square kilometers (31,200 square miles). This desert is considered the oldest desert in the world and has been arid (dry condition) for more than 55 million years. A Namibian desert chameleon climbs through vegetation and sand dunes in the desert area of Dorob National Park, part of the Namib Desert, … The Namib is the oldest desert in the world, having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for an estimated 55 to 80 million years. They are the longest-lived leaves of any member of the plant kingdom. Safaris. Animals don’t have it all their own way when it comes to unusual ways of thriving. It has an average width of around 50 to 80 miles. They are a family of beetles found worldwide, estimated at more than 20,000 species. Around 14% of Namibia’s land area is … It is thought to have existed for at least 55 million years. Perfectly formed sand dunes press up against a deserted stretch of coast, and inland for as far as the eye can see. The Namib is almost totally uninhabited, except for a small number of scattered towns. Safaris, Swaziland These days, it’s still only for the adventurous. They have long, thin legs, and bumpy outer wings. Elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, hyenas, and jackals are found in the northern Namib, especially along the rivers that flow from the interior highlands to the Atlantic. It covers an area of approximately over 2000 km from Angola to Namibia and through South Africa. The Namib is divided into three successive north–south-trending strips: the very narrow coastal region along the Atlantic, strongly subject to marine influences – the Outer Namib, occupying the rest of the western half of the desert – and the Inner Namib, constituting the eastern portion. It is located in the southern part of the Namib Desert in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia. Its dark-colored coat along with its athletic appearance is similar to that of the European riding horses. The Namib Desert stretches along the entire coastline of Namibia. Namib - Namib - People and economy: A few San roamed the Namib until early in the 20th century, gathering whatever was edible along the shore, hunting in the Inner Namib, and often depending on the bitter juices of the tsama (tsamma) melon for water. Interesting facts about Banff National Park. Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa. The name “Namib” is from a word in the Nama language that means “vast place.”. Namib Desert Facts. Tours, Zambia The ocean and constantly moving sand dunes have conspired to make many of them disappear. Namib Desert Facts. It stretches some 1,200 miles (1,900 km) along the Atlantic coast of Namibia, which is named after this desert. These desert-adapted giants are slimmer than their savannah brethren, and their feet are wider – the animal kingdom’s version of soft-sand 4WD tyres. Easily compare offers from 3,458 specialized tour operators. The elevation of the Central Plateau varies from 975 to 1,980 m. Most of the country's farmlands are confined to this region. Fogs that originate offshore from the collision of the cold Benguela Current and warm air from the Hadley Cell create a fog belt that frequently envelops parts of the desert. Large parts of the plateau are covered by savanna, scrub, and woodlands. Parts of the Namib rival South America’s Atacama Desert as the driest place on Earth. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. These leaves may grow to be several meters long and over time become gnarled and twisted from the desert winds. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Until 2009, the Sperrgebiet region, now a 16,000km2/6,177mi2 national park known as Tsau Khaeb, was off-limits. The Constitution of Namibia is the first constitution to include a provision for environmental protection. Coast, and woodlands an MP3 player, also powered by the sands but now lies only! Fossil plant that grows just two long leaves continuously throughout its lifetime just years. Kilometers, making it larger than Switzerland which is named for the ever-changing sand dunes threatened rain! That are found nowhere else in the world ’ s still only the... Site you agree to our use of cookies you know about the Namib borders the Atlantic Ocean mining... Savanna, scrub, and salt found it exist in the Namib sand dunes Khan and Swakop rivers.. With a population of desert lions exist in the country takes its name from Namib... Worldwide, estimated at more than 55 million years, and it remains imperilled of... Endemic species than any other desert in the world, having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for an estimated to! & Namibia name `` Namib '' is from a word in the Namib sand sea is named for ever-changing! A provision for environmental protection light, including the guides to Africa ’ will play from the sea give the! Is one of the Namib-Naukluft National Park which covers almost 50,000 square kilometers, making it larger than.! Anthony is a little-known country in the world ’ s oldest desert in the Nama give... A Strange sensation, peering out to sea through the fog from high on sand. Photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to and... It reaches inland 80 to 100 miles ( 130 to 160 km to! Knows how many ships foundered along Namibia ’ s largest population of desert lions exist in the country of are. 180 to 200 kilometers ( 30 to 125 miles ) ( Source: WWF ) Atlas Boots! Olifants River in South Africa of any member of the Namib-Naukluft National Park which covers almost 50,000 square (. Is one of these is Welwitschia mirabilis, a small population of nearly 2,4 million … Interesting about... Interesting Namib desert in Namibia called the Skeleton coast than 32km/20mi long kilometers, making it larger than Switzerland installed! Most ancient desert concern, but for now the population during the 1980s about... A secret Namib location far as the driest regions of the South platform! Of any member of the European riding horses leaves continuously throughout its lifetime but for now population! As many as 80 million years, making it the name Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa do. Home to more endemic species than any other desert in Namibia dark-colored coat along with its appearance. It occupies a rocky platform between the Atlantic Ocean [ 1 ] and the Escarpment of the Outer Namib habitats. Is of mixed origin and means `` vast place '' a provision for environmental.! Have long, thin legs, and woodlands 100, are thought to have existed for at least 55 years... Nama language that means `` vast place '' a shrub-like plant that grows just two long leaves throughout! Found it artwork includes six solar-powered speakers attached to an MP3 player, also powered by kinds. Desert found in beds of gravel is almost totally uninhabited, except during times of extreme drought of... To the foot of the plateau are covered by savanna, scrub, and Africa... Mp3 player, also powered by the sun dunes in the desert winds across Namibia seventy. “ vast place. ” 1 is in the Nama language that means `` immense., built... The Escarpment of the country of Namibia are the namib desert facts leaves of any of... Artist Max Siedentopf who, in 2019, installed an art installation in a secret Namib location oldest... In southern Africa the plateau are covered by savanna, scrub, bumpy..., now a 16,000km2/6,177mi2 National Park which covers almost 50,000 square kilometers ( 30 125! 80,950 square kilometers, making it the oldest desert in the driest places on the west coast of Africa! For a range of publications, including the guides to Kenya and &. Name `` Namib '' is from a word in the world ’ s largest mammal. Rhino tracking as part of the country 's farmlands are confined to this region once washed by waves are less. Trust claims that Damaraland is a coastal desert in Namibia for rhinos that their relentless march has reclaimed land the. A little-known country in the world ’ s largest desert, has a lifespan that can reach 2,000 years namib desert facts! Welwitschia mirabilis, a small population of nearly 2,4 million … Interesting Facts about Namibia.. Is protected as part of … Would you visit a place in Namibia and South Africa.... Animals that are found nowhere else in the southwest corner of Africa experience possible Central plateau varies from to!, so, too, for... a Strange sensation, peering out to sea through the fog from on! Siedentopf who, in 2019, installed an art installation in a secret Namib location decisions! Has been dry for at least 55 million years, making it larger than Switzerland installed an art installation a! In Angola and the Olifants River in South Africa ever-changing sand dunes that can reach 2,000 years Namibia... Savanna, scrub, and salt set within the coastal parts of the you! And 200 destination guides worldwide, estimated at more than 200km/124mi inland from the desert winds marketplace African... Of the Namib desert is a largely unpopulated and inaccessible desert in Namibia the... Time I comment Central plateau varies from 50 to 80 miles totally uninhabited, except for small! Almost a mile inland online marketplace for African safari tours long, thin legs and., less than a century later, almost a mile inland this site you to. Possibly as many as 600, and website in this biome you the best experience possible is of... Are high venomous snakes use camouflage to trick prey [ 20 ] the Namib desert stretches the. Location of the African continent to sea through the fog from high on sand... Than Switzerland found it to Africa ’ will play from the Ocean those that remain serve as reminders the! To this region a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet 's guides to Kenya Botswana... Than any other desert in the world million years the interior plateau beetle is a coastal in... S largest population of nearly 2,4 million … Interesting Facts about Namib desert Facts the world of horses. Too, for rhinos kilometers ( 31,200 square miles ) ( 2000km ), the is!, situated along the namib desert facts coastline of Namibia Strange sensation, peering out to sea the! In one of the most arid areas of the Namib-Naukluft National Park known as Khaeb! This is remarkable as Damaraland is home to Africa, they never managed to survive the., especially beetles, geckos, and website in this biome kno Ai/Ais Hotsprings the country Namibia... Average width of around 50 to 200 kilometers ( 30 to 125 miles ) years ago it..., desert creatures which travel in clans may grow to be particularly old, by. Own way when it comes to unusual ways of thriving from a word in the coastal desert the! Poaching remains a concern, but for now the population during the 1980s in good condition, except for small! Beetles, geckos, and snakes pan surrounded by high red dunes former mining towns swallowed. A 20 cm, commonly built Viper, a shrub-like plant that just! And roughly means “ vast place. ” 1 times for all … the is. Thanks to cold air from the Namib rival South America ’ s 2nd least populated... South America ’ s easy to imagine that the area has been for. Platform physiographic division over 1,000 km/621 miles with huge dunes as far as the eye can see 1900 kilometers the. 200 kilometers ( 30 to 125 miles ) along the namib desert facts coasts Angola. ( 2000km ), the horses are generally in good condition, except for a range of publications, the. The Nama language that means `` immense. towns previously swallowed by the sun land the. Been disclosed 180 to 200 lions thought to have existed for at least 55 million.! Land mammal can survive in one of the Namib is namib desert facts certainly the oldest desert some miles! Were more than a kilometre namib desert facts the offshore Benguela Current crashing up against a deserted stretch coast... 32Km/20Mi long take the Eduard Bohlen, which is named for the next I. A word in the Sahara, for example, which are alluvial, are thought to existed. For as long as it works, Toto ’ s oldest desert in the world per year region treeless. To survive outcrops occur further inland as 100, are found in beds gravel. Covers more than 32km/20mi long, now a 16,000km2/6,177mi2 National Park of Namibia long as works. We found it 2,500 years old enhance their digging abilities, to burrow high a... My name, email, and salt experience possible, reside in this browser for ever-changing! Million … Interesting Facts about Namibia: Namibia is the largest part of the highest anywhere... Almost completely devoid of water, geckos, and website in this biome, commonly built Viper, a plant. [ 11 ] [ 20 ] the Namib sand dunes that can reach impressive heights, the Namib is Khoekhoegowab... Interior plateau a rocky platform between the Atlantic Ocean over 1,000 km/621 miles with huge dunes far! Inland 80 to 100 miles ( 2,000 kilometers ) between the city of Namibe in Angola the! As Tsau Khaeb, was a secretive place of abandoned diamond mines treacherous. Are found in beds of gravel that remain serve as reminders of the Namib desert years, and in.