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WILDLIFE SAFARIS AT SOSSUSVLEI, NAMIBIA
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Intriguing desert-adapted African wildlife: Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge is set within the private NamibRand Nature Reserve adjacent to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, in a mountaineous part of the Namib Desert. It is a world of jagged mountains and an endless sea of red sand dunes. Four distinct habitats are home to unique desert wildlife that thrives in this seemingly harsh yet tranquil landscape.
- Impressive oryx antelope
- Rare mountain zebra
- Leopard, hyena and caracal
- Fascinating dune-adapted reptiles and beetles
- Great birdwatching includes several Namib-restricted species
- Unique desert flora featuring bizarre quiver trees
- Mythical ‘Fairy Circles’
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Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge Habitats:
Sossusvlei boasts four distinct habitats. Rocky hillsides support strange quiver trees, gnarled commiphora and spiny euphorbia shrubs, as well as delicate Namib edelweiss. Seasonal tussock grasses flourish on the extensive sandy plains after rain. Dry riverbeds support deep-rooted camel thorn and wild ebony trees, which provide shade, browsing and refuge for many creatures. Impressive sand dunes may be bare or sprinkled with hardy grasses. All three types of dunes are to be found within easy reach of the Lodge: sand, vegetated and petrified. Research into Sossusvlei’s mythical ‘fairy circles’ – unexplained circles of land where nothing grows – continues. Guests may adopt a ‘fairy circle’ with all funds going towards further research on what causes this mysterious phenomenon. |
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Mammals at Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge:
A surprising diversity of large and small mammals occur in this arid wilderness. Rapier-horned oryx live singly or in small herds on the grassy plains, where aardwolf, bat-eared fox and springbok are also found. Rare Hartmann's mountain zebra and unusual dassie rat are restricted to rocky hillsides. Herds of springbok feed on the open plains. Spotted hyena, brown hyena, caracal and the elusive leopard are the larger predators. The strange Grant’s golden mole inhabits open sand dunes. |
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Birds at Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge:
There are 116 species recorded at Sossusvlei including the Namibian endemic dune lark. Ruppell’s korhaan, Ludwig’s bustard, short-toed rock-thrush, mountain wheatear, pale-winged starling, dusky sunbird and sociable weaver are among other arid-adapted species. Birds of prey are well represented with lappet-faced vulture, secretary bird, black-breasted snake-eagle, pale chanting-goshawk and tiny pygmy falcon among those regularly seen. |
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Other Wildlife:
Four species of uniquely-adapted desert lizard live on sand dunes, where a host of entertaining tenebrionid beetles can also be seen foraging. Barking geckos call out from their burrows at dusk, when giant ground geckos go out in search of insect prey. The fascinating web-footed gecko occurs on bare sand dunes where it is hunted by the side-winding Peringuey’s adder. A host of strange and interesting insects inhabit the dunes and rocky hills. |
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| For exciting wildlife sightings, visit CC Africa's entertaining
and informative wildlife website www.wildwatch.com. |
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