Sesriem

Sesriem is a small settlement in the Namib Desert in Namibia, located 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from the entrance to the Sesriem Canyon. It is situated in the Hardap Region, about 107 kilometers (66 miles) southwest of Solitaire and 135 kilometers (84 miles) northwest of the town of Maltahöhe. Sesriem is primarily known as the gateway to the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei areas, which are major tourist attractions within the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

The name "Sesriem" is Afrikaans and means "six belts." This name was given by the early settlers who used six strips of raw hide, fastened together, to draw water from the deep pool within the canyon. The Sesriem Canyon itself is a narrow gorge about a kilometer (0.62 miles) long and up to 30 meters (98 feet) deep, carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years. Visitors can often walk down into the canyon to explore its formations.

The settlement itself consists of a few facilities catering to tourists, including lodges, a campsite, a petrol station, and a small shop. It serves as a convenient base for exploring the surrounding desert landscapes, including the iconic sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Many visitors stay overnight at Sesriem to be able to enter the national park at sunrise and experience the dramatic light and shadow play on the dunes. The area is characterized by its extreme aridity and stark beauty, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer months.