Namib Desert

The world's oldest desert, with its red sands and skeletal trees, makes Namibia seem like a piece of Mars on Earth. The reddish sand, dead trees, and bizarre landscapes of the Namib Desert in Namibia resemble an image of the Martian surface. Certain areas of the Earth resemble Mars in soil and landscape, which is why it gets such comparisons.

Namib is a coastal desert in Southern Africa. In the local Nama language, "Namib" means "a place where there is nothing." It stretches approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. It spans from the Carunjamba River in Angola down to the Olifants River in Namibia and the Western Cape of South Africa.

The northwestern part of Namib, extending 450 kilometers (280 miles) from the Angola-Namibia border, is known as the Kaokoveld Desert. To the south, it borders the Kalahari Desert. Moving eastward from the Atlantic coast, the elevation gradually increases, reaching up to 200 kilometers (120 miles) to the base of the Great Escarpment.

Namib is an extremely arid desert, receiving an average annual rainfall of only 2 millimeters (0.079 inches), although some parts may get up to 200 millimeters (7.9 inches). Having remained dry for around 55 to 80 million years, it is considered the oldest desert on Earth.

Near the coast, the desert consists of vast sand seas. The gravel plains, clay surfaces, and scattered rocky hills with sparse grass or shrubs give the Namib its distinct character. Some sand dunes rise to heights of 300 meters (980 feet) and stretch up to 32 kilometers (20 miles) long — comparable to those in China’s Badain Jaran Desert. The coastal temperatures are generally stable, ranging between 9°C and 20°C (48°F to 68°F).

Except for a few small settlements and indigenous nomadic communities like the Ovahimba, Obahimba Herero in the north, and Topnaar Nama in the central region, the Namib Desert is largely uninhabited. Despite this, the ancient nature of the desert makes it surprisingly rich in biodiversity compared to many other deserts. Several unique species of plants and animals are found here, adapted to the local microclimate.

Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest game park in Africa, is home to African bush elephants, mountain zebras, and other large mammals. One of the most famous endemic plants is the Welwitschia mirabilis, known for its long, ribbon-like leaves, which can grow several meters long. Like many deserts, Namib is inhabited mostly by arthropods and other small creatures, some of which can survive on moisture from ocean fog. Larger animals are mainly found in the northern areas. Most plant life here is adapted to survive the extremely arid conditions.

Moisture-carrying winds from the Indian Ocean lose their humidity while crossing the Drakensberg Mountains, leaving them dry by the time they reach the Namib Escarpment in the east. Conversely, winds from the Atlantic Ocean are trapped beneath warmer inland air, causing the formation of fog and clouds. This fog is a regular coastal occurrence and serves as the primary source of water for most of the Namib's flora and fauna.

Their survival in this remote area is largely due to the restrictions placed on the Sperrgebiet region. After the discovery of diamonds there in 1908, German colonial authorities imposed a ban on public access across a 350-kilometer stretch, which included the Garub area — the horses’ habitat. As a result, hunters and horse traders were kept out, and the horse population gradually increased over the last 100 years.

During summer, the Namib horses can go up to 30 hours without drinking water. In winter, this can extend to 72 hours. In 1977, water flow to the region nearly stopped, and many horses died of dehydration. A miner appealed to the local mining company, and his request led to the installation of several water tanks and open troughs. Today, a few shallow basins are maintained in the desert to meet the horses' water needs. These wild horses have become a major attraction for tourists visiting the Namib Desert.