The drive across from Walvis Bay to the 'Luxury Tented' Moon Mountain Lodge at Sesriem was a fairly easy 230km. Most was on an gravel road but it was possible to keep to 80-100kph for most of the trip - much better than some of our previous Namibian gravel road experience on this trip! On this drive we passed through the Kuiseb Pass, which was closed two/three days previously due to heavy rain, and we also crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. After 200km we arrived at the first 'dot on the map' called Solitaire and what a lovely little oasis in the middle of nowhere it was. There was a nice looking lodge, a bakery serving fine savoury pies (Heather doesn't normally do pies but did enjoy the chicken/vegetable pie) and lots of sweet treats, a bar and a petrol station/shop. If you are ever passing by then you will have to stop - at least for fuel, and maybe a cake or pie. Our 'Luxury Tent' at Moon Mountain probably needed a little bit of TLC, but it certainly was much more comfortable than any tent I had stayed in previously. Sitting on the balcony, with a glass of wine, looking out over the Namib Naukluft National Park or watching the sun set over the distant mountains was spectacular - and the food was good too including Oryx pie on the first night. We needed to be away from the lodge by 05.30 the following morning so it was an early night for us in order to have a full day in the Sossusvlei area, a two hour drive from Moon Mountain Lodge. With a breakfast 'pack up' we were on the road before sunrise heading to Sesriem which is the gateway to the Sossusvlei area. Sossusvlei is a huge salt/clay pan that is surrounded by massive red sand dunes and the 60km drive from Sesriem to the parking area has numerous photo opportunities plus you can stop off and climb the 150m high Dune 45. The climb on Dune 45 was hard going not only because of constantly sinking in the sand but it was quite steep too. Heather made it about half way but I went all the way to the top before taking the short cut steep descent off the side to reach ground level. Having emptied shoes of sand, taken on some water and had a bite to eat we headed to the end of the tarmac road. From the car park, 60km from Sesriem, we then joined a 4x4 shuttle that took us into Sossusvlei proper. The walk across the sand to Deadvlei was a round trip of around 3km but was worth the effort - the dead accacia trees set in the dry pan with massive red sand dunes all around was spectacular. Despite there being quite a few people around it was also very easy to feel like you were totally isolated. The final call of the day was Sesriem Canyon a 30m deep gorge carved through a very soft and rocky landscape. From the top of the canyon it did not look too impressive, but once you had climbed down and walked along the river bed (there were signs of water) it was definitely well worth the effort - you just had to find out where to go (a common issue in Namibia) We had planned a spare day at Moon Mountain Lodge which gave us fairly relaxing day to do some walking from the lodge, pop back to Solitaire for lunch and generally just chill out as tomorrow we have another long drive ahead of us.