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If you visit the UNESCO natural heritage site Sossusvlei with its towering sand dunes, you are only a sand corn’s throw away from the Sesriem Canyon in Namibia. In this blog, I will share whether the Sesriem Canyon is worth a visit.
The Tsauchab river and the creative interplay of the forces of nature
The sea of sand of the Namib is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best way to bathe in it is in the dunes of Sossusvlei. It is one of Namibia’s top tourist attractions. A river runs through the landscape. On its banks, you can spot both living and dead camel thorn trees that extend deep into the dune field.
“Tsauchab” is the name of the river, which is dry today. But thousands of years ago, it flowed into the ocean. At first, it was able to wash away the accumulating sand. But the desert-like conditions and the sometimes year-round drought meant that the sand eventually took over, forming massive dune fields and blocking the river’s path further and further. Initially, the Tsauchab fought bravely against the sand, finding new paths or washing ashore with such force that it swept the sand away with it. Eventually the granular erosion was stronger, and the river lost its power. It didn’t manage to reach the last 55 km or so to the Atlantic Ocean.
In the end, the struggle of these forces of nature was nothing less than a creative process. The result is a landscape of incredible beauty, of which the “Dalí-esk” Deadvlei is of particular importance. Today, visitors can only see the interaction of water and desert when there is a lot of rain. This is when small lakes, called vleis, form in the dry pans, adding to the natural spectacle. The Tsauchab is at least partially active at times like these and is very happy about its own creation, the Sesriem Canyon.
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How was the Sesriem Canyon formed?
The formation of the Sesriem Canyon is the result of a long process of erosion as the Tsauchab River dug ever deeper into the ground. The formation of the gorge in its present form began about 30 million years ago. The land had long been covered by a thick layer of sand when the climate changed from arid to semi-arid. This change brought large amounts of water which cascaded over the cliffs of the Namib Naukluft Mountains. With it came more gravel and sand, as well as loose limestone. What happened next is reflected in the two to three distinct layers that can be seen when you stand in the canyon today or when you look into it from above.
What both layers have in common is that the evaporation of the carbonised water released lime. Lime combined with gravel and sand formed a stony mixture (conglomerate). The upper layer represents a time when the river flowed slowly and erosion was relatively gentle, leaving behind coarser structures. The lower layer is associated with a period when the water shot through the gorge at a much faster rate. The strong force of erosion left the large round smooth boulders in the river bed and the polished-looking rock faces.
This phase is estimated to have occurred about 2 million years ago, during the last Ice Age. The seawater froze, lowering the sea level and creating a greater gradient between the mountains and the sea. As a result, the unfrozen waters of the Tsauchab River carved their way at high speed, creating a gorge about 1 km long, up to 30 metres deep and only a few metres wide.
How Sesriem Canyon got its name
The name “Sesriem” comes from Afrikaans (“ses riem”) and means “six straps”. It is said that settlers used to stop here to get water. As they couldn’t take their animals into the gorge, they had to bring the precious water to the animals. So they lowered troughs into the river from above, scooped up the water and drew it up. To do this, the settlers connected the straps of six ox carts and attached them to the buckets.
Our favourite tours including the Sesriem Canyon:
Namibia Highlights in Style
Places Windhoek, Okonjima, Onguma Reserves, Twyfelfontein, Erongo Mountains, Swakopmund, Namib Desert
from 90,500 NAD person sharing a double room
Fascinating Namibia
Places Windhoek, Kalahari, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Erongo Mountains, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, Waterberg Plateau
from 70,000 NAD person sharing a double room
A visit to Sesriem Canyon in Namibia
The question of whether the Sesriem Canyon is worth a visit is particularly relevant for those who are visiting Sossusvlei. Because it means putting up with another 4km of back and forth, on a road that has the best African massage potential, rough as a washboard. I take the opportunity and take my guests here after visiting Sossusvlei. The Sesriem Canyon does not even come close to the Fish River Canyon in the south of the country. But it has something that I always miss in Africa’s biggest canyon: shade.
Despite its geological intricacies, the Sesriem Canyon is a very different experience when you come from the merciless, shadowless heat of the Sossusvlei dunes. The first glimpse of the canyon is enticing, promising a cool-down after hiking through the narrow lane. There’s no red carpet on the way in, but you also won’t need any mountaineering equipment. You might wish for a helping hand from time to time. But where would the adventure be if it was too easy?
As soon as you reach the riverbed, you have to decide whether to turn left or right. If you have time, you can turn right. The gorge opens up more and more with every metre and slowly loses in depth. The path to the left is the opposite and gives the best gorge feeling. It is only a few hundred metres long and leads to a dead end. At its end you can crawl into a sort of cave along some rocks. There you will find a pool filled with water most of the year. It may not be the most inviting place to swim, but it is an important source of water for many animals in the area.
Encountering animals in Sesriem Canyon
As you walk through the canyon and look up, you will often see birds flying overhead. But don’t worry: they’re not menacing vultures. It’s usually a type of pigeon that nests in the cliffs. There are also beetles and lizards. There are also snakes, but you have to be lucky to see them. It’s easier to spot baboons, which occasionally use the water in the gorge or seek shade. Other animals such as springbok and oryx are more likely to pass by when there are no people in the canyon.
Jackal, hyena, cheetah, ostrich, scorpion, and other animals can also be found in the area. It can never be ruled out that one or two of these beauties will get lost in the gorge.
Conclusion
In combination with a visit to Sossusvlei, the Sesriem Canyon in Namibia is definitely worth a visit. On the one hand, there aren’t many gorges in the country that you can walk through. On the other hand, the Sesriem offers a real gorge experience, as it is very narrow in places and the cliffs are steep. Also, a short hike in the shade is an ideal change to the sun-drenched hikes of Dune 45, up to Big Daddy or into Deadvlei.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have and to help you plan your trip to Namibia – whether you are traveling with a guide or on a self-drive tour. As a local company, we are always well informed about the current situation on the ground. Get in touch with us!
Author: Juan Proll
