Deserts

Hold on to your hats, because it's going to get windy - at least if you open your window! A scenic flight over the Namib Desert, organised out of Swakopmund or Sesriem, is a must-do, and is particularly interesting if combined with a ground visit to the dunes. The aerial view provides a perspective impossible to come by on foot, and seeing the colours shift from grey dunes to red, and from green vegetation to blue ocean, is an unforgettable experience. The early morning and late afternoon trips are the best, as the low sun creates long shadows that add to the already stunning patterns visible below the plane. Skydiving is another option, but a scenic flight allows you to take in much more of the landscape, including shipwrecks and abandoned diamond mines. A thoroughly memorable experience.

The most famous section of the Namib Desert, and one of the few places where the public has access to the famous red dunes, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei ("vlei" simply means "pan") are two of Namibia's biggest tourist attractions. A number of the dunes can be climbed, providing views across the red sea of sand. But equally striking, and sublimely surreal, are the stark contrasts provided by the dead trees, light ground, red dunes and blue sky at Deadvlei itself. It is a hostile and stark environment, but closer observation of the sand reveals the tracks of many small desert dwellers, and grass hugs the slopes of many of the dunes. The desert is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler (but make sure to bring plenty of water anyway). Note that although rare, this park occasionally floods. That - and strong winds - can result in the roads becoming impassable and conditions generally unpleasant. Equally unpleasant to some might be the huge crowds of people that flock to see these dunes, particularly during winter. The only way to avoid this is to stay inside the park, as this allows for earlier access to the dunes. Ostrich and oryx, able to survive in this extreme environment, can be seen on the 60 km drive from the park gate to the parking area. This section of the Namib Desert is without a doubt a must-see for all visitors to Namibia.

To sleep under the stars in the middle of Sahara, is as exotic as it gets. It is of course tempting to fall asleep, but it is actually more rewarding to walk around on the star lit desert floor. There are so much to see; scorpions, mice, snakes and small bugs were all busy getting their dinner. This photo was taken during a trip through Niger, where most nights was spent among sand dunes and under the vast sky. Around midnight the camera got mounted on a tripod for a couple of hours to capture the stars. It is taken at a place about 100 km from the desert city of Bilma, and possible to reach by 4x4, camel, or even walking - the first option being the most comfortable way.

What do you get when you mix the rugged, desert terrain of Qatar with the sleek, modernity of Qatari life? The answer is dune bashing. The towering dunes around the Sealine Beach resort south of Doha make for the perfect weekend getaway for Qatari fun-seekers. Ramped up SUVs, dune buggies or (for the slower paced) camels, vie in a one-upmanship show of scaling the sandy towers. It's almost like riding a roller coaster. Then, after a day of thrills, it's time for a little chill. Numerous well stock desert camps offer the opportunity to spend the night under the stars in a traditional bedouin camp; though it's unclear how traditional air-conditioned tents are.

Perhaps we've seen too many Hollywood movies about deserts, but for most, the first visit to a desert can be disappointing. There are no sweeping dunes, oases or camel caravans. That is, except for the area known as the Grand Oriental Erg. Spilling over Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, this massive expansive of shifting sands is everything you picture it to be. And given the options, Tunisia is the best place to see it, and the southern town of Douz makes for the best launching off point. Camel treks, nights in nomadic tents and staring at an endless sky or stars are all part of the experience not soon to be forgotten.

Ever wanted to fry some eggs on the bare ground? Then Death Valley is the place for you! The second hottest place on earth with summer temperatures up to 56.7 C (134 F), and ground temperatures rising up to 94 C (201 F), Death Valley is also the lowest point in North America 86 m (282 ft.) below sea level. Here you will find a diverse landscape of beautiful sand dunes, salt flats, natural marble canyons, mountains and remnants of ancient salt water lakes with unlimited back country hiking and camping. There are also ghost towns to explore, and disused mineral mines that barely lasted a year or two due to the harsh climates (and yet Native American tribes have been living here for 10,000 years). You really need your own vehicle here, and preferably a 4WD if you want to go back country as there is no public transport. There are a few tiny tourist towns with amenities, and a few designated trails, but you are free to go wherever you like here.

When speaking of environmental disasters, things like Chernobyl or the Exxon Valdez might immediately spring to mind. But what is arguably the single greatest man-made environmental catastrophe lies on the border of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The Aral Sea was once one of the four largest lakes in the world. However, an aggressive irrigation project during the Soviet era saw the lakes main tributaries block, leaving the Aral Sea with no lifeline. Over the years, it began to shrink. Fishing villages once on the seashore found themselves further and further from their former fishing grounds. Contaminant and salt seeped into the ground. The list goes on and on. Possibly the best place to try to understand the magnitude is in the Uzbek village of Moynaq. A ship graveyard now lies in the former harbour. There is something beyond surreal about the sight of huge fishing boats rotting away in the middle of a desert.