#3: [06-Jul-09]

#2: [12-Jul-07]

#1: [26-Jun-03]

16-Apr-2021 -- This is the third out of 5 confluence visits on our drive from Eswatini to Swakopmund in Namibia. The story starts from 28°S 19°E and continues from 26°S 17°E.

This confluence is in the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Although it is 7 km from one of the main highways across Namibia – the C27 – it can be easily accessed via the access road to the Wolwedans Dunes Lodge. This track misses the confluence by only 1.3 km distance. The walking part is first over a small mountain range and then across beautiful grassland (only after it has rained).

We were lucky to find the confluence with standing grass. It was an easy walk over an open grassy plain. The interesting feature of this confluence are the "Fairy circles" – arid grass formations. These mysterious circles are discs of completely bare sandy soil from 2 to 14 meters in diameter, often surrounded by a fringe of tall grass. And what makes them so interesting is the fact, that it is not known why they exist and what causes them. There are several theories, but none has been scientifically proven. More to read about it in Wikipedia.

After the visit, we drove the remaining 75 km to the Sesriem – the gate to the famous Sossusvlei.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to a road: 1300 m
• Distance to a track: 1300 m
• Distance of car parking: 1300 m
• Time to reach the confluence from the car: 20 minutes
• Time at the confluence: 12:37 PM
• Measured height: 991 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 2 m
• Topography: flat, but mountains in the distance
• Weather: partly cloudy, 26° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Fairy Circle Confluence

The story continues at 24°S 16°E.

In the NamibRand Nature Reserve.