Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

Namibia

Summary: The Kalahari Dunes Walk in Namibia is a short circular route through the Kalahari desert, passing low red sand dunes and plains many social weaver nests.

Trailhead: Kalahari Red Dunes main lodge
Distance: 7.3km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Grade: Easy
60m total ascent
Route type: Loop
Best season/s: All year
Online map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/kalahari-dunes-walk-6e0e242
No Dogs
No mountain bikes

The Kalahari Dunes Walk is one of the longer walks around the Kalahari Red Dunes Resort. It’s still a fairly easy walk, although I’m still hobbling a little after my fall two days ago on the more challenging Olive Trail in the Naukluft Mountains.

The Kalahari Dunes Walk starts at the main lodge building, and initially follows one of the 4WD tracks in a northerly direction. I’ve got a rough map from reception, and the tracks are well marked.

There are social weaver nests in just about every tree, and having plenty of time I stop and watch them for a while as they dart around carrying twigs to build their nest. A common bird in the Kalahari region, the social weavers build one nest for their entire colony as well as for future residents, and the nests are huge. Like a giant apartment block, each nest is occupied by up to 100 sociable weaver families, and some weaver nests have remained occupied for over 100 years. They choose acacia trees for their nests, as these trees can live up to 200 years.

mg 4522 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

mg 4533 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

After about 2km along the 4WD road, there’s a sign showing the Kalahari Dunes Walk heading away from the road, across the top of one the dunes. It’s still a very well marked track, and you can’t really tell that you’re following the top of a dune.

mg 4544 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

mg 4547 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

In fact, it’s very hard to get a sense of where you are. I can see fair way along the Kalahari Dunes Walk track, but the dunes are very low and don’t allow you to see how far the dunes go.

mg 4559 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

mg 4557 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

I send up the drone for an aerial view, which gives a better idea of the landscape: it’s a huge, featureless expanse, with a series of low sand dunes extending into the distance.

There’s not much wildlife around, other than the social weavers (although it is the middle of the day). I spot an ostrich, but despite my best stalking skills I can’t get very close.

Towards the end of the 7.5km Kalahari Dunes Walk loop, I spend some more time watching the social weavers building their nests. I’ve picked one of the largest nest I’ve seen, and patiently watch the tiny birds come and go.

mg 4587 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

mg 4599 lr Social weavers and Sand Dubes on the Kalahari Dunes Walk (Namibia)

I’m determined to get a photo of the birds actually in the nest, which I finally manage to do. I don’t think I’ll be winning any awards with my photo, but I am pleased that I’ve got a couple of the social weavers peering out from one of the chambers.