In this harsh desert, life is equally extraordinary. Sociable weaver birds build massive communal nests, architectural wonders that can last for nearly a century. Nearby, the Welwitschia mirabilis, a desert plant that looks part fossil and part alien lifeform, can survive for over two thousand years.

Then there’s the rock itself. The Spitzkoppe, often called the Matterhorn of Namibia, is nearly 700 million years old. These bald granite peaks, or bornhardts, rise dramatically from the flat Namib Desert between Usakos and Swakopmund. The highest point reaches 1,784 metres above sea level, towering around 700 metres above the surrounding plains.