Fodor's Expert Review Sesriem Canyon

About 4 km (2½ miles) from Sesriem Gate, your entry point to Sossusvlei, is Sesriem Canyon, named after the six rieme (thongs) that were tied to the buckets of the early Dutch settlers when they drew up water from the canyon. A narrow gorge of about 1 km in length, the Sesriem Canyon is the product of centuries of erosion. Plunging down 30–40 meters (98–131 feet) at its end are a series of pools that fill with water during the rains, which might only happen during the rainy season (October to March) though not very often, especially if there is a drought. If you are lucky you will get to cool off in the pools, otherwise climbing down into the canyon offers you a wonderful escape from the desert heat as you wander along in the deep shade.