Significantly more micro-arthropods were found under Welwitschia plants than in unvegetated areas. Densities varied considerably. The taxa found, are also common to North American and Australian deserts. The structure of the micro-arthropod community varied considerably with locality and sex of the plant. Tarsonemid mites were numerically dominant at some sites while Collembola were dominant at others. Prostigmatids were the most abundant group of mites, and mites were generally the most abundant micro-arthropod. Keywords: Desert ecosystems, Micro-arthropods, Namib Desert, Welwitschia mirabilis.