This paper describes the morphology of three dune types in southern Africa: the high parallel ridges of the Namib, the sand glaciers of the Namib, and the complex ridges of the south west Kalahari. Data are presented on the wind conditions associated with the various dune types, and attention is drawn to the great height of the Namib ridges (65–275 m), their sharp break at the Kuiseb River, the talus cover of the sand glaciers and the complexity and asymmetry of the dunes in the Abiquas Puts area. The southern African dunes are shown to have certain similarities with those of Australia.