Best Sunsets and Sunrises for Earth Day 2015

In honour of Earth Day 2015, I have compiled a list of my favourite sunsets and sunrises around the world. I think that sunrises and sunsets are one of nature’s greatest shows, and taking the time to take either one or both in is a great way to bookend a day of travelling. By no means a comprehensive list, here are some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises I have seen around the world:

1) Pays Dogon, Mali 

Yup, I cried. 

After three days of hiking in semi-desert heat and eating dried out “cliff bread”, I was awarded with this superlative sunset from the top of the Bandiagara escarpment in Mali’s Dogon Country, which is one of the most unique and memorable places I have been.


2) Nungwi, Zanzibar

Pictured: bliss. 
Zanzibar sunsets will always have a special place in my heart, as that was where I first set eyes on the Indian Ocean. Sitting out on a table on the sand and watching fishermen bring their nets while sipping on a Tusker is about as blissful as it gets. 
3) Prince’s Island Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
Inspiration can be found at home too. 
I used to have the luxury of walking to work through Prince’s Island Park, home to the iconic Calgary Folk Music Festival and the perfect place to spot a beautiful wintry sunrise. 
4) Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, USA
Sunset and a storm. Two of nature’s best shows in one!
Great Sand Dunes NP is by far one of my favourite places I have been in the USA. Massive, Sahara-like sand dunes are dwarfed by the surrounding Sangre de Christo mountains making it seem like you’re on another planet. We caught this sunset while a storm approached. Shortly after taking this picture, we were huddling in our tent waiting for the rain to pass. 
5) Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda
Being up early is relatively easy when this view greets you. 
In order to make the 2+ hour drive and be briefed and ready at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to accomplish a lifelong dream of spotting a gorilla in the wild, we had to wake up at 4:00am to be almost left behind when our boat to the mainland where the driver was waiting left 15 minutes early. The only thing that mellowed that brutally early wake-up and the stress of almost being left behind on one of our big ticket items during our East African adventure was this otherworldly sunrise.
Oh, and the sunsets were pretty great too.
There you have it, among many other feats, the Earth does an amazing job of putting on a superb twice-daily show for us. Where have you seen some amazing sunrises and sunsets? 
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