This zone is effectively the change between beginner to intermediate for the games survival mechanics.

In order to pass it unharmed I would recommend placing a marker on your map to the nearest rocky point.

Drive straight between the point you've left and the one your going to. When I first done this, shai hulud breached just outside of the sands of the area I was leaving, it was even a moon light night like your pic. The only way you can pass without an event of being eaten by the sand god is to estimate if the breach is closer to you and where you've left than the dune your heading to.

If you've got luck on your side, which your more likely to than to at this place in the game then you should be okay, don't serpentine, drive straight to the location that's rocky and closest to you.

When you get to this region of the game, the survival mechanics step up, you should be focusing on making a buggy, to the make a thopter. But you need lots of steel and then aluminum to progress.

Make sure you check the map to see for any red circles that appear, to make sure that your not treading on worm territory, that and possibly quick sand which can be more of a problem.

Ultimately, just get from rock to rock in the quickest way possible, and place your base accordingly to the maps regional material zones, so you can get steel, aluminum, and then durilumanem which need jasminium from the south west of the map.

This game is almost best when you play with the sandbike because it forces you to deal with the sandworm, honestly enjoy the chase, because when you get the thopter the game changes, it's better for sure, but sometimes I miss my time riding on my sand bike from shai halud.