Sossusvlei

Introduction

Dead Vlei - Sossusvlei

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The Sossusvlei perhaps is one of the most photographed places in the world. It is a truly spectacular desert of huge red dunes located in the larger Namib Naukluft National Park, one of the highlights of a visit to Namibia. Visitors can walk to two dead river beds at Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei, where blackened, dead, 600 year old camelthorn trees stand in stark contrast to the white cracked ground, the red dunes and the deep blue sky. Spectacular, and still relatively quiet.

The most famous dune in the park is Dune 45, whose name supposedly comes from the fact that it's the 45th dune from Sesriem (though you will also read that it's 45 kilometres from Sesriem). It's best to avoid this first thing in the morning, when it tends to attract tour groups.

The park also contains wildlife including oryx/gemsbok, ostriches, and various species of lizards and burrowing beetles.

Opening Hours

The park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, hence the only way you can see a full sunrise or sunset from within the park is if your accommodation is also in the park, i.e. the campsite or Sossusvlei Lodge.

Getting There

The entrance to the park is at Sesriem. Sossusvlei itself is about 60 kilometres from Sesriem.

By Car

A 4x4, although not necessarily needed, is recommended, as it is in most of Namibia, chiefly because it will handle the dirt roads much better than a smaller vehicle. Otherwise, try just a highclearance vehicle in case of potholes and other discomforts. Wherever you come from, be it Windhoek, Swakopmund, or the south, it is a long, long drive to Sossusvlei. Often along beautiful roads across scenic landscapes though but fill up on gas whenever you can as distances between gas stations can be enormous and you don't want to get stuck in the desert.
The paved (but potholed) road becomes sand about 4 kilometres short of Sossusvlei. From there, you can either drive the remainder (if you have a 4x4), hike, or take an expensive shuttle bus.

By Bus

If you don't have your own vehicle, then it is possible to arrange tours from Windhoek, usually in a minibus. A typical tour will last for 3 days (though really only 2) and 2 nights - the first day driving to accommodation near the park, the second visiting the park and nearby Sesriem Canyon, and the third dropping in on the settlement of Solitaire (known for its apple pie and abandoned old cars) before returning to Windhoek.

Getting Around

The road from the accommodations in Sesriem to Sossusvlei itself is 65 km and tarred for all but the last 5 kilometres. The last 5 kilometres are through deep soft sand. In any case you will need an all-wheel-drive to drive it, but if you have no experience driving off-road this is probably not the track to gain some. Inexperienced tourists burying their rented car in the deep sand are a major entertainment for professional guides and locals alike! Alternatively, you can park your car at the end of the tarred road and either walk the last 5 kilometres (but remember, deep sand!) or take one of the shuttles that regularly run between the end of the tarred road and Sossusvlei. You can also walk one way and take a shuttle the other.

Transport and guided tours to and from Sossusvlei are also provided by some of the lodges for their guests.

Eat

Eating out options are thin on the ground, but if you don't mind a braai (BBQ), there is a well-stocked petrol station just outside the Sossusvlei gates.

Drink

There is a bar at the Sesriem campground where most people hang out after a hard day of hiking in the desert.

Sleep

There is a camp site within the gates of Sossusvlei.

Plenty of mid-range and upmarket options exist outside the gates of the park, providing self-catering and catered accommodation in spectacular environments. One of the nicest options, pricy but still doable is the Sossusvlei Lodge, not far from the main entrance. The same company also owns the much cheaper, but still gorgeous, Desert Camp, about 5 kilometres away.

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