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Sossusvlei positioned in Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park is among the most spectacular and best-known points of interest in Southern Africa. An absolute dream to go to with a digital camera, the unbelievable surroundings makes anybody seem like an expert photographer! The identify Sossusvlei is commonly used to consult with a big space within the park together with well-known websites reminiscent of Dune 45, Deadvlei, Huge Daddy, and Sesriem Canyon, this is among the main customer points of interest of Namibia. Huge Daddy is the very best dune within the park.
The massive crimson sand dunes within the park have all the time been excessive on my world journey bucket checklist and the unreal panorama didn’t disappoint! Sossusvlei is a big, white salt and clay pan surrounded by huge crimson sand dunes, positioned within the Namib Desert.
Documentaries, pictures, and magazines all the time left me with the concept most of Namibia is a desert, coated in these majestic dunes. On our honeymoon we explored Namibia driving and tenting for greater than two months. Driving hundreds of kilometers we had been questioning the place are the sand dunes. We lastly discovered these spectacular landscapes at Sossusvlei. See our Full Namibia Highway Journey Itinerary for loads of recommendations on planning a visit to Namibia.
What’s Sossusvlei?
The identify “Sossusvlei” roughly interprets into “dead-end marsh”. A vlei is a marsh in Afrikaans. That is the place the place sand dunes come collectively and forestall the Tsauchab River to movement any additional, within the dry Namib Desert the River nevertheless seldom flows this far leading to a dry pan most years. Although the world is known as Sossusvlei, the Deadvlei might be the primary attraction to go to within the park. Sossusvlei is unquestionably the most effective locations to go to in Namibia.
How you can Go to Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon
Sesriem is a small settlement near the southern finish of the Naukluft Mountains within the Namib Desert. To go to Sossusvlei, Sesriem Canyon, Dune 45, the Deadvlei, and the opposite Namib points of interest you must enter the Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park on the Sesriem gate and drive about 60 kilometers.
Attending to Sesriem Gate
Driving to Sesriem the roads in Namibia are unpaved, gravel roads. You don’t want a 4×4 automobile, however a automobile with good floor clearance helps and I’ll suggest not driving quick on these gravel roads. Flat tires are quite common and under-car insurance coverage for leases is price trying into. Most individuals journey to Sesriem from Windhoek or Swakopmund, each these journeys take round 5 hours, and there are a number of totally different route choices to drive.
Excursions to Sesriem and exploring Sossusvlei can be found from Windhoek and Swakopmund. You may as well be a part of an overland truck on a Namibian expedition from Cape City or as a part of an overland tour exploring extra of Africa!
If after visiting Sossusvlei and spending a while driving by means of the desert you’re feeling like chilling by the seaside I can suggest spending a few days in Swakopmund. It’s an incredible place with many superb issues to do.
Automobile required to Go to Sossusvlei
From Sesriem gate, there’s a good tar highway for about 60 km into the park that may be pushed with any automobile. After 60 km you’ll attain a parking space for Sossusvlei, solely 4×4 automobiles can proceed from right here to the Useless Vlei parking space on a sandy observe for about 5 km. When you wouldn’t have a 4×4 automobile, you’ll be able to park right here and proceed by a shuttle run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts. We explored Namibia in our little Terios 4×4 automobile and had been effective within the sand. Many individuals renting automobiles are usually not skilled in driving within the sand and get caught there. Bear in mind to deflate your tires to about 1.5 bar and attempt to drive with out stopping within the 4×4/low vary in the identical gear.
Sesriem Gate Entrance and Charges
There are two totally different gates to entry the park; the outer gates and the inside gates. The Sesriem gate (outer gate) to enter the Nationwide Park and the campsite opens at dawn and closes at sundown. The Sesriem campsite has its personal entrance (inside gate) to the park which opens one hour earlier than the primary gate. Guests staying contained in the park can thus drive earlier than dawn to the dunes. The drive to Dune 45 is 45 km on highway from the doorway. The one solution to see the dawn from the dunes is thus to remain contained in the park. We stayed outdoors the park, we had been on the gate greater than an hour earlier than opening and had been the primary automobile by means of the gate. They opened the gate at nightfall so we arrived at Dune 45 throughout dawn as you’ll be able to see in our dawn pics. For the very best dawn and sundown footage, it’s price staying contained in the park.
To enter the Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park at Sesriem prices 100 NAD ($6.70) per individual for non-residents and 50 NAD for SADC residents plus 10 NAD per automobile (2023). The doorway charge is legitimate for twenty-four hours, so it’s doable to enter within the afternoon, see the sundown, and return the subsequent morning for dawn. Sundown and dawn are the very best occasions to go to the dunes.
What time does the Sesriem Gate open?
The gate opens at dawn, so time will depend upon what time of the yr you go to Sossusvlei. The opening and shutting time adjustments each month and stays the identical for the entire month. The opening time is shifted in 30 min intervals (e.g. 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, and many others). When you ask on the camp the place you might be staying they are going to be capable to let you know the occasions throughout your keep.
Sossusvlei Excursions
The best, stress-free solution to go to Sossusvlei is with a tour, they’re out there from Windhoek and Swakopmund. You may as well be a part of an overland truck on a Namibian expedition from Cape City or as a part of an overland tour exploring extra of Africa!
- Two-Day Guided Tour from Swakopmund. Get picked up out of your resort, keep in a luxurious tented camp discover Swakopmund, Moon panorama, Welwitschia Vegetation, Solitaire Moon Mountain, Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Huge Daddy, Dune 45, Elim Dune, Sesriem, Solitaire to Swakopmund.
- 6-Day Dunes and Wildlife Accommodated Safari from Windhoek. – Superb Namibia itinerary together with a number of Etosha recreation drives, exploring Sossusvlei and the Skeleton coast.
- 10-Day Namibia Highlights Guided Tour from Windhoek
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Greatest Time to go to Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park
Could to October is winter and the dry season in Namibia, that is the very best time to go to with decrease temperatures, no rain, and clear skies.
Autumn or spring can also be time to go to Namib-Naukluft Park with clear skies, good pictures circumstances, and milder temperatures.
The perfect occasions of the day to go to Sossusvlei are in the course of the early morning and late afternoon when the sunshine is greatest for pictures and the temperatures are cooler.
Sossusvlei Dunes
The Sossusvlei space in southern Namib is thought for its excessive sand dunes of vivid pink-to-orange colour, the oldest dunes are these of extra deep reddish colour. Dune 45 is the most photographed dune in Namibia whereas Huge Daddy is the very best dune in Namib Naukluft Park. The dunes within the space are among the many highest on this planet; some greater than 200 meters. The extra steady dunes are partially coated with some vegetation. Preserve an eye fixed out within the park for animals reminiscent of fog beetles, small reptiles, rodents, jackals, birds, oryxes, springboks, and ostriches. Most of the dunes are named the space they’re from the doorway, reminiscent of Dune 1 which is 1 km from the gate, and Dune 45, 45 km from the gate.
Elim Dune
Elim Dune is the closest dune to go to the Sesriem campsite. It’s a comparatively remoted, excessive sand dune positioned 5 km previous the Sesriem gate, on a department of the primary highway to Sossusvlei. The dune is called after a farm that was within the space earlier than the Nationwide Park was established. Elim is 100m excessive so about 30% the peak of Huge Daddy. It’s a nice dune to cease for morning images since you’re going to get right here early for good gentle and with most individuals driving on to Dune 45 there shouldn’t be crowds. Being near the campsite if you arrive is good for sundown, you’ll be able to even stroll right here.
Dune 45
Dune 45 is among the most photographed dunes on this planet and a spotlight to go to within the Sossusvlei space of the Namib Desert. Photographs of this spectacular crimson dune with its curvy shadows draw many vacationers from everywhere in the world to Namibia. It’s a difficult climb for a lot of, standing over 170 m tall, and takes about 40 minutes to climb and 5 minutes to run down. The crimson colour is attributed to iron oxide washed from the Kalahari into the Atlantic Ocean and carried to Sossusvlei by a mix of ocean currents and wind. Most individuals drive right here as quickly as they enter the park to attempt to take dawn pictures.
Dune 45 is sweet to climb for sundown and later within the day is an effective time to take footage of this dune with its well-known shadow. Since Dune 45 is positioned proper subsequent to the highway it is extremely accessible for taking pictures. We entered the park at Nightfall and drove straight to Dune 45 on the 45 km tar highway, we ran up the dune and nonetheless had an incredible expertise whereas the solar was rising.
Huge Daddy Dune
That is the very best dune within the park about 325m excessive, it was a couple of 15-minute stroll to the bottom of the Huge Daddy dune from the automobile to start out climbing. We had been right here in December and climbed Dune 45 first for the dawn earlier than shifting on to Huge Daddy. It was a extremely popular day, so take sufficient water. Climbing Huge Daddy to the highest took about half-hour offering some good views, to be rewarded with the spectacular panoramic views of the Deadvlei and the Namib following the slim ridge on high of this huge dune. We ran down in minutes to the superb Deadvlei a extremely enjoyable expertise. To stroll from the automobile, climb Huge Daddy and return by means of the Deadvlei to our automobile took greater than 90 minutes, we spent a while having fun with the unreal environment and taking a lot of pictures of this superb web site within the Namib desert.
At 325 meters excessive, Huge Daddy is the very best dune in Sossusvlei, however not the very best in Namib, the very best dune within the Namib desert is Dune 7 outdoors Swakopmund at about 388 meters excessive.
Attending to Huge Daddy and the Deadvlei
Entry to Sossusvlei, Huge Daddy Dune, and the Deadvlei is from the Deadvlei parking space.
The drive from the Sesriem Park entrance to the two×4 Sossusvlei parking is 60 km and takes 1 hour. The highway from Sossusvlei parking to Deadvlei parking is 4 km and may solely be pushed with a 4×4 automobile. When you don’t have a 4×4 or don’t need to danger getting caught within the sand, park your automobile and take the safari shuttle service offered shuttle run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts for $NAM 150 ($11) return. It is just 4 km so it’s doable to stroll, however within the warmth and the sand permit 1h 30 min for the stroll, keep in mind you have to nonetheless get again after climbing Huge Daddy! carry plenty of water. Hitchhiking the final 4 km just isn’t an incredible possibility since no person desires to cease within the sand and danger getting caught, in the event you do that stand and hitch on the Sossusvlei parking space you’ll be able to nonetheless take a shuttle if you don’t get a trip.
Deadvlei
You wouldn’t have to climb Huge Daddy to get to the Deadvlei, there’s a pathway to the facet of the dune. After coming down Huge Daddy we walked again to our automobile this manner. It’s about 1 km from Deadvlei to the parking space strolling on the pathway subsequent to the dune. There aren’t any ‘services’ on the Deadvlei parking space, so take sufficient water and snacks. There are bushes offering some shade however the bathroom services listed below are very primary.
Deadvlei (Afrikaans for ‘lifeless marsh’) is a big clay pan characterised by darkish, lifeless camel thorn bushes contrasted towards the white pan ground, surrounded by the large rusty crimson dunes. The pan was shaped when the Tsauchab River flooded and ample water allowed camel thorn bushes to develop. The local weather modified, sand dunes shaped blocking the river from reaching the world.
The Deadvlei is a good place for taking pictures. The distinction between the black bushes, white pans, rusty-red dunes, and deep blue sky makes for unbelievable photos.
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei, just like the Deadvlei, is a big clay mattress, it’s surrounded by comparatively small sand dunes. Sossusvlei is positioned near the Deadvlei solely separated by a slim sand ridge and can also be reached by strolling from the Sossusvlei parking space. Throughout a really wet season, the Tsauchab fills the pan at Sossusvlei, drawing guests from everywhere in the world to witness the glassy “lake” holding reflections of the encircling dunes. On uncommon occurrences when the pan fills it will probably maintain water for so long as a yr. Sossusvlei solely fills with water each 5 to 10 years.
Hiddenvlei
Entry to the Hiddenvlei is from the two×4 Sossusvlei parking space (60 km from the Sesriem campsite), and the hike to Hiddenvlei is a 4 km roundtrip stroll from the parking space. There are some indicators, however it isn’t very nicely marked, simply look out for footprints of earlier guests and carry sufficient water. We had your complete hike to ourselves, even late morning. The clay pan amongst the sand dunes is gorgeous, with some bushes scattered throughout the spectacular panorama. The return hike to HIddenvlei takes about 1 hour and half-hour.
Sesriem Canyon
Sesriem Canyon is positioned about 4.5km from the park entrance. The canyon is not very large however is gorgeous. Search for the signal contained in the Sesriem campsite. The Tsauchab River has formed the Canyon over thousands and thousands of years and it is among the few locations within the space that holds water all yr spherical. It’s a couple of kilometer (0.6 miles) lengthy and as much as 30 meters (100 toes) deep. The identify Sesriem (Afrikaans for six belts) was given by Afrikaans settlers who needed to connect collectively six oryx cover belts in an effort to attain buckets down into the canyon to scoop up water. The Sesriem Canyon may be very slim, solely two meters (6.5 toes) extensive in some locations, and has a portion that completely comprises water, which many animals use.
Lodging at Sossusvlei
There are lots of lodging choices, starting from primary tenting to luxurious lodges round Sossusvlei. Choices to remain contained in the park are nevertheless restricted. The straightforward Sesriem campsite is the one price range possibility and for an opulent keep, guide the in style Sossus Dune Lodge or the pretty new Useless Valley Lodge, each Nambia Wildlife Resort (NWR) services.
Sesriem Campsite
The campsite is positioned contained in the Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park proper subsequent to the Sossus vlei entrance with a central swimming pool, a primary store for provides, and a bar. There’s not plenty of shade, however some shade is obtainable by camel thorn bushes. The Sesriem Relaxation Camp has no rooms out there, solely tenting, you have to deliver all your personal tenting and cooking gear. At Sesriem, the campsites have their very own barbeque space and electrical factors, so you’ll be able to braai at your tent. There’s plenty of house and the campsites are far aside. The Sesriem campsite presents shared ablutions.
Sesriem Campsite worth – At NAD 550 ($37) per individual (April 2023) this campsite just isn’t low cost for what is obtainable, however that is the price range possibility if you wish to see the dawn from the dunes. We camped for two months across the nation, see all our favourite campsites in Namibia.
Sesriem has 44 campsites out there. Attributable to its location contained in the park, this campsite may be very in style, particularly in the course of the excessive season, and within the season guests ought to make reservations upfront with Namibia Wildlife Resorts to keep away from disappointment. For room lodging contained in the park at Sesriem take a look at Sossus Dune Lodge or Useless Valley Lodge.
Sossus Dune Lodge
Sossus Dune Lodge at Sossusvlei presents high-quality, luxurious lodging at Sesriem Namibia contained in the Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park.
Useless Valley Lodge
The Useless Valley Lodge is a brand new luxurious lodge positioned contained in the Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park opened in 2019. Lodging at Useless Valley Lodge is offered in luxurious tented chalets. Ebook The Useless Valley Lodge
Lodging outdoors the park
When to go to Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei will be visited all yr lengthy. It’s good to enter the park and go to the dunes within the morning when it’s cool and the sand just isn’t sizzling but. The sunshine can also be nice for taking pictures with superb shadows. Attempt to keep away from the warmth of the afternoon. From Could to October, it’s winter in Namibia and temperatures are barely decrease which makes it extra bearable.
Suggestions for Visiting Sossus Vlei
- The perfect time for taking pictures is at dawn or sundown when the shadows make the dunes spectacular. Don’t miss the superb crimson dunes at dawn!
- Take sufficient water with you, it’s sizzling, you would possibly stroll far and there’s no water on the market on the Deadvlei.
- Expertise dawn and sundown with out breaking apart your tent early within the morning, solely paying for one night time and day within the park. Right here is how: pay for one night time’s tenting and in the future (24 hours) within the park. Enter the park early (about lunchtime), pay for entrance+tenting, discover Sesriem Canyon, and the dunes, see Dune 45 at sundown, subsequent morning stand up early to see the dawn from Dune 45. Go and break up your tent and go away the park in 24 hours.
- If you wish to be self-reliant, with smaller crowds go together with a 4WD automobile.
- Drop your tire stress to 1.5 bar for driving over sand. There’s a petrol station simply outdoors the primary entrance gate at Sesriem the place you’ll be able to inflate your tires once more.
- The 2WD automobile park has clear bogs, and the 4WD automobile park at Sossusvlei has pit bogs.
- Take a hat, sunscreen, and a digital camera.
Touring in Namibia
Renting a 4WD automobile and doing a highway journey throughout Namibia is an especially in style self-drive African journey. This fashion you’ve got plenty of freedom and plan your journey the best way you need to do it. You’ll be able to discover extra of Namibia past the favored vacationer vacation spot. Go to the huge wetlands of the Caprivi Strip, Epupar Falls, and villages of the indigenous Himba individuals.
We’d love to listen to from you, so don’t be shy to remark give ideas or ask questions!
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The sturdy half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that may be comfortable to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however typically has to compromise with Alya and go mountain climbing as an alternative. Campbell is chargeable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), crimson wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.
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