Sossusvlei And Deadvlei Self-Guided Day Trip

Sossusvlei And Deadvlei Self-Guided Day Trip

The Namib-Naukluft National Park is home to the oldest desert in the world with some of the largest dunes in the world. The most famous of which is Sossusvlei, the highlight of Namibia and a photographer’s dream. When I picture Namibia, this is the famous spot that I imagine.

The top reason Namibia is such a favorite backpacking and family destination is because of this national park. No visit to Namibia could be without a stop at Sossusvlei to marvel at the dead trees and the massive sand dunes.

While the park is huge, there is limited accessibility, so only one day is needed to explore everything. Stay the night at the NWR Sesriem Campground or Lodge within the National Park so you are able to see a stunning sunrise followed by the morning exploring Sossusvlei.

Read on to learn all about how to take a self-guided trip to Sossusvlei And Deadvlei!

Deadvlei, Sossuvlei Crescent Dune
On Top of the Crescent Dune above Sossusvlei pan

Content and photographs provided by Yana Kogan and Timon.

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Sossusvlei And Deadvlei Self-Guided Day Trip

How to Get to Sossusvlei

The park entrance is in the town of Sesriem. From Solitaire, take C19 south to Sesriem. After 44 miles, you’ll take a right turn on D826 and you’ll reach Sesriem in another 6 miles.

It is a 4-hour drive from Windhoek and from Sesriem, it is a one-hour drive to Sossusvlei.

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Sunrise at Dune 45

Namibia Dunes Sossuvlei Sunrise
Sunrise from Dune 45

One of the most popular activities in the area is watching the sunrise from Dune 45. You’ll want to drive into the park when the 2nd gate opens at 5:45 am. We suggest getting to the gate a couple of minutes before it opens so you are early in the queue.

It is 28 miles, roughly a 35-minute drive to get to Dune 45. It is well-marked and there is a large parking area. Hike up the dune for 20 minutes or so until you have a good viewpoint. The views are stunning as the sun rises up behind all the rolling sand dunes.

Following sunrise, hike down and drive to the last parking area, 40 miles away. From here, 4wd is required to drive the last 2.5 miles. Ensure your tire pressure is at the proper levels if continuing on 4wd.


Getting to Sossusvlei Without 4wd

Namibia Sossuvlei Deadvlei
Dune Walking at Sossusvlei

Option 1: NWR shuttles drive you around the park as needed, and return you to your car for a fee.

Option 2: Hitchhike into Sossusvlei. It took about 7 or 8 vehicles to pass before one stopped to pick us up, and that was because all the other vehicles were full. Walk along the street and someone with a room will absolutely stop to drive you in. Then hitch a ride back from the Deadvlei parking area.

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Exploring Sossusvlei & Deadvlei

Self-Guided Deadvlei Trip
Deadvlei

Once at the end, you have two main areas to explore: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. They are across from each other, both with a pan at the bottom of the dunes which flood after it rains. And they look like a salt flat when dry. We suggest getting here as early as possible to beat the mid-day heat and the rest of the tourists.

Explore Deadvlei first as it will be the busiest. Next to Deadvlei is the Big Daddy dune. This is the largest sand dune in the national park, and one of the largest in the world. You can hike up it, but it is a tall task and will take at least 45 painful minutes to get to the top.

After marveling at the dead trees, head across the street to Sossusvlei. This is the other large salt flat that has a great crescent-shaped dune above it. This is one of my favorite dunes to climb and is very picturesque because it curves, so you can really see the size of the dune.

That’s it – we hope you have a wonderful time exploring Sossuvlei and Deadvlei


Planning a trip to Namibia? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!


About the Author:

  • Yana and Timon

    Yana & Timon met at college in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating, they started their professional careers. They moved to San Francisco in 2010, a city they loved living in for nearly six years.

    After working and saving up money for several years, they quit their jobs and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. They started living a nomadic lifestyle in December 2015 and have not looked back since.

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