How to Visit the Sossusvlei Dunes
The Sossusvlei Dunes are a mesmerizing and iconic natural wonder located within the Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. These dunes are known for their beauty, vibrant colors, and towering heights, making them a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike while in Namibia.
The dunes of Sossusvlei are part of the larger Namib Desert, one of the oldest deserts in the world. They have been formed over millions of years as sand is carried by wind from the coast and deposited inland. The unique reddish color of the dunes comes from iron oxide particles in the sand.
Sossusvlei itself refers to the salt and clay pan that lies at the end of the Tsauchab River. The pan is often dry, but during rare periods of rainfall, it can fill with water, creating a striking reflection of the surrounding dunes.
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How long to stay around Sossusvlei
To experience the dunes, you should stay at least two nights. Two nights allowed us to visit 3 dunes, in the morning and evening. However, if you love the desert environment, then you can easily stay longer.
Sossusvlei Entrance
There are two gates to enter the park. The first gate opens at 7am and there is usually a line of cars. We waited in line for about 15 minutes before the gate opened.
Bright and early morning with my Slowtown Coffee Roasters mug that I bought in Windhoek on our first day.
Once you enter this gate, stop to pay your entrance fee for the days you’ll enter the park. Entrance fees to the park are 100 NAD per person for non-residents and 50 NAD for SADC residents. You’ll also pay an additional 10 NAD per vehicle. The entrance fee is valid for 24 hours. We paid for 2 days as we wanted to do 2 sunset hikes.
Sossusvlei park fees and map
Next, you’ll go through a second gate to get to the dunes. Don’t lose your receipt, you need to show this to enter each time.
Opening hours
The park typically opens its gates at sunrise, which can vary depending on the time of year, and closes at sunset. Be sure to check the hours at the entrance. The guard should remind you by what time you need to be out of the park if you arrive for sunset views. When we visited, the hours were 7am- 7:15pm in March.
The Dunes of Sossusvlei
The desert is home to hundreds (if not thousands) of dunes, but the most popular remain Big Daddy and Dune 45. These dunes create an ever-shifting and dynamic landscape, offering a diverse array of shapes and patterns that captivate the imagination.
Big Daddy Dune- Morning Hike
How do you spot Big Daddy? Just look for the tallest peak standing tall at a whopping 325 meters. You can’t miss it!
It’ll take you around 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the top of Big Daddy, but keep in mind that the scorching heat can slow you down if you arrive after 10am. I suggest you drive straight here in the morning, whenever the gate opens.
If you’re not confident in driving a 4×4 on sandy terrain, park your vehicle at the end of the road and hop on the convenient shuttle (round trip for R180). It’ll take you to the starting point of the dune hike without any hassle. Trust me, it’s better than getting stuck and having to pay for a rescue mission!
Pay at the little white hut to take the shuttle service or you may end up like this car on the right!
The dune is intenseeee. I had to stop to take several breaks and as were one of the first people to climb that day, we had to forge our own path a couple of times. There is no proper trail so you can theoretically hike anywhere on the dune. Some spots are just naturally easier than others.
It’ll also be clear where the top of the dune is. The summit levels off a bit and you can see for miles. We also spotted an oryx wayyy out in the distance.
Once you’ve conquered the summit, get ready for an adrenaline-pumping descent towards Deadvlei. Don’t worry, running down may seem a bit scary at first, but it’s actually a breeze. Zig-zag your way down the steep slope, and you’ll quickly gain confidence with each zig and zag. Pictures cannot accurately describe how dramatic the sloop feels and how high up you actually are.
Watch out for your phone if you’re taking pictures while sand is flying everywhere. I got a little sand particle in my phone’s camera lens that stayed for 2 weeks before it magically disappeared.
Elim Dune- Sunset Hike
In the afternoon you enter Sossusvlei, the best dune to experience sunset is Elim Dune. This dune is the closest to the park entrance, so you can arrive the earliest and stay the latest before the national park gate closes.
We saw a gorgeous Oryx just as we arrived. It was an incredible experience without a lot of climbing effort.
Dune 45- Sunset Hike
Dune 45, located at the 45-kilometer mark caught our attention for our sunset climb on our second day. It’s a 30-minute drive from the park entrance.
The hike to the top takes around 20 minutes, initially feeling challenging due to the incline, but it’s actually an easily manageable climb. Once you reach the summit, enjoy the views of the surrounding desert.
And don’t forget the exhilarating part – running down the soft slopes of the dune! For the best experience, re-enter the park at 4pm to witness the captivating light as the day transitions to evening.
Deadvlei
Deadvlei is another notable feature within the Sossusvlei area. The stark contrast between the cracked white clay floor, the dark camel thorn trees, and the fiery red dunes create a stunning scene.
Deadvlei is an ancient clay pan that was formed over 900 years ago when the nearby river flooded, creating temporary pools allowing trees to grow. When the climate shifted and the lake was cut off from the river, the sand dunes encroached on the area. The remaining trees died and did not decompose because they were scorched by the intense sun.
You can visit Deadvlei after you hike up Big Daddy.
A view of Deadvlei from the top of Big Daddy
Sesriem Canyon
Sesriem Canyon was formed over millions of years by the Tsauchab River, which carved its way through the rocky terrain, exposing layers of sedimentary rock. It is named “Sesriem” (which means “six belts” in Afrikaans) after the early settlers who had to attach six leather belts together to lower buckets into the canyon to retrieve water during times of drought. The canyon stretches for approximately 2 kilometers and reaches depths of up to 30 meters.
You just need 10 minutes to get a quick look at the canyon, though you could also stay for an hour, exploring all the crevices. The canyon is about 4.5 kilometers from the entrance gate of the park.
Getting to Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is about a 4 to 5 hour drive from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city. The best option is for you to rent a car. Check out the Namibia guide for more info on renting cars. Although a 4×4 vehicle is not necessary to reach Sossusvlei, almost the entire road between Windhoek and Sossusvlei is unpaved gravel, up until the last 6km toward Sossusvlei. You should rent an SUV at the minimum.
You absolutely must take the road that passes through the town to Rehoboth. Don’t click “go” on Google Maps without checking first. This route is the best according to locals.
The paved road ends after Rehoboth. I’m not sure who told us the roads were great in Namibia but that’s not true—unless you’re sticking to the route that takes you into South Africa (so I’ve heard). There is a gas station at the end of Rehoboth; stop here and ask the attendants to reduce your tire pressure so that you can drive better on the gravel road. It makes such a difference.
Accommodations
The nearest town to Sossusvlei is Sesriem, which has accommodation options and serves as a base for exploring the dunes.
One popular choice is Sossusvlei Lodge, which also offers a buffet dinner for R300 per person. Their buffet features a wide selection of salads, pasta, vegetable, and rice dishes, with the highlight being the grill station that offers game meat such as Wildebeest, Eland, Oryx, and Blesbock.
We stayed at Desert Quiver Camp, which consists of charming self-catering cabins integrated into the natural surroundings. I personally enjoyed the cozy cabin atmosphere. Another option on the same property is Desert Camp.
You can also stay inside the national park. This will allow you to enter the second gate of the national park at 6am, instead of 7am for those who stay outside the camp. For us, the timing didn’t really make a difference as there wasn’t a long line of cars at 7am. Some options include:
- Sesriem Campsite
- Sesriem Oshana Camp (a little more luxurious than just a campsite space)
- For some extreme luxury, check out Little Kulala or Kulala Desert Lodge, both say they have private entrances into Sossusvlei
Groceries
There are groceries available (with basics and meat to braai) at the gas station located near the entrance of the park. There is cheese, braai wood, cans of food, beer, and meats. You should bring some cash with you as the card machine couldn’t get a signal when we visited.
