Sossusvlei, Namibia: The Most Extraordinary Desert in the World

Sossusvlei Namibia is one of the most unique destinations we have ever visited, and it’s truly a photographer’s dream. 

Nestled in the heart of the Namib Desert, this extraordinary gem features towering red dunes, stark white salt pans, and a mesmerizing contrast of colors and textures. 

Whether you’re climbing the famous Dune 45, exploring the eerie beauty of Dead Vlei, or capturing the endless desert vistas, Sossusvlei offers a one-of-a-kind experience that will leave you in awe.

In our travel guide for Sossusvlei, Namibia we'll be sharing everything you need to know for visiting this incredible destination, from how to get there and explore on your own, to sharing must-know tips for getting the best photos there.

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📍 Where is Sossusvlei Located?

Sossusvlei is tucked away in the Namib desert in central/south west Namibia, and it's part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

🚪 Where is the Gate to Sossusvlei?

Sossusvlei is located inside a gated area of the national park. From the gate of the park, Sossusvlei is another 60 km west, which is a 45 minute drive. This is in Sesriem, which is at the crossroads of highways C27 and D286.

Deadvlei is also inside the same exact area, and is just past Sossusvlei. (Don't worry we'll go into further detail about the difference a bit later in the article).

🏘 What is the Nearest Town to Sossuvlei?

The nearest town to Sossusvlei is technically Sesriem, although we wouldn't really consider it a town. It's the area where the entrance to park is, and the only thing there is a gas station and some camp sites.

Outside of the gate entrance to Sossusvlei is an area of desert where you'll find plenty of desert resorts, but you won't find shops or anything else really nearby.

The closest real cities to Sossusvlei include Windhoek, Walvis Bay, and Swakopmund. Windhoek is the capital of Namibia, and is 300 km northeast of Sesriem. Walvis Bay is 315 km north west of Sesreim along the coast, and Swakopmund is just another 30 km straight up the coast from Walvis Bay.

Visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia: What to Expect & Things to Do There

Now that you know how to visit Sossuvlei, Namibia, it's time for the fun stuff! Here are all of the details for visiting one of our favorites areas of Namibia.

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❣️ Places to Visit in Sossusvlei, Namibia

Sossusvlei has so much to offer! The entire area is full of stunning dunes and other worldly landscapes. You can either drive and experience the points of interest from below, or you can hike up the dunes and around the hauntingly beautiful trees of Deadvlei.

Dune 45 

This is the one of the most photographed dunes in Sossusvlei, and is 45 km from Sesriem. It's mostly visited during sunrise or sunset when the shadows hit one side and perfectly bounce the red hues from golden hour.

It was pretty crowded with people climbing up to the top, so we opted to take a quick picture and enjoy sunset from another nearby dune.

Other Nearby Dunes

While Dune 45 is the most popular dune en-route to Sossusvlei, there are actually quite a few other dunes on the way that you can enjoy! We don't really remember what km marks they were at, but you can't miss them since they have parking lots and signs.

Big Daddy Dune

This is the highest and most famous dune of Sossusvlei, Namibia. It's located right next to Deadvlei, and can be reached by walking about 20 minutes from the Deadvlei parking lot.

While it is a litttle intense getting up, it has incredible views of the surrounding dunes.

Deadvlei

Deadvlei is definitely the number one highlight in Sossusvlei! It's a desert area full of petrified trees on white clay grounds surrounded by bright red dunes. It's one of the most striking landscapes in the world, and deserves to be visited with all different types of lighting.

In order to get to Deadvlei, you'll have to drive from the Sossusvlei parking lot to the Deadvlei parking lot. However, it is CRUCIAL that you have a 4x4, and are experienced at driving in the sand, as countless cars end up getting stuck along this 5 km sandy stretch.

For this reason, there were also shuttles operating between the two.

🚐 Shuttles to Deadvlei

Shuttles to Deadvlei start running around 6 am and go until the late afternoon. As we got there after the sun set, we had to walk the entire way, which was an intense 1 hour hike through the thick, soft sand.

❗️ Update to the Deadvlei Shuttle Operation

PS: We just read an update from the NWR that may affect how these shuttles run.

"EFFECTIVE 15th October 2024, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has announced an essential change in its shuttle service operations in the Sossusvlei area, sharing that it will cease to operate the shuttle from the 2×4 area in Sossusvlei and will now exclusively run the shuttle from the Sesriem Campsite."

We believe this change means that if you don't have a 4x4 you will not be able to simply leave your car in the 2x4 parking lot, and would have to drive your car all the way back to the Sesriem campsite. So if you plan on visiting Dune 45 and other nearby attractions, then you may want to consider walking instead.

Price & Timetable for Sossusvlei, Namibia

Now that you know what to expect in terms of sights and ammenities, let's cover some important details for when you can visit Sossusvlei, Namibia, and the costs that come along with it.

🕘 What are the Opening Hours of Sossusvlei?

There are two gates to get into Sossusvlei. The first gate is the one that accesses the different campgrounds and lodges, and then just up the road from there is a second gate with access to the main road that leads to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.

As long as you are inside the second gate, you can pretty much stay as long as you'd like.

We were the only ones who stayed the whole night (we stayed in our car), as most people drive back to where they are staying. We wanted to do some astrophotography, and also be there for sunrise, so didn't really want to drive 45 minutes to an hour each way.

Opening Hours of the Gates of Sossusvlei, Namibia

The first gate that enters into Sesriem opens at sunrise and close at sunset. The second gate is open around the same time, but closes a bit earlier, so we'd recommend getting there at least an hour before.

📃 Do You Need a Permit for Sossusvlei, Namibia?

Before visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia we read a lot of articles saying you need a permit to enter. The reality is that the "permit" is really just a ticket to get it, and you can get you don't need any prior reservation.

You'll just need to make sure you enter the gate before it closes, and purchase your ticket to enter the second gate during opening hours.

Once you are inside the gated area, you are then free to roam as you please.

💵 How Much Does it Cost to Visit Sossusvlei, Namibia?

The cost of visiting Sossusvlei depends largely on whether or not you'd like to visit outside of the opening hours. For example, if you would like to visit for sunset, at night, or for sunrise, you'll have to show a receipt for having accommodation within the grounds, which can cost quite a bit more than if you are camping outside of Sesriem.

The price to get into Sossusvlei is 150/adult, and 50/car under 10 seats. The accommodation options vary. We chose the cheapest option, which was the main campground, and it was 600/person (a little over $30 USD).

Here is the offiicial breakdown of the park entry costs:

• Adults (foreign) 150 NAD per person per day
  Children (foreign) 100 NAD per person per day (9 to 16 yrs)
• Adults (SADC) 100 NAD per person per day
  Children (SADC) 50 NAD per person per day (9 to 16 yrs)
• Adults (Namibian) 50 NAD per person per day
  Children (Namibian) free of charge (9 to 16 yrs)

Here is the offiicial breakdown of the car fees:

• Vehicles with 10 seats or less are 50 NAD per vehicle per day
• Vehicles with 11-25 seats are 100 NAD per vehicle per day
• Vehicles with 26-50 seats are 400 NAD per vehicle per day
• Vehicles with 51+ seats are 700 NAD per vehicle per day

Other Things to Keep in Mind While Visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia

Now you know almost everything you need to know for visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia! But don't go anywhere just yet - we're sharing a few other things you may want to keep in mind.

☀️ Weather in Sossusvlei, Namibia

Sossusvlei has dry, desert-like weather. It's scorching hot and sunny in the summer months, while winters have pleasantly sunny days, with chilly and windy nights.

📆 When to Visit Sossusvlei, Namibia

The best time to visit Sossusvlei, Namibia is in the winter time, when the weather is cooler, making it much more enjoyable to explore the area.

👗 What to Wear to Sossusvlei

If you visit Sossusvlei, Namibia in the winter time, you will definitely want to layer up for the night time. The days feel pleasantly warm, but drastically drop when the sun goes down.

There is a lot of walking and hiking in the dunes. We worse sneakers and ended having them covered in sand, so we actually felt that barefoot was the way to go for certain areas, or to just stick to flip flops or sandals that are comfortable.

🎒 What to Pack for Visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia

Before visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia, you'll want to make sure you are prepared with a bag properly packed, especially since the amenities are limited inside the park. Here are some things we'd recommend having for exploring Sossusvlei and Deadvlei:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat to protect yourself from the sun
• Light jacket if you are visiting the winter for the night time
• Reusable water bottle (we suggest one that is insulated to hold the temperature)
• Chapstick (it's super dry there)
• Power Bank (we use Anker power banks as they are super long lasting and durable)
• Comfortable sandals for walking the dunes (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops, as they are comfy and long lasting)
• Small Bag or Backpack - take a look at these backpacks for travelers!
• Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
• Standard Lens (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
• Wide Lens to capture great panoramas and astrophotography (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
• Telephoto Lens to capture the views up of the dunes from far away (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
• Tripod to get pictures while no one is around or for astrophotorgaphy (We use the Rangepod Tripod)
• Action Camera in replacement of a drone (we use the Insta 360 X3)
• Extra Long Selfie Stick (the accessory for the Insta 360 that gives drone-like content)
• Snacks
• Toilet Paper/Tissues to use for the bathroom
• Hand Sanitizer
  

Here are some of the things we would bring if you are staying a night in Sesriem (inside the gates at one of the camps):

• Travel toiletries (our favorites are from Sheer Alternatives because they're all natural and 100ml)
• Towel 
• Bathing suit to go swimming
• Flash light for getting around at night
  
• Lotion (our skin got really dry)
• Cash for tipping and certain expenses (not everywhere accepts credit cards)

🤔 Is Sossusvlei Worth Visiting?

Sossusvlei, Namibia may just be one of the most unique deserts we've visited, and we believe it is definitely worth visiting! 

With beautiful sand dunes, and a full area of the incredibly odd dead trees, Sossusvlei, Namibia is truly a photographer's dream.

There is so much to see in the park that we honestly didn't have time for it all! We'd honestly say it's even worth going back a second time due to its extraordinary beauty.

⏳ How Many Days to Stay in Sossusvlei

You can definitely visit the highlights of Sossusvlei in a day, which is what most people spend! Permits are for 24 hours, so this is truly the ideal amount of time to explore the park. We'd recommend going in the afternoon and staying 24 hours. 

If you stay inside the park, you can even get a chance to do some astrophotography! 

If you're a photographer and looking to capture the park in all its glory with different spots for sunrise and sunset, then you could also spend a second day, which we probably would have done if we had time.

Tips for Visiting Sossusvlei, Namibia

So are you ready to experience the amazing destination of Sossusvlei, Namibia? Be prepared for some incredible photo opportunities and a unique experience in this stunning desert paradise.

Want to see what other cool things there are to see in Namibia? We have a ton of other Namibia travel guides coming up, so make sure to subscribe to our newsletter, to get updated on the new articles we have each week.

Ready to start planning your most epic trip to date? Well, it doesn't have to cost you a ton of time or money to do so. Scratch Your Mapa now offers custom travel planning services, which get you the best flights, and create you the coolest itinerary possible. Want to learn more? Shoot us an email to set up your free consultation!

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