Visit Sossusvlei National park in Namibia

SOSSUSVLEI NATIONAL PARK

- Sossusvlei National Park -
Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction!

Located in the heart of the Namib Desert Sossusvlei is arguably Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. The crown jewel of the national park is undoubtedly Deadvlei, the large white salt pan with its blackened fossilised Acacia trees that graces postcards, computer desktops and Namibia travel literature the world over. Surrounded by stunning ochre dunes and etched against a cobalt blue sky, this is one of the most photographed and loved sites in the whole of Africa, and when you see it with your own eyes you will understand why – it is truly spectacular!

“Vlei” is the Afrikaans word for a wetland, and there are three “vleis” in this National Park – Hiddenvlei, Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. On the very rare occasions that Sossusvlei receives heavy rains, the water gathers in these larger depressions and draws wildlife from hundreds of miles away, turning Sossussvlei into even more of a natural spectacle.

The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400m, and take on truly magical hues during the soft morning and evening glow. It is hard to describe the incredible wealth of colours you will see and the incredible awe and inner peace you will feel when exploring the Namib Desert, at 55 million years the most ancient desert in the world. For truly postcard-worthy views of the dunes, consider a hot air balloon flight over this ancient landscape, floating serenely over the sea of sand,

View sample itineraries in Namibia

While you’re in the Namib- Naukluft National Park, of which Sossusvlei forms part, don’t forget to visit the Sesriem Gorge. Here you will walk along an ancient dried up river bed surrounded by towering rock walls gouged by the river over millennia. The photo opportunities are many.

Most people will spend just 2 nights at Sossusvlei, with one full day spent exploring the dunes. However, many lodges offer horse-riding, quad biking, fat biking and nature drives to explore the reserve. Combine these with a plethora of hiking trials, and it’s easy to justify spending more time here.

- Best time to go to Sossusvlei National Park -

Winter (June to September): A good time to visit Sossusvlei is during winter. While the nights do get very cold, you can enjoy sunny warm days with day temperatures averaging around 26 °C / 78°F and rain is extremely rare.

The best time for photography is, as always, during the golden hours of dawn or dusk when the dunes take on their most magical hues. One advantage of winter is that a later sunrise means you will be able to sleep in a little later.

Spring (September-November) and Autumn (April – May): The in-between seasons of spring and autum are our favourite time to go to Sossusvlei. The evenings and nights get warmer, and daytime temperatures climb to about 30°C / 85°F and up to 35°C/ 95°F in October and beginning of November.

Since there is only limited vegetation in this area, the contrast between green and dry season is less pronounced than in Etosha for example.

Summer(December to March): Although summer is technically the rainy season in Sossusvlei, precipitation is extremely rare. If you are lucky enough to be visiting in a year where it has rained in the desert, and water has filled the vlei, you can look forward to a visual treat as scores of flamingos and other wild bird flock to temporary lakes before they disappear.

However, summer is also when the heat is at its peak in Sossuvlei, with temperatures up to and beyond 40°C /105°F being very common. The extreme heat in turn often leads to strong gusty winds, which is not ideal when walking on sand dunes, as you may know if you have ever walked on the beach with the wind painfully whipping the sand against you bare legs and face.

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