This blog post covers what you need to know to plan your visit to Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Big Daddy Dune, Big Mama Dune, Dune 45, Dune 40, Hidden Vlei, and more.
When planning my trip, the park rules, hours, and place names were confusing, so let me explain how this whole thing works.
Know what you want to get out of your visit.
If you have limited time and want to be at the main attractions at the best times of day for photos – sunrise and sunset – you absolutely must plan this out carefully. You can see all you need to see here in one day if you are not a photographer. If you are, I recommend staying at least two nights to catch all you want to see at the best times for photos. If you want to climb a dune at sunrise and visit Deadvlei at sunrise, you’ll need two mornings in the park to do it right. If you need to choose one, go with Deadvlei. Staying inside the park will give you the most time and freedom to see what you want when your time is short.
Be aware that it gets hot as hell in the park during the summer months (Oct-Apr) and hot as heck during the winter (May-Sep), so hiking around during the day can be miserable (and dangerous). The early morning is the best time to be in the park.
I spent one night inside the park. We arrived the afternoon of our stay and saw Dune 40 and hiked out the Hidden Vlei. The next morning we visited Deadvlei and Sossusvlei before leaving for our next destination.
First, some places you need to know about:
- Namib-Naukluft National Park – the park that contains all of the awesome sights you came here to see.
- Sesriem – the little town close to the park gates at the junction of C27 and D826. Lots of lodges, plus gas, groceries and beer.
- NWR Office – NWR stands for Namibia Wildlife Resorts. This is the company that owns and manages all Namibian national park offices and lodges/campsites/resorts. Their office is just outside the park gates in Sesriem. Tickets to the park can only be purchased here.
- Sesriem Campsite – the NWR campsite inside the park gates. The only campsite inside the park. This camp also has a restaurant open to the public.
- Sossus Dune Lodge – Also operated by NWR. It’s the only lodge inside the park. Entrance is between the inner and outer gates, and has a private road beyond the inner gate. There are some lodges outside the park with deceptively similar names, like Sossusvlei Lodge. Be aware.
- Sossusvlei – This word is generally used as a catch-all term for the area 60 kilometers inside the park that contains Deadvlei, Big Daddy Dune, Hidden Vlei, and Big Mama Dune. This means at least an hour’s drive to this location after entering the park. Sossusvlei has a large parking lot at the end of the paved road. Here, you park and take a shuttle the last 5 kilometers on a 4×4 road to the Deadvlei/Big Daddy trails. You can drive the 4×4 road yourself only if you reduce the air pressure in your tires and have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle with high clearance. Sossusvlei is also the name of the large clay pan near the 4×4 parking lot.
- Elim Dune – Just 5 kilometers beyond the park gate. This is a popular spot for people who are staying outside of the park but want to catch the sunset/sunrise light.
- Dune 45 – Popular dune to climb for sunrise/sunset. Located 45 kilometers beyond the park gates.
- Dune 40 – Guess how far from the park gate?
- Deadvlei – Means dead marsh. This is for many people (including me), the one thing we can’t miss. It’s an otherworldly landscape of tree skeletons standing in a dead marsh against technicolor dunes. I recommend skipping Big Daddy and heading straight to Deadvlei if you only have one morning in the park.
- Big Daddy Dune – Towering over Deadvlei, it is the highest dune in the park. People usually climb it at sunrise (about 45 minutes hike) and then run down the side to Deadvlei. If you really want to huff and puff your way up a giant sand dune, then I hear the views are spectacular from the top. Plus running down the side looked super fun.
- Big Mama Dune – Directly across Deadvlei from Big Daddy. Less visited and less annoying to slog up.
- Hidden Vlei – A 2 kilometer trail leads from the 2×4 parking lot at Sossusvlei to Hidden Vlei, a small but atmospheric dead marsh with a gorgeous camel thorn tree skeleton. Uncrowded.
- Sesriem Canyon – 4.5 km from the main gate, this canyon carved by the Tsauchab River is popular for hiking. I would not bother with it if your time is limited.
Here’s a Google map that covers the basics:
Get your tickets
First, get your tickets at the NWR office right outside the park gates. Currently the entrance fees are 80 NAD per person and 10 NAD per vehicle. You can buy them the night before to save time if you plan to enter the next morning.
The Park Gates & Hours
There is only one way in to the park from Sesriem – through a set of two gates. The outer gate lets you in to an area with a campground and restaurant. In order to continue beyond this point toward Sossusvlei (unless you are staying at the Sossus Dune Lodge), you must pass through the inner gate.
The outer gate opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. The closing times will be posted on the gates when you enter. This means about 6 a.m. September to March, and 6:45 a.m. April to August. Check TimeAndDate.com for current sunrise and sunset times. If you are staying outside of the park, you must be out by the time the outer gate closes.
The inner gate opens one hour before sunrise and closes one hour after sunset. This gate is accessible for those people staying inside the park.
Lodgings & Access Times
Sesriem and its surroundings have plenty of lodges of all classes and price points. If you need a budget lodge, you’ll need to stay outside of the park.
Between the inner gate and the outer gate of the park is the Sesriem Campsite, the only campsite inside the park itself. If you are staying here, you have access to the inner gate so you can enter the park one hour earlier and come back to your camp one hour later than people staying outside of the park. There are about 50 campsites and you need your own camping equipment to stay here.
The Sossus Dune Lodge is located on the road to Sesriem canyon – turn left and follow the signs after entering the park. The lodge also has a private road beyond the inner gate. If you stay here, you have unrestricted access via the private road, meaning you can leave for Sossusvlei earlier and return later than all the folks staying at the Sesriem Campsite. Expect to pay $500 a night for a chalet here during high season.
For me, staying here was worth it but you have to book early. If nothing is available when you try to book, go ahead and book a lodge outside of the park with free cancellation on Expedia or Booking.com, and then keep checking back. I was looking for 6 months before a chalet finally became available.
What’s the plan if I only have one full day?
If staying outside the park:
Get your tickets and line up at the outer gate by sunrise. If your goal is Big Daddy Dune or Deadvlei, you arrive an hour after sunrise but the light is still nice and it’s not too hot. Alternatively, head to Dune 40 or Dune 45. In the afternoon make sure you leave the Sossusvlei parking lot at least one hour before sunset to make it out on time. Or leave earlier and spend the afternoon at the dunes mentioned above. Elim Dune is popular around sunset since it’s so close to the gates.
If staying at Sesriem Campsite:
Line up at the inner gate an hour before sunrise. Zoom 60 kilometers in the convoy to the Sossusvlei parking lot. Make sure you leave Sossusvlei by the time the sun sets so you can make it back to camp by the time the inner gate closes.
If staying at the Sossus Dune Lodge:
You’ve sunk at least $500 bucks into this lodge so take advantage of the benefits that staying here affords you! Leave super early via their private road and get out to Deadvlei before sunrise. Take your time leaving in the afternoon and maybe hike out to Hidden Vlei for sunset. The turn-off for the private road to the lodge is on your right about 1 km before the inner gate.
