23 tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia

23 tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia

Our tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei ensure that your visit to Namibia's most popular attraction becomes as exciting as it should be

Last year Kia and I shared a list of countries that we would like to see. In the first place on my list was Namibia, especially because of Sossusvlei. I really wanted to photograph this incredible landscape since I saw the bare silhouettes of their apparently petrified trees in front of a brazen blue sky and a lively desert dune years ago in a National Geographic photo essay.

The photos created a surreal Disney-like scenery that I was never quite sure about it was real. Well, it's really okay.

We finally visited Sossusvlei with Wild Dog Safaris as part of a 17-day self-driver safari this year. It was one of these travel destinations that completely corresponded to the picture I had in my head. Sossusvlei and his iconic neighbor Deadvlei were as sensational as I had hoped.

The dunes, which are up to 325 m high, constantly change shape and color. The wind reels and shapes its contours, while its color changes from ocher to bruned orange to fiery red during a day from sunrise to sunset to sunset.

The sky above has a small cloud cover, which, in contrast to the fiery tones of the sand, ensures an almost permanent cobalt blue sky. The heart is the burned, uncanny white pan from Deadvlei, where skeletonized trees, a few hundreds of years old, puncture the cracked clay soil. The scene is nothing less than beyond.

Alt = "Elf-Drive Safari through Namibia Sossusvlei"Atlas & BootsDeadvlei is another surreale Namibian landscape

Despite its essential beauty, a visit to the area is not without challenges. The dunes and pans from Sossusvlei are, to put the least, isolated. The location is located in the southern part of the Namib desert, about 65 km from Sesriem, even a lonely and distant outpost with little more than a petrol station and a collection of tourist accommodation.

Vlei is Afrikaans for "swamp", while "Sossus" Nama is for "no return" or "dead end". Unnecessary to say that it is a rough environment. If you plan to visit the "dead end swamp", it is worth being prepared.

We googled tips for visiting Sossusvlei and found many unexpected pictures of people in Deadvlei, but very few practical advice for visiting one of the oldest and driest ecosystems on earth.

Therefore, we have compiled 23 practical tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia.

Tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia

1. Get in as early as possible. The goals for the Namib-Naukluft National Park at Sesriem open at 6.15 a.m. Make sure you are in the queue as early as possible so as not to get stuck behind a tour bus.

2. You will receive a number and some documents. Keep it up because you need you later a day to pay the approval when you leave the park. It may not be very clear, but visitors pay in the green building next to the Sesriem campsite near the exit.

3. We suggest driving ourselves instead of participating in a tour. We preferred to have our own car and determine our time ourselves. We recommend Wild Dog Safaris who gave us tips for visiting Sossusvlei and much more information about Namibia.

Alt = "Tips for visiting Sossusvlei in Namibia self -drivers"Atlas & BootsWe recommend driving in Sossusvlei yourself so that you can stop anywhere

1. The price per entry is 80 NAD ($ 6) per person and 10 NAD (1 USD) per vehicle (as of December 2018).

2. Consider order a breakfast box in your hotel so that you can optimize your morning and have the opportunity to make a picnic in the dunes.

3. Drive directly to Sossusvlei. Do not stop at Dune 45 and other viewpoints on the way. Most visitors do this and share their experiences with crowds. We recommend driving directly to the main attractions of Sossusvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei when they are calmer and cooler. On the way outside we stopped at Dune 45 and had it practically for ourselves.

Alt = “Tips for visiting Sossusvlei in Namibia Dune 45 ″Atlas & BootsWe almost had the popular viewpoint at Dune 45 for ourselves

1. Choose a vehicle with all -wheel drive. All 2WD vehicles have to stop on the 2WD parking lot (60 km along a paved road from the entrance) and then cross the remaining 4 km of sand path on foot (not recommended) or with the shuttle (170 NAD / 12 USD per person).

2. If you drive all -wheel drive, reduce tire pressure to 1.6 bar (23 PSI) to drive over sand. There is a petrol station in front of the main entrance gate in Sesriem, where the employees can help you.

3. There are clean toilets on the 2WD parking lot. In the other parking spaces, including the 4WD parking lot on Sossusvlei, there are case toilets that are not particularly clean.

4. Wear closed shoes, no flip-flops or sandals. The sand becomes extremely hot and can easily burn your feet.

Alt = “Tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia 6 ″Atlas & BootsLook down on Daddy on Deadvlei when climbing on Big Daddy

1. The most important of our tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei is to take at least 2-3 liters of water per person-especially if you plan to climb the sand dune Big Daddy. Do not underestimate its size: at 325 m it is higher than The Shard in London!

2. The top speed in the park is 60 km/h. Only a few drivers seem to stick to it, but we have been warned that the traffic police patrol the street.

3. If you would like to see the dunes at sunset or sunrise, you should consider staying in the park. There are two options that are both operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR): the luxurious Sossus Dune Lodge or the Sesriem Campsite directly at the park entrance.

4. If you don't stay in the park, make sure you leave the gates by 7:00 p.m. There are fines when you stay in the park after this time.

Alt = "Tips for visiting Sossusvlei in Namibia are careful"Atlas & BootsSossusvlei was one of these travel destinations that fully met expectations

1. There are essentially three main parties to visit: Deadvlei, Big Daddy and Sossusvlei as well as Dune 45 and several other viewpoints along the entrance.

2. It is worth asking your accommodation for your opinion. The employees of the Adventure Center of the Sossusvlei Lodge provided us with a card and tips on the weather.

3. Our proposed travel route is to drive directly to Deadvlei to experience the area from your quietest side. If you want to climb the sand dune Big Daddy, only spend 15-20 minutes in Deadvlei to optimally use the cooler morning. After climbing Big Daddy, you can descend back to the Deadvlei to stay there longer (but with more visitors).

4. Think about what is most important to you. Is it Big Daddy climbing to photograph Deadvlei or see the sunrise or sunset? We made a mistake and first climbed on Big Daddy. When we arrived in Deadvlei, the wind had flashed and caused poor photo conditions. So we had to drive back the next day, which meant a long day of driving and cost the double admission.

Alt = "Tips for visiting Sossusvlei in Namibia Sandsturm"Atlas & BootsWhen we arrived in Deadvlei, the wind had flashed

1. Against this background we propose the following:

06.15: Enter the park and drive directly to the Sossusvlei. 07.15: Park on the 4WD parking lot near Deadvlei / Big Daddy. 07.30: Visit Deadvlei Kurz. 07.45: Climb on Big Daddy and visit from Sossusvlei and Big Mama (optional) 11.30 p.m.: Leave Sossusvlei with a stop at the Dune 45 and other viewpoints on the way 1:00 p.m.

1. The best time to travel for Sossusvle is March-May or August-Oktober. The cooler air ensures a clearer sky and better photo conditions. The temperatures are also milder, but note that it is the most windest from July to August. Check the current weather conditions in the region with WindY.App.

2. Do not touch the trees. That should actually be a matter of course, but we saw dozens of tourists who leaned on the trees, climbed and sat, often posed for photos or rested. The trees are hundreds of years old, but they won't last long when tourists ignore the rules.

Alt = “Tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia 11 ″Atlas & BootsIncredibly touching, climbing and still sitting on the trees

1. Take enough sunscreen and a sun hat and wear loose clothing that offers protection from the sun.

2. Finally, if you want, pack an instant dress to put it on to put it on, but don't wear it to climb Big Daddy!

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Atlas & Boots

Visit to the Sossusvlei in Namibia: The most important

What: Visit from Sossusvlei in Namibia as part of a 17-day self-driver safari by Wild Dog Safaris.

Where: The accommodation on the tour comprises 16 nights in a number of hotels, lodges and safari camps, including the Sossusvlei Lodge, which is located directly outside the Namib Naubi Kluft-Nationalpark. Other accommodation on the tour are the Okonjima Plains Camp, the Etosha Safari Camp and the Aoba Lodge.

The tour can be booked either as accommodation (like us), camping or a combination of both. Breakfast and several dinner are included in the accommodation option; Camping is largely self -catering.

When: The best travel time for Namibia is from May to October during the dry season (winter). There is less vegetation and wild animals tend to gather to gather water holes, making them easier to see. This is also high season, so it may be necessary to book months in advance, especially in Etosha.

The secondary seasons in May and November are good for cheaper accommodations with higher availability. In November, heavy rains can occur, albeit mainly in short, intensive outbursts.

The low season brings heavy rains from December to April, which make some routes impassable. The air humidity is higher and wild animals are more difficult to discover, but the accommodation is cheaper.

Like: We visited Namibia half independently with a 17-day self-driver safari from Wild Dog Safaris. Wild Dog Safaris Bays accommodation, provides a rental car and organizes a travel route for the trip.

The travel route shows the best wild animals and landscapes that the country has to offer, including the dunes of Sossusvlei, the coastal city of Swakopmund and the notorious Etosha National Park. Further highlights are the Fish River Canyon, Twyfelfontein and Okonjima - home of the Africat Foundation.

There are 11-day and 13-day versions of the above-mentioned travel route as well as a 15-day self-driver option for Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Driving in Namibia is fairly simple and relaxed, although an all -wheel drive is essential. The traffic is low outside of the larger cities, although the road conditions are very different. Side streets are paved and easy to drive on, but quite rare. C and D roads are gravel roads that occur more often and are very different in their condition. Expect everything from smooth, comfortable and relatively fast gravel roads to wavy, uncomfortable and frustratingly slow dust slopes. Make sure you have a replacement tire and know who you can turn to in an emergency.

Upon arrival in Windhoek, we were welcomed by Wild Dog Safaris, which provided a detailed travel route, travel instructions, maps and information together with several tips for visiting Sossusvlei and other destinations.

We flew to Namibia with British Airways via Johannesburg in South Africa. Book flights at the best prices via Skyscanner.

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Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia is a comprehensive travel guide for Namibia and contains some useful tips for a visit to the Sossusvlei.

Disclosure: We traveled to Namibia with the support of Wild Dog Safaris. All publications say that, but we really don't guarantee positive reporting. We say what we think - good and bad - so that you can make well -founded decisions with honest advice.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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