Complete Guide to Visiting the Sossusvlei Dunes in Namibia (2025)
Sossusvlei, nestled in the heart of the Namib Desert in the South of Namibia, is a place of breathtaking beauty and raw, untamed landscapes. Having spent four days exploring this surreal desert on a self-drive 4×4 camping adventure through Namibia, weโve gathered invaluable insights that will help you make the most of your visit to the Sossusvlei dunes. Be it seeing the magic of the towering red dunes, ancient white clay pans of Deadvlei, or the mesmerizing star gazing opportunities, Sossusvlei offers an unforgettable adventure for every traveler.
In this guide, weโll share essential tips on navigating the dunes, including the famous Big Daddy and Dune 45, insider advice on avoiding the crowds, and all the details on park fees and logistics. Whether youโre a photographer seeking perfect light or an adventurer chasing the thrill of scaling the worldโs highest sand dunes, this guide will ensure you make the most of your time there.
Are the Sossusvlei Dunes and Deadvlei worth visiting?
Having travelled to over 40 countries now around the world, visiting the sand dunes of Sossusvlei and witnessing Deadvlei easily ranks among our top five most magical experiences! The towering red and orange dunes, contrasted by the stark white salt pans and ancient desiccated trees, create a one-of-a-kind landscape combination that we believe cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Then after the sun sets, the sky fills with millions of stars, and the Milky Way becomes clearly visible, stretching across the horizon. As the Sossusvlei Namib Desert Park is considered one of the worldโs unique dark sky reserves, the stargazing experience is truly unparalleled. The only other place that surpassed Sossusvlei in terms of the night sky and the Milky Way was Spitzkoppe.
So if youโre wondering whether Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are worth a visit, we can wholeheartedly say theyโre among the top must-see destinations in Namibia!
Best things to do in Sossusvlei dunes
So you might be curious about what incredible experiences make this place worthy of our high praise. Below, we have highlighted what we consider the most magical experiences that you will have while visiting the Sossusvlei National Park.
- Climb over 5 towering sand dunes ranging from 500-1000 feet high including the Big Daddy, Big Mama, Elim Dunes, Dune 45, and Sossusvlei Dunes.
- Experience the ancient white clay pan of Deadvlei, where blackened camel thorn trees have stood desiccated for over a thousand years. Set against the backdrop of towering red dunes, this remarkable landscape has been perfectly preserved thanks to the regionโs extreme arid climate.
- Marvel at the millions of stars and the Milky Way stretching across the horizon in one of the worldโs rare Dark Sky Zones.
- Spot wild animals including the giraffes, ostriches, Oryxes and more in the endless plains of Sossusvlei.
- Experience one of the most awe-inspiring sunsets from the summit of a towering sand dune, where the fiery orange glow of the sun bathes the expansive desert in a warm, golden light.
How long to visit Sossusvlei
Some people will come visit Sossuslvlei for only one night, but we would highly recommend booking at least 2-3 nights to fully enjoy the park at a comfortable pace. The main reason we recommend staying 3 nights is because the best times to experience the dunes are only the first 2 hours after sunrise, and the hour before sunset, while the temperatures are not blistering hot and the lighting is soft.
During midday, the intense heat and absence of shade can make exploring the dunes difficult and quite uncomfortable. As a result, youโll likely be able to explore just two dunes per day, and with over five to choose from, itโs worth planning for the extra days.
Additionally, we found ourselves wanting to experience both the sunrise and sunset from Deadvlei and Dune 45 for a second time, which is why we needed those extra days to make it happen.
The last reason we recommend spending at least 2-3 nights there is that traveling from Windhoek to Sossusvlei takes a long 5 hours. Thus staying longer allows you to fully enjoy the experience and make the journey and detour worthwhile.
This post is part of our series about Namibia. If you want to learn more about Namibia, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:
Permit costs, opening hours for Sossusvlei Namib Naukluft Park
Sossusvlei Permit Costs
The dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are all part of the Sossusvlei Namib Naukluft Park located next to Sesriem. To enter the park, you will need to pay a fee based on the number of people and the number of vehicles. Each pass is valid for 24 hours from the time of entry.
Below are the current permit prices as of 2024:
- Adults cost 150 NAD per day, children 100 NAD per day
- Vehicles (under 10 passengers) cost 50 NAD per day
Sossusvlei Park Opening Hours
The opening hours of the park vary by time of year as it is based on the sunrise and sunset times. Make sure to verify with the park ranger when you pay for your permit. Normally, they will hand you a document that highlights the exact gate opening and closing times. When we went in August, the inner gates opened at 6:30am, and closed at 7:15pm.
Keep in mind that there are two gates you need to cross to enter the Sossusvlei Namib Desert park. The outer gate, known as โSesriem Gateโ opens exactly at sunrise and closes at sunset, whereas the inner gate opens 1 hour before sunrise, and closes 1 hour after sunset. For this reason, if you are interested in seeing the sunrise and sunset from the dunes, you must choose an accommodation inside the Park (which is inside the Sesriem Gates).
If you plan to enter the park for sunrise the following morning, we strongly recommend purchasing your permit the day before. This way, youโll have all the necessary passes to enter the gates right at opening, avoiding any delays from having to queue to buy passes.
Staying inside vs. outside the Park
One of our biggest dilemmas when deciding to visit Sossusvlei was whether we should pick an accommodation outside the park gates, or inside the park gates. Essentially, there are 4 main hotel/campsite choices for staying inside the park, which are located inside the Sesriem Gates (outer park gate), but before the Inner Gates of the park. Staying inside the park allows you to enter one hour before sunrise and exit one hour after sunset, as those are the operating hours of the inner gate.
In contrast, if you stay outside of the National Park (outside the Sesriem Gates), you can only enter the park at sunrise and must leave before sunset as those are the opening hours of the outer park gates. This means you will need to actually depart for the dune a good 30-40 minutes before the sun has fully set to account for the driving time. The only advantage of staying outside the park is the greater variety of lodging options available, especially if all the accommodations inside the park are fully booked.
Having spent 3 nights experiencing all the park has to offer, we would strongly recommend staying inside the park. Being able to enter the park 1 hour before sunrise provides crucial extra time to make the 40-60 minute drive from the inner gate to the primary sand dunes, allowing you to fully witness the sun rise while sitting atop the dunes. The same applies for sunset; staying inside gives you the opportunity to enjoy the full sunset experience before you need to drive back to the gate.
Lastly, since there are only a limited number of lodges inside the park, youโll encounter significantly fewer people on the dunes during those early and late hours compared to the daytime.
Where to stay in Sossusvlei
Below we have provided a summary of all the recommended hotels both inside the Sossusvlei park as well as outside the gates. To help you choose the most suitable accommodation, we also share some highlight features for each lodge and campsite as well as the overall price range.
INSIDE the Sossusvlei Park: Lodges and Campsites
Accommodation Inside Sossusvlei Park | |||
Hotel | Features | Price | |
| $ | ||
| $ | ||
| $$$ | ||
| $$$ |
Our top recommended place to stay INSIDE the park gates
Above we have listed all the accommodation choices if you want to stay inside the park gates. However, our top recommendation would be to stay at the Dead Valley Lodge for those who are not camping through Namibia, and at the Sesriem Oshana Campsite for the 4×4 campers. In fact, even if you are camping across Namibia, we would still recommend staying at Dead Valley Lodge.
Dead Valley Lodge 🥇
The Dead Valley Lodge is one of the most beautifully decorated lodges weโve encountered in Namibia. There you will find incredibly friendly staff, an outdoor barbecue dinner overlooking the dunes, and a large swimming pool near a small watering hole wildlife frequents.
The lounge area is elegantly furnished and inviting, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing constant views of the breathtaking landscape.
This Lodge has 20 private, luxury, tented chalets, each climate-controlled and equipped with a private patio and en-suite bathroom. As a reminder, this lodge is located within the Sesriem gates and only a short 2 min drive to reach the inner gate.
Sesriem Oshana Campsite 🥈
Alternatively, the Sesriem Oshana campsite is our top recommendation for camping inside the park gates.
Whatโs great about this campsite is that each site comes with its own shaded structure, private bathroom, braai area, and a sink/kitchen setup. This setup made cooking our meals much more convenient and enjoyable.
The facilities here surpassed those of any other campsite we stayed at during our road trip through Namibia. Similar to Dead Valley Lodge, the Sesriem Oshana Campsite is located inside the Sesriem gates and only a 2 minute drive from the inner gates.
OUTSIDE the Sossusvlei Park: Lodges and Campsites
Accommodation Outside Sossusvlei Park | ||||
Hotel | Features | Distance from Gate | Price | |
| 0.7km | $$$ | ||
| 0.8km | $ | ||
| 4.3km | $$ | ||
| 22km | $$$ | ||
| 31km | $$$ | ||
| 35km | $$$ | ||
| 43km | $$ | ||
| 58km | $$$$ |
Our top recommended places to stay OUTSIDE the park gates
Above we have listed many of the accommodation choices if you want to stay outside the park gates. There are several options to choose from so we will provide our recommendations. The top priority, in our opinion, is choosing a lodging that is nearby the Sesriem gate. This will ensure that you reach the Sossusvlei dunes right at sunrise and sunset.
The three locations that are closest to the gate are the Sossusvlei Lodge (Luxury), Sossus Oasis Campsite (Budget), and Desert Quiver Camp (Mid-range).
For those who want more comfort, Sossusvlei Lodge is ideal with their air-conditioned chalets, open-air buffets with live cooking stations, and beautiful pool.
For those who want a basic but very well-equipped camping, check out the Sossus Oasis Campsite. They have private bathroom facilities, which is a nice luxury when camping, and also a beautiful pool.
For those who want a mid-range accommodation in a spacious modern chalet without the higher price tag, check out the Desert Quiver Camp. It is essentially a mix between camping and lodge.
The other hotel/campsite options are located from 20-58km from the Sesriem gate, meaning it will take at least 30 minutes drive to reach it.
If being close to the park gate isnโt a priority and youโre open to indulgingโperhaps for a honeymoon or special occasionโWe highly recommend checking out Desert Whisper Lodge 💎! It will blow your mind!
Desert Whisper Lodge offers a truly unique luxurious retreat experience in the heart of the Namib Desert perfect for couples searching for something special. Designed in a private oasis, they offer secluded and exclusive private villas nestled among the rugged red sand. Each villa has its private pool, elegantly furnished room with floor-to-ceiling windows, a personal chef and butler, and a fully personalized experience.
Guide to visiting the dunes of Sossusvlei
In the section below, weโll share with you where the dunes are located, how to get to the dunes, an overview of what youโll experience at each dune, and some of our recommendations for the best spots for sunrise and sunset.
How to reach the dunes in Sossusvlei
To better help you plan your visit to the dunes in Sossusvlei, it is important to know where they are located and how to reach them. The park is divided into an easy-access paved road section and a smaller difficult-access thick sand road section.
Dunes within the easy-access paved roads
Elim dunes, Dune 40, and Dune 45 are within the paved road section, whereas Big Daddy Dune, Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, and Big Mama Dune are within the sandy road section.
Once you enter through the inner park gates, you will reach Elim dunes within about 5 minutes of driving. As a point of reference, the speed limit in the paved road section is 60km/hour, however we noticed that most people were driving a lot faster, closer to 80-90km/hour.
Next, at a distance of 40km, taking about 40 minutes total to drive, you will reach Dune 40. Then, Dune 45 is located only about 5 minutes further, at a total distance of 45km from the inner gate. You will notice that the dunes are conveniently named after the distance from the inner gate.
Dunes within the further sandy road section
The Sandy section is located 65km, or about 1 hour, away from the inner gates. From Dune 45, you need to drive around another 20 minutes to get there. Here you will find Big Daddy Dune, Deadvlei, Big Mama Dune, and Sossusvlei. The first sandy section to reach Big Daddy and Deadvlei is only about 5km long but it will be a very stressful 10 minute drive as you really donโt want to get stuck here. Once successfully crossed, there will be a 4×4 parking lot where you can stop to go visit Big Daddy and Deadvlei.
To reach Sossusvlei and Big Mama dune, you will need to drive an additional 5 minutes through another sandy section, albeit this section is easier to cross. You will reach another 4×4 parking lot where you can park your car to visit Sossusvlei and Big Mama.
To exit the park, you will need to follow the same way back, meaning crossing through the sandy section again, and then driving through the paved road section.
Shuttle service through sand section (updated in 2024)
Previously, there was a park shuttle run by NWR available from the 2×4 parking lot to help you cross the sandy section. However, an update in October 2024 changed the departure point of the NWR Park shuttle from the 2×4 parking lot only 5km from Deadvlei, to the Sesriem camp right at the park entrance.
However, a new private company (About Africa) was granted permission to offer private 4×4 shuttle services from the 2×4 parking lot to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. The cost of the shuttle is 200 NAD per person.
Make sure to double-check with the park ranger or your hotel host to verify the operation of both companies.
Tips for driving through the Sand section
Crossing through the sandy section in Sossusvlei was a very nerve-wracking experience. We ended up going through on two separate days and for the most part was successful. We did get stuck once though so we wanted to provide our tips on navigating this section.
You need a 4×4 SUV
First, the only way you can even attempt to cross this section is with a high-clearance 4×4 SUV. This shouldnโt be an issue since most people who visit Namibia will be renting a Toyota Hilux 4×4, Ford Ranger 4×4, or equivalent.
Deflate your tires
Next, in order to increase your chances of success, we recommend that you deflate your tires to 1.5-1.6 bar (around 22 psi) before going into the sandy section. The reason for this is that with the tires slightly deflated, there will a greater surface area for the tires to gain traction, thus reducing the chance of getting stuck. We personally crossed the sandy section 4 times without deflating the tires but it does make it riskier. Donโt be lazy like us and just deflate the tires.
Put your SUV in all-wheel-drive mode
Then, put your car in H4 and drive at a consistent speed without braking or accelerating much. The road is very bumpy which will limit how fast you can drive anyways.
Choose the right sandy path
It is also important to know that the sandy section is not one road, but a wide section of sand with multiple paths. They were carved out by the shuttle buses and other drivers so they all lead to the same destination, but it is super important to be vigilant on which pathway you take.
While driving through, you need to maintain driving momentum and scan ahead to prepare for which pathway you will take. Make sure to avoid the paths that lead to any thicker sand or small valleys/ditches. You only have a few seconds before you have to decide which way to go since changing directions quickly will definitely get your car stuck.
To give you an idea, the wide sand sections have at least 5-6 different trails you can follow.
We took a wrong turn once into a slightly indented pathway and ended up getting stuck. Fortunately, one of the shuttle bus drivers came out of his car to help us get the car out. Otherwise, they charge 1000 NAD to organize a tractor to pull your car out.
Option of using the shuttle service
As previously mentioned, if this sounds too stressful, then you can always take the NWR Park shuttle from the Sesriem Campsite or the private shuttle run by About Africa at the 2×4 parking lot.
UPDATE OCTOBER 2024: The NWR shuttle service will no longer operate from the 2×4 parking lot just 5km away from Deadvlei. Instead, they will now only depart from the Sesriem Campsite which is at the entrance of the park. This update was posted on the official NWR website. Instead, a private shuttle run by About Africa will be in operation at the 2×4 parking lot to bring you to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.
Favourite Dunes in Sossusvlei
In this guide, weโll introduce you to all the dunes in Sossusvlei Park and highlight the unique features of each. This will help you decide which ones to prioritize, especially if youโre short on time and need to make a selection.
Elim Dunes (5 mins from inner gate)
Elim Dune was a delightful surprise for us.
While itโs not often highlighted among the must-see dunes in Sossusvlei, what it may lack in the grandeur of Big Daddy or the striking scenery of Deadvlei, it more than makes up for with its diverse landscapes.
At a heigh of 320 feet, climbing up the dunes takes around 30-40 minutes. On your journey up, you will cross through sandy slopes etched with mesmerizing sand patterns created by the wind, through golden sand interspersed by patches of tall camel thorn grass, and then a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire landscape all around you.
We ended up enjoying it far more than expected and was the perfect spot to go for sunset since it is located just 5 minutes drive from the inner gate.
After entering the park, you will turn right off the road to reach the Elim Dunes Parking lot.
Dune 45 (30-40 mins from Inner gate)
Dune 45 was our favourite go-to dune to watch the breathtaking Sossusvlei sunsets. Located about 30-40 minutes drive from the inner gate, Dune 45 towers at a height of 560 feet bringing you an incredible vantage point of the surrounding barren landscape. Conveniently, you can drive your car right up to the foot of the dune before starting your ascent up its steep red sand slopes.
What we also loved was the steep drop on either side as you navigate up the ridge of the dune, giving an even more awe-inspiring sense to the experience. We watched two sunsets from there and never got tired of the breathtaking view. It only takes about 40 minutes to reach the top of the dune but you can also stop anywhere along the way to watch the sunset. Dune 45 would be our top recommendation for the best spot to watch the sunset in Sossusvlei.
Big Daddy Dune (50 mins from Inner gate)
Big Daddy dune, standing at approximately 1066 feet tall, is one of the tallest dunes in the world! Located right next to Deadvlei, Big Daddy dune offers you the opportunity to climb up its towering slopes to get an unparalleled view of the entire Sossusvlei. It takes around 1.5 hours to climb to the top but keep in mind that the climb is quite challenging due to the soft sand and exposure to the wind and sun.
If you do climb to the top, you will get to enjoy the exhilarating experience of running down its steep sandy slopes towards Deadvlei.
Alternatively, if climbing up doesnโt sound interesting to you, you can get an equally breath-taking view by admiring the Big Daddy dune from the bottom within Deadvlei. Personally, we enjoyed more watching the sunrise from within Deadvlei since there is nowhere else in the world with this combination of white clay pan, blackened and desiccated camel thorn trees, with the massive red dunes in the backdrop.
To reach Big Daddy dune, you will need to cross the thick sand road in your 4×4 or by park shuttle. You will see some wooden pegs in the sand indicating the parking lot.
Deadvlei (50 mins from Inner gate)
Deadvlei is one of the main reasons why we decided to visit Namibia, and it completely lived up to, or even exceeded our expectations.
What makes Deadvlei unique are the blackened camel thorn trees desiccated for over 700 years surrounded by the striking contrast of the white clay pan and towering red-orange sand dunes. It is one of the most unique and breathtaking sights we have ever seen in our travels! When we visited, we ended up spending around 2 hours within Deadvlei admiring every tree and taking a lot of photos.
The best time to visit it is right at sunrise when the harsh sun is still covered by the massive dunes, allowing you to appreciate the true serenity, tranquility, and beauty of the area. When we left Deadvlei at around 9-10 am, we noticed the area was already very crowded.
If you are staying at a lodge/campsite within the park, it will take you about 50-60 minutes to reach Deadvleiโs parking lot, followed by a 10 minute walk across some low dunes. The walk towards Deadvlei is the same as the one towards Big Daddy, where the path up Big Daddy Dune will be on your left and Deadvlei towards the right.
Big Mama Dune and Sossusvlei (60 mins from inner gate)
Situated a bit farther from Big Daddy Dune, Big Mama Dune offers the chance to experience the vastness of Sossusvlei without the large crowds.
Although it stands at 630 feet, making it shorter than Big Daddy, it still presents a challenging climb and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding desert landscape, including the Deadvlei pan and the expansive red dunes of the Namib Desert. From this vantage point, you can truly appreciate the grandeur of Big Daddy, which towers over the other dunes.
During our visit to Big Mama Dune and Sossusvlei at sunrise, we enjoyed the area all to ourselves. One of our favourite moments was witnessing the mesmerizing sand patterns on the slopes of the dunes, yet untouched by footprints. There is also a clay pan in the area with some desiccated trees but it is not as impressive compared to Deadvlei.
Sesriem Canyon (right near the entrance)
Sesriem Canyon is a stunning geological formation located within the Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia, near the entrance to Sossusvlei. Carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years, the canyon features dramatic cliffs that rise up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) high, showcasing layers of ancient sediment and rock. The narrow, winding passageways and colorful rock formations create a striking contrast with the surrounding desert landscape. Visitors to Sesriem Canyon can explore its rugged beauty on foot.
Best Sunset spot in Sossusvlei
Our favourite sunset spot was at Dune 45 and Elim Dunes. Seeing the Sunset at the dunes after the sandy path road is not possible since it takes over an hour to reach them, leaving you almost no time to actually watch the sunset.
Best sunrise spot in Sossusvlei
Our favourite sunrise spot was Deadvlei and Sossusvlei dunes. Make sure to get to the gate before opening time since there will usually be cars already lining up to get in. It takes slightly over an hour to reach these locations so the earlier you go, the more you will get to appreciate the sunrise.
Best time to visit Sossusvlei
The best time to visit Sossusvlei is during the cooler months of the dry season from May to September. During this period, temperatures are more moderate, making it comfortable for exploring the dunes and hiking. This also perfectly aligns with the best time to visit Namibia and Etosha to do the safaris since the dry season brings all the animals to the watering holes, allowing for easier game viewing.
We visited Namibia during the month of August and had perfect weather, no rain, hot but comfortable temperatures, and amazing wildlife viewing.
Tips for visiting the Sossusvlei Dunes
- Pickup groceries and wood at Solitaire. It is on the way from Windhoek to Sesriem and you can also stop there for a delicious apple pie or meat pie. We also found the pricing here more reasonable for some final groceries. If you enjoy Gin and tonics, make sure to pick up some of their local Namibian gin here.
- Buy your park entrance right when you enter the park. We stayed for 3 nights and paid right away for the entire stay, allowing us to save time the next morning when we would enter the park for sunrise.
- If you forgot to buy anything while passing Solitaire, there is also a gas station right outside the park with some limited produce.
- We recommend booking your accommodations in Sossusvlei park far in advance (ideally over 6 months in advance). There is limited accommodation options and is a very popular area to visit.
- We strongly recommend choosing a campsite or lodge that is inside the park. The additional 1 hour at sunrise and at sunset are without a doubt the hours where you will get the most impressive views of the dunes.
- It is hard driving through the thick sand to get to Deadvlei. Make sure to read through in entirety the section where we provide tips on driving through the sand.
- Visit at sunrise and sunset for the best views, as these times offer the most beautiful lighting to showcase the dunes. Midday, on the other hand, has harsh sunlight and high temperatures, making it uncomfortable for exploring.
- It is very dry there. It makes sense since it is a desert but weโve never seen our skin so dry before visiting Sossusvlei. Bring moisturizer and make sure to hydrate properly.
Cost of visiting sossusvlei Dunes
The cost of visiting Sossusvlei will depend largely on whether you stay at their exclusive lodges in the park, at the campsites, or outside the park. We have provided below an estimate of the costs we incurred during our 3 nights there, including the corresponding portion of our 4×4 SUV camper car rental and groceries which lasted us during our stay in Sossusvlei.
We didnโt eat out at the restaurants there to help reduce our spending.
For the 4 days at Sossusvlei for the two of us, we spent 12,503 NAD, equivalent to around 700 USD.
Check out our breakdown below.
- Grocery for the 3 nights: 1749 NAD
- Accommodation for 3 nights for two people: 3000 NAD
- McGregor Bakery Meat pie and apple pie: 135 NAD
- Firewood: 70 NAD
- Gin Bottle: 560 NAD
- Fire Starter: 65 NAD
- Sossusvlei Park entrance fee for 3 days including car: 1050 NAD
- 4×4 camper car rental for 14 days: 27416 NAD (so 5874 NAD for 3 nights)
- TOTAL: 12503 NAD = 700 USD for the two of us
- COST PER DAY: 4167 NAD = 236 USD/day for the two of us
Best tours to Sossusvlei Dunes
Renting the car in Windhoek, driving 5-6 hours to Sossusvlei on their gravel roads, and planning every hotel and dune can be quite overwhelming. If you prefer to have all the rough work planned out for you, so you can focus more on the incredible experiences, we have highlighted some great tour options below. The first ones are only to Sossusvlei dunes, whereas the last 2 are tours going through all the highlights of Namibia.
Tours only to Sossusvlei Dunes
3 Day Sossusvlei Dunes tour
This is a very well-organized tour option that departs from Windhoek and will bring you to visit the most impressive locations including Dune 45, Deadvlei, Sesriem Canyon, as well as a quick stop in the next coastal town of Swakopmund. You will be camping throughout these 3 days but with the tour company, all the tents, lunch, dinner and activities are conveniently arranged for you. Their tours depart once a week on Wednesdays and cost around 530 USD per person which is quite reasonable.
5 day Sossusvlei and Coast Tour
Alternatively, this option gives you more time to explore both Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, and provides more elevated accommodation options. In fact, you can even choose the Gondwana option which allows you to stay in the Gondwana collection hotels, some of Namibiaโs most luxurious lodges. Otherwise, you can also choose the mid-range lodge option. This tour will visit Sossusvlei including Dune 45, Deadvlei, Big Daddy, Sesriem Canyon, and then seeing the seals in Swakopmund as well as enjoying some fresh Namibian Oysters.
Tour that includes all of Namibia
G Adventures Namibia Journey
G Adventures is a company specializing in adventure travel all across the world. This 10 days Namibia tour will bring you to the highlights of Namibia including Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, and the wildlife game viewing in Etosha National Park. This is part of their National Geographic Journey tours which provide a deeper and more hands-on experience. They even include some more exclusive activities like venturing into Sandwich Harbour and going to the Cheetah Conservation, both activities that we did and highly recommend! You will also be staying at comfortable lodges throughout your stay!
If you have more time, then this 19 days Cape Town, Kruger, and Namibia tour is highly recommended. It combines both the highlights of Namibia, and also an incredible Safari experience in South Africaโs most famous Safari Park, Kruger National Park. This is also an upgraded National Geographic Journey experience so you know youโll be getting something truly special!
- Lion we saw at Kruger National Park in South Africa
- Leopard we saw at Kruger National Park in South Africa
Go2Africa – Specialized Africa Tour Operator
If you would prefer to organize your trip with a Tour operator that specializes in all things Africa, then we would highly recommend Go2Africa. They are Safari experts with first-hand experience of all the safaris and lodges, they support local conservation projects, and even provide 24/7 support once you are on your trip. This is especially important as you can encounter many obstacles while traveling through Africa and having a local to guide you can save you from a lot of stress.
They have a perfect 10-Day Self-Driving Namibia Tour that visits all the highlights that we personally visited. However, on this tour, you will be staying at some stunning lodges rather than camping. Also note that oftentimes, tour operators can get better rates than what you can find online. We compared booking our trip independently vs. with a tour operator and the difference was often negligible. Also, keep in mind that all their tours are customizable so if you want anything changed or added, they will be happy to help!
If you want to check out a slightly longer trip, that includes Damaraland, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, and Etosha, you can check out this great 15-day Self-Drive Namibia Tour option.
Using WISE card in Namibia
When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that countryโs ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.
This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.
Where else to visit in Namibia
After visiting Sossusvlei, you will likely be heading north towards Etosha National Park and staying in one of their amazing safari lodges. However, along the way, make sure to stop by Swakopmund and discover the stunning Sandwich Harbour and kayak with Seals. Then one of our other favourite spots was Spitzkoppe where we explored the stunning rock mountains, saw ancient rock art, and admired the Milky Way in the dark night sky. Finally, a trip to Namibia would not be complete without the safaris at Etosha!
Finally, if you want a complete overview of how to plan your Namibia Road Trip and the unmissable experience in Namibia, check out our Ultimate Namibia Itinerary Guide.
Recap: Sossusvlei Dunes and Deadvlei
Visiting the dunes of Sossusvlei was one of the highlights of our trip to Namibia. Gazing at the Milky Way and the millions of stars in the sky, and climbing the towering dunes at dawn left us in awe of the stunning landscape there. Standing in Deadvlei, surrounded by ancient trees and vibrant red dunes, felt like stepping into another world. We hope this guide has provided you with helpful insights to make the most of your experience in this incredible national park. Enjoy your adventure in Sossusvleiโitโs a place youโll never forget!
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