Sossusvlei & Namib Desert Tours

Sossusvlei is located in the Namib Desert within the Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. It is situated in the western part of the country, approximately 350 km southwest of Windhoek. The nearest entry point and accommodation center is Sesriem Gate.

Sossusvlei can be visited year-round, but the best time is during the cooler, dry months from May to October. Days are pleasant, skies are clear and the light is ideal for photography.

Yes, Sossusvlei is a great option for solo travellers. Joining a guided tour is the easiest and safest way to visit, as you’ll travel with a small group, have a professional guide and enjoy shared experiences along the way. Our Sossusvlei tours are designed to be social, well-organised and fully supported, making them ideal for anyone travelling alone. You won’t need to worry about driving, navigation, everything is taken care of.

You can expect to see some desert-adapted wildlife around Sossusvlei, such as oryx, springbok, ostrich and smaller desert species. The area is more about landscapes than animal viewing, so wildlife sightings are usually scattered.

If you want a classic safari experience with larger concentrations of animals, many travellers choose to add destinations like Etosha National Park, the Okavango Delta or Chobe. We offer several tours that combine Sossusvlei with top wildlife areas for a more rounded Namibia experience.

A stay of two nights is generally recommended. This allows you to experience two full sunrises and sunsets over the dunes – the prime photographic and climbing times – and gives you enough time to explore key attractions like Deadvlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, and Sesriem Canyon without rushing.

The best time is sunrise and sunset. The light during these hours is spectacular for photography, and the temperatures are much cooler. The park gates open and close at set times (tied to sunrise/sunset) to maximize this experience.

You don’t need a 4×4 for the full drive, but you will need one for the final stretch. The road from Sesriem Gate to the 2×4 parking area is completely tarred and suitable for any vehicle. From there, the last 5–6 km to Deadvlei, Big Daddy and the main dune area is deep sand and requires a proper 4×4 or the park shuttle.

All our tours include the 4×4 transfer needed for this section, so you can reach the iconic dunes without any stress. It’s a fun part of the experience and lets you access areas that standard vehicles can’t reach.

Sossusvlei is the final destination for the Tsauchab River. Although the Tsauchab River is generally dry, it occasionally flows during periods of heavy rain, typically every few years. When this happens, the water creates a temporary lake in the Sossusvlei pan. This infrequent flooding is what created the clay pans like Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.