The pictures of the extraordinary red sand dunes at sunrise at the Namib Desert are for many people the embodiment of Namibia. In spite of the apparent remoteness of the Namib, the desert is surprisingly accesible by either airplane or car. The Namib Desert is considered to be the oldest desert in the world and forms part of the Namib Naukluft Park, the largest Nature Park in Africa. Inside the park you will also find the world famous Sossusvlei, with the highest sand dunes in the world!
The desert covers over 80,000 square kilometres and is the 4th largest desert in the world. With beautiful landscapes and an impressive mountain range, desert plains, high sand dunes, deep canyons as well as a lagoon, the area offers magnificent photo opportunities.
The Namib desert is an ancient area with a timeless spirit. It is home to some of the most rare plants and animal species in the world; admiring the Namibian flora and fauna during your visit to Namibia is therefore an absolute must! The most striking animals in this bizar landscape are the Oryx, Springbok Antelope and Hartmann Mountain Zebra.
In regard to flora the mentioning of the Wellwitschia Mirabilis cannot be left out. This unusual plant was described first in 1852 bij the German botanist F. Welwitsch. It’s an extremely slow growing plant species that will grow on average to some 500 to 600 years, but some are known to be up to 2000 years old. Along the Welwitschia Drive in the northern corner of the Namibi Naukluft National Park, and on the way to Swakopmund, you will have the highest chance of encountering a blooming Welwitschia. Another common flora in this area is the desert lichen. If you sprinkle some water on the lichen, you will see the fungus start blooming.
The Namib Desert includes the Naukluft National Park – one of the biggest National Parks in Afrika – and the Naukluft Mountains. The Namib Naukluft Park is a combination of the Namib Desert Park and the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park, and even part of the diamond area. The biggest attractions are the Sossusvlei, Sanwich Harbour and the Naukluft hiking and 4x4 Trails.
The world famous Sossusvlei is thé attraction in the Namib Desert and not to be missed during a trip to Namibia. The height of these sand dunes is absolutely amazing, and the colours and shapes of these magical formations are unprecedented. The splendid long stretching dunes can give visitors an intense feeling of loneliness, especially when you try the climb to the top of the dunes. The Sossusvlei is located in the east of the Namib Desert and accessible through the gate at Sesriem
The name Sossusvlei comes from the Afrikaans word ‘Vlei’ which means ‘shallow seasonal lake’ or ‘swamp’. Over time a Vlei may turn into a salt pan or clay pan. The Sossusvlei is actually a clay pan. Clay is not porous and when it rains enough, the water will stay on top of the pan, forming a small lake. Although this area is known for its golden, dry dunes, rain, and even snow do occur, be it in limited amounts. The dunes can reach a height of over 300 metres, which make them an absolute highlight during a holiday to Namibia!
The Sossusvlei dunes are about 60 km, or about an hours’ drive, from the entrance gate at Sesriem. The gate is open between sunrise and sunset and the best time to visit the dunes is early morning or at the end of the afternoon. In the middle of the day it can be extremely hot. To visit the Sossusvlei and the Namib Naukluft Park (apart from the roads C14, C19 and C28) you will need a permit. Permits can be obtained at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism or Namibia Wildlife Resorts offices in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Windhoek and Sesriem.
You can drive the first 55 km with a regular 2x4 car from Sesriem. Here you will find a parking place for 2x4 vehicles and the last 5 km are only accessible by 4x4. You can make use of a shuttle service that takes you to the Sossusvlei and back. Another option (If you have a lot of time) is to walk the last 5 km, or you book an organised Sossusvlei excursion. From here you can explore the four ‘Vlei’s’ by foot in a few hours; the Hidden Vlei, Dead Vlei, Nara Vlei and Sossusvlei.
Another attraction of the Namib Naukluft National Park is about 140 km southeast of Walvis Bay; the Kuiseb river and canyon, a remarkable geological phenomenon. It actually consists of a canyon within a canyon, that was formed some 20 million years ago. The orgininal course of the river gradually silted up with its own sediments, byecause of which the water had to find a new route. If you follow the river stream upwards you will arrive at the Carp Cliff viewpoint. Here you have a spectacular view and if you are lucky you can also spot baboons, klipspringer, mountain zebra’s and Oryx. Even predators are seen here ocassionally.
On the east side of the desert, the Naukluft Mountains protrude further inland. This mountain range and a stroke of land that connects the mountains with the desert, was formerly known as the Naukluft Park. In 1979 they were incorporated in the Namib Desert Park, which is now part of the Namib Naukluft National Park. The area was originally meant to be a reserve for the Hartmann zebra and possesses a permanent water source and large diversity in mammals and birds. You can make some excellent hikes in this area.
In late December 2010, the Dorob National Park was proclaimed. The new park stretches from the northern border of the Namib Naukluft Park to the southern border of the Skeleton Coast Park. This area was formerly known as the West Coast Recreation Area. With the exception of town lands, the entire Namib Coastal strip is now a conservation area. The entire area, called the Namib Skeleton Coast National Park, is the largest conservation area in Africa. From south to north, it consists of the following areas:
• The Sperrgebiet National Park
• The Namib Naukluft Park
• The Dorob National Park
• The Skeleton Coast Park
The establishment of the larger park shows Namibia's commitment to tourism and the environment, as well as the value of Namibia's coastal desert for both fields. On a practical note, the areas around and to the north of Swakopmund now require permits to visit. If you intend to stop and explore the environment along the C34 coastal road, a permit is required. These are inexpensive and can be obtained easily in the coastal towns. If you intend just to drive the C34 without stopping, no permit is required.
Meercats are fun animals to encounter in the desert. These small mammals are a member of the mongoose family and usually live in groups of about 20 meercats, although some families have over 50 members. They are strongly hierarchical and the group is led by a dominant male and female. Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they also eat lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs, small mammals, millipedes, centipedes, and more rarely, small birds. What’s interesting is that meercats are immune to scorpion poison and well equiped to deal with the heat and constant exposure to the burning desert sun.
Accommodations nearby the Sossusvlei:
Zebra River Lodge - Desert Homestead - Desert Camp – Namib Desert Lodge - Sossusvlei Lodge - Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge - Namib Naukluft Lodge - Büllsport Guest Farm
