Top Things to do in Sossusvlei
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What to do and see in Sossusvlei, Namibia: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Sossusvlei, Namibia including Deadvlei, Big Daddy Dune, Dune 45, Sesriem Canyon, Namib Sky Balloon Safari, Desert Air, Hidden Vlei.
Restaurants in Sossusvlei
1. Deadvlei
Overall Ratings
5 based on 687 reviews
This is near Susselvlei in Namibia . No pictures can do this justice. It is a huge salt pan created about 900 - 1000 years ago. It takes a 30 minute trek into the desert - and on arrival, it would take about another 30 minutes to walk across it. The trees that existed in the river bed have fossilised and stand like stark skeletons dark silhouettes against the white of the salt and the red of the surrounding dunes which rise 300 metres around it. A visit to this gives one the feeling of a visit to the beginning of time.
Reviewed By Daniel D - London, United Kingdom
We opted to get the NWR truck (170 nad pp) to take us to the drop off for Deadvlei, and in hindsight it was a good idea as we witnessed other motorists struggle to deal with the terrain in their vehicles. Once dropped off the magic then happens, with a walk of about 1 km towards the clay pan and alongside Big Daddy. In the heat it’s a tough walk with hardly any shade, but totally worth seeing this unique site that probably is the face of the country besides Etosha. Once your standing inside the clay pan your surrounded by dead trees about 600 years old and dunes everywhere you turn, which gives you a little bit of a feel of being in a stadium with other players and the crowd watching over you.
Our time here was low season and hot weather, which equates to beautiful photos with not so many tourists being in the way. Such an amazing scene set by the dunes, ground, trees, and sky that gives this place a gift that just keeps on giving...
2. Big Daddy Dune
Overall Ratings
5 based on 287 reviews
Reviewed By Chris I - Glasgow, United Kingdom
And so to the Dunes. Quite unlike anything we could have imagined. Namibia’s most iconic landscape. Our Mission was to climb Big Daddy, a dune around 320 metres before the sun rose too high. This was an hour long slog up a ridge of soft sand that wasn’t hugely different from walking through soft snow. The views from the summit were simply stunning with Mountains of sand stretching as far as the eye could see. From the top it only took about 5 minutes to race down the dune slip face into an eerily beautiful clay pan called Dead Vlei, home to a small forest of withered 900 year old acacia trees. The blue sky, the orange-red sand, the creamy yellow clay pan and the skeletal acacia trunks make a stunning photograph!
3. Dune 45
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 373 reviews
Reviewed By Daniel D - London, United Kingdom
45 Kms from the National Park gates lies this incredible dune, with many others surrounding, that is filled with so much promise before you’ve even encountered it. The best buzz is not just witnessing it, but climbing the summit which took us 35 mins up and 30 mins down, with many photo breaks (and rest breaks!) along the way. Through local advice we arrived at 7am to beat the sun, and were rewarded with the image that all visitors set out to get - blood orange dunes half in sun and half in shade...well that’s what you see on the internet and that’s what you’ll see with your own eyes. A good tip is on the ascent try to step in other people’s footprints to make life easier, and of course carry enough water for the duration. Big enough car park that seemed to be filled with Hilux’s but safe to leave while you endure your climb. Would we do it again...in a heartbeat!
When on your climb just take a pause every now and then and you will literally be able to hear a pin drop, and at the same time enjoy the scintillating colours, contrast to the sky and magnitude that make this everything one could wish for...
4. Sesriem Canyon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 666 reviews
Reviewed By Daniel D - London, United Kingdom
About 1 hour drive from Solitaire, and once inside the NN National Park gates a further 5 minutes. This is a must because of the direction your heading towards or away from Sossusvlei, so it’s practically on route. We were here in daytime January which proved blistering hot, but we should be excused as first timers, but deep inside the gorge there are many shaded areas. The canyon itself was dry therefore no animals but with the gorge running 30 metres down, we made sure we trekked upper and lower ground. More impressive views surrounded by Namibian calmness which altogether just needs about an hour of your time. But just be careful how you descend down to the bottom, as signage seems to be non existent but you’ll see step-looking rocks that will pave the way..
5. Namib Sky Balloon Safari
Overall Ratings
5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Nokwatcha - St. John's, Antigua
Dennis our Pilot was both easy going, friendly & professional all at the same time. Good banter between him & the other balloon pilot (Ray). An early call out of bed to be at the launch site just on 6 am, but well worth the effort once you are drifting silently above the desert & its magnificent dunes. A wonderful & unique way of getting to see the vast expanse of the Namib Desert & being treated to a truly wonderful Champagne breakfast once back on terra firma. An absolute MUST DO when in the area!!!!
6. Desert Air
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By tigerlilykelly - Santa Fe, New Mexico
This was awesome!! The views from the Cessna are amazing and not to be missed, if you're ok with heights and loud engine noise. Our pilot, Micheal was competent, friendly and fun. Desert Air functions out of an office at Sossusvlei Lodge, they drive you to the air strip 5 minutes away and bring you back. It was an hour ride and you can book a 2 hour which goes all the way out to the Atlantic. He did some fun turns and close dune fly-bys. Fun Fun. In December - the height of summer - it is very hot over the dunes and in the cockpit, so be aware. We took our water bottles is with us. We hung out at the resort after and had a drink by the pool.
7. Hidden Vlei
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
