Sossusvlei

In the heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the Tsauchab River runs out of the mountains and dies in the sand, forming a series of clay pans, or vleis, surrounded by some of the highest dunes on Earth. Sossusvlei is the name of the largest pan, but it's commonly used for the whole area. The dunes are part of the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and their colors, from apricot to deep red, come from iron oxide coating ancient grains of sand.

Sunrise in the dunes

The magic of Sossusvlei lies in the early morning, when the low sun sets the dunes ablaze against deep blue shadows. Climbing a dune crest such as Big Daddy, which rises about 325 meters (over 1,000 feet), or the more manageable Dune 45 rewards you with views across a sea of sand.

Nearby, Deadvlei is a white clay pan scattered with blackened camel thorn trees that died centuries ago, after the river changed course. The bone-dry air has preserved them ever since, creating one of the most striking scenes in Africa.

More to explore

Sesriem Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by the Tsauchab River, makes a cool, shaded walk. Hot-air balloon flights at dawn float over dunes and gravel plains, and guided nature drives reveal oryx, springbok, ostrich and the desert's smaller residents, including beetles that drink the coastal fog.

Farther south, the NamibRand Nature Reserve adds private dunes, mysterious fairy circles and some of the darkest night skies on the planet.

How we plan Sossusvlei

We plan at least two nights in the area so you can be among the dunes at sunrise, choosing accommodation near the park gate or in the private reserves nearby. Sossusvlei fits naturally into a wider Namibia trip, such as our Namibia Desert Landscapes journey, alongside Swakopmund, Damaraland and Etosha.