Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan located in southwestern Namibia. It is surrounded by high red sand dunes and is found in Namibia's Namib-Naukluft National Park.
While Sossusvlei is just the clay and salt pan, it is often extended to include the other neighbouring attractions, especially the high dunes and Deadvlei.
The name Sossusvlei roughly means dead-end marsh. Sossus means 'no return' or 'dead end' in the Nama language, while Vlei is the word for marsh in Afrikaans.
Sossusvlei is one of Namibia's top tourist attractions for the great landscapes that are nowhere else in the world.
Activities
While visiting Sossusvlei, you can enjoy any of the following activities
- Climbing the sand dunes
- Photography
- bird watching
- Wildlife viewing
- Stargazing in the night
- Camping
- Fly over the dunes
- Hot air ballooning
When To Go
While Sossusvlei is a desert in all shapes the definition, the average temperatures are always comfortable and you can visit all year round.
Average daily mean temperatures range between 17 and 26 degrees Celcius all year round. While Sossusvlei generally has low temperatures for a desert, they can rise up to 30 and drop as low as 0 degrees Celcius.
Getting There
The Gateway to Sossusvlei is Sesriem whit is an isolated desert outpost in the Namib Desert. Sesriem is located around 320 kilometers southwest of Windhoek and can be reached via long, empty, road-trip-worthy roads.
The drive from Windhoek takes about 5 hours in a raised and more capable vehicle. You would need to be more careful with a sedan since the road can be quite bumpy.
Where To Stay
As a major tourist attraction, the accommodation options are plenty in Sossusvlei. Whether you prefer to camp and watch the stars all night or you want some luxury, there are a number of options for you to choose from.
