​Overview – Namib-Naukluft NP

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the 'Botswana & Namibia' guide.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide.

Anthony is the author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide.

The Namib-Naukluft is one of Africa’s largest parks. It is home to the Sossusvlei area – an ocean of enormous red dunes and one of Namibia's main tourist attractions. The desert habitat doesn’t support many large animals, but if you take time to absorb the spectacular scenery and smaller creatures, any visit here will be more than worthwhile.

Best Time To Go May to September (Less hot)
High Season July to November (Busy and high rates apply)
Size 49,768km² / 19,216mi²
Altitude 0-2,044m / 0-6,706ft

Pros & Cons

  • Stunning desert scenery including red dunes at Sossusvlei
  • Encounters with desert-adapted wildlife in a pristine setting
  • Good walking options in the Naukluft mountains
  • Very hot and dry
  • Low animal densities and little variety

Namib-Naukluft NP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

The park is not primarily a wildlife destination, but quite a few species are easily encountered. Seeing a herd of oryx walking between the red dunes in the Sossusvlei area is an unforgettable sight. To see more wildlife, you need to go to other areas of the park which are less visited. The Naukluft massive is primarily a hiking destination and Hartmann's mountain zebra are easily spotted here.

Scenery

Namib-Naukluft has amazing desert scenery. A famous photo opportunity in the Sossusvlei is Dune 45. It is 80m/262ft high and can easily be climbed. Another one is nearby Deadvlei; a white pan dotted with dead trees against a backdrop of massive red dunes. A less visited, but also very scenic landmark, is the much lusher Naukluft Massif; a mountain area with deep gorges and crystal clear springs.

Weather & Climate

You won’t see much rain in this enormous park, even though summer (November to April) is regarded as the region’s Wet season. The only significant precipitation comes in the first few months of the year; those trekking in the mountains should beware of flash floods. Sub-zero temperatures can occur in winter (May to October), but these are restricted to the park’s higher altitudes.

Best Time To Visit

If you want to go searching for wildlife in the Naukluft Mountains, and particularly if you’re tying this in with an Etosha jaunt, visit in the Dry season (May to October). Just be prepared for crazy crowds at Sossusvlei, and early morning chill. The wetter months can get ridiculously hot, though the blooming desert flowers can make the heat worthwhile.

Want To Visit Namib-Naukluft NP?

90 Namib-Naukluft Safaris

Namib-Naukluft NP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Brian Jackman  –  
United Kingdom UK

Brian is an award winning travel writer, author of safari books and regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa.

The Big Empty
4/5

The Namib – it means open space – is a region of superlatives. Not only is it the world’s oldest desert, but it is also the biggest park in Africa, covering an area larger than Switzerland. Originally created to protect the rare...

Full Review

Latest User Review
Javier Jerez  –  
Spain ES
Reviewed: Jan 7, 2024
5/5

Awesome

Full Review