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Sossusvlei Safari - Compare 129 Tours

Sossusvlei is an incredible place and is easily the most beautiful (and most accessible) collection of sand dunes anywhere in southern Africa. Part of arid Namib-Naukluft National Park and not far inland from Namibia’s Atlantic Ocean coastline, the Sossusvlei sand dunes seem to go on forever, with one stunning ridgeline after another. No two sand dunes are ever the same, and these amazing shapes, sculpted by the desert winds, can feel like a world in motion whenever the wind picks up. Climb to the top of Big Daddy or one of the other dunes for extraordinary views. Hike to haunting Deadvlei in a neighboring valley. Or simply sit and gaze in wonder at the astonishing beauty of it all.

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6 Questions About Sossusvlei Safaris

1. How do you get to Sossusvlei?
2. How can I avoid the crowds at Sossusvlei?
3. Is Deadvlei part of Sossusvlei?
4. What is the best time of year for a Sossusvlei tour?
5. What are the activities at Sossusvlei?
6. What is the cost of visiting Sossusvlei?
 
 

6 Questions About Sossusvlei Safaris

Answered by Anthony Ham

How do you get to Sossusvlei?

“The only way to reach Sossusvlei is by ‘road’. Although very few of the roads in this part of Namibia are paved, the unsealed dirt, gravel or sand roads are generally in excellent condition. Whether you’re on a group, private or self-drive safari, you will probably travel in a 4WD vehicle. You’ll need such a vehicle if you plan on driving the length of Sossusvlei as there are some sandy sections in places. That said, the roads you’ll travel along to reach the Sossusvlei gate are so good that they’re easily negotiated in a 2WD vehicle, except after rain. Most travelers come to Sossusvlei from Swakopmund, which is around 347km/216mi from the Sossusvlei entry gate. The gate is in the small town of Sesriem, which has the park headquarters. Most of the accommodations for Sossusvlei are in Sesriem, or not far away.”

1

How can I avoid the crowds at Sossusvlei?

“Sossusvlei is one of Namibia’s most popular attractions, which means it is very often crowded with visitors. And there will be times when it is simply not possible to avoid those crowds. There are very few places to stay inside the park gate, but if you stay in one of these places, you can begin your exploration of the valley while most other tourist vehicles are waiting in the queue to enter the park. Your solitude won’t last for long, but you will get a head start on almost everyone else. Other things you could do to avoid the crowds include climbing a sand dune that no one else is climbing. Or you could drive right to the end of the Sossusvlei valley without stopping and get an hour or two alone while everyone else is working their way up the valley and stopping as they go. Traveling outside the high season months (July to November) can also make a difference.”

2

Is Deadvlei part of Sossusvlei?

“Deadvlei is an essential stop on most Sossusvlei tours, although it’s not technically a part of Sossusvlei itself. One of the meanings of the word ‘vlei’ is ‘valley’, and Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are two neighboring valleys. That said, they are very much a part of the same holiday experience, and you can’t visit Deadvlei without first visiting Sossusvlei. To reach Deadvlei, you need to drive all the way to the innermost reaches of Sossusvlei, to the 4WD car park. From there, it’s an easy 1.5km/0.9mi walk (one-way) across the sand to Deadvlei. It’s worth the effort to reach Deadvlei. It sits in the shadow of some of the area’s tallest dunes, including Big Daddy (325m/1,066ft), which change color with the angle of the sun. Elsewhere, the dunes dwarf ghostly dead trees silhouetted against a wall of sand.”

3

What is the best time of year for a Sossusvlei tour?

“There is no really bad time to visit Sossusvlei, although there are some important things to consider when planning your trip. The months of May to September generally have the best weather conditions, because daytime temperatures are a little cooler than at other times of the year. By October, temperatures are really starting to rise. Part of this period overlaps with the busy high season period, which runs from July to November. If you put these two factors together, May and June may be the best months to visit in terms of cost, visitor numbers and weather. The Wet season, such as it is, runs from November to April, and the hottest months are generally from November to February. The heat won’t mean much as long as you’re in your air-conditioned vehicle, but you’ll be hit by a wall of hot air as soon as you leave the car, and you can forget about climbing a sand dune in the middle of the day.”

4

What are the activities at Sossusvlei?

“Most visitors to Sossusvlei are content to take a scenic driving tour of the valley. It’s around 70km/43mi from the entrance gate to the farthest point you can reach in a 4WD vehicle. If you’re in a 2WD vehicle, it’s around 65km/40mi, at which point you’ll need to take a shuttle to the 4WD car park. Many people stop to climb a sand dune or two along the way. It’s also possible to hike to a neighboring valley. The hike to Deadvlei, for example, is a low-key 1.5km/0.9mi one-way walk across the sand from the 4WD car park previously mentioned. One very spectacular way to see Sossusvlei is to take a hot-air balloon safari. It really will make this the trip of a lifetime if you can rise above it all and see more sand dunes than you ever imagined were possible extending as far as the eye can see. This is usually an optional extra for most Sossusvlei tours, although it may be included in some packages. Either way, it’s not to be missed.”

5

What is the cost of visiting Sossusvlei?

“Compared to other parks and attractions around southern Africa, Sossusvlei is relatively cheap to visit – the entry fee for the park is around US$10/5/2.50 per adult/child/vehicle. Remember, however, that a visit to Sossusvlei does not take place in isolation. You’ll need to factor in the costs of accommodation, transport and other costs such as a guide and driver (unless you’re self-driving). Remember also that most visitors to Sossusvlei do so as part of a longer safari that takes in other parks and areas of Namibia. If you’re on a budget camping trip, then a visit to Sossusvlei might cost as little as US$100 per person per day. If, however, you visit on an all-inclusive luxury tour, expect to pay at least US$500 per person per day, and it could be a lot more than that.”

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