Sossusvlei: Journey to the Heart of the Namib Desert

Some places defy description through mere words or pictures. Sossusvlei is one such place. I could post hundreds of photos of our time in Sossusvlei, but they would not accurately depict the mesmerizing landscapes we saw with our eyes. The sheer beauty of this place took our breaths away, and no Nat Geo programs or pictures can compare. As the Jimny pulled up to the entrance of Sossusvlei, the towering dunes stood as a majestic reminder of Namibia’s timeless desert landscapes. Filled with anticipation, we drove to Sossusvlei at 4 a.m. the following day, before the park opened. Sossusvlei is a 40-minute drive from Sesriem. The park gate opens at 6 a.m., but if you stay inside, you can enter the secondary gate an hour before the main entrance opens. Watching the sunrise above the blood-red dunes of Sossusvlei is one of the highlights of our Namibian adventure.

Sossusvlei is a place where Namibia’s desert’s vastness is overwhelming and achingly beautiful. It is a hyperbole of nature—one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I can’t possibly do justice to the Namib Desert’s epic scenery. It’s a sight that demands to be seen with one’s own eyes.

The Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia is home to the world’s oldest desert. In the heart of Namib-Naukluft Park lies Sossusvlei, a photogenic clay pan surrounded by some of the tallest dunes in the world. Encompassing nearly 50,000 square kilometers of pristine wilderness, the park boasts some of Africa’s most stunning scenery, making it a remarkable desert landscape. The dunes are also around 1,312 feet high, almost as high as the Empire State Building.

The best times to explore the dunes are in the morning or late afternoon when the crowds are thin, the colors intensify, and the heat is more bearable. Be sure to take enough water as it gets scorching hot, and the walk can be challenging. Sometimes, it feels like the dunes belong solely to you, inviting exploration and reflection. Ascending the 325-meter orange dunes offers a surreal experience, providing panoramic views reminiscent of the Martian landscape.

Adjacent to Big Daddy is Deadvlei – which captivates with its cracked clay pan and the remnants of Namibia’s desert-adapted Camelthorn Trees. This surreal landscape, formed from the shifting sands and dry climate, offers a glimpse into the ever-changing nature of the desert. The skeletons of the trees are said to have died some 600 to 700 years ago and are now found to be black because of the scorching sun. The trees are dead because the dunes blocked the flooded waters of the Tsauchab River, but they did not decompose due to the dry climate. The red dunes in the area are thousands of years old, and the land has barely rusted.

“The primary environmental threats the area is experiencing are the low amount of water and the arid and humid climate caused by the scorching heat. The white clay pan in Deadvlei is now turning into a concrete floor, and the photographers posing for photographs in the area, especially the trees, need to be extra cautious because the trees are nearly dead.” – WorldAtlas.com Big Daddy, the world’s tallest dune, lies just behind Deadvlei. Soaring 325 meters above the surrounding landscape, it is one of Namibia’s most popular hiking destinations.

Elim Dune is located 5 kilometers inside the park gate and is easily accessible. It’s partially covered in vegetation, making it more distinct from other dunes. It’s a perfect location for sunrise when you can watch the daybreak over Sesriem and the mountains to the east.

For those with time to spare, Sesriem Canyon is worth a visit. Shaped over millions of years by the river Tschaub, it’s one of the only places in the area that holds water all year around. The mighty Tsauchab River carved a narrow gorge millions of years ago, and its towering sandstone walls offer relief from the scorching sun. It’s located 4.5 km within the national park gates, on the left, and you can park and walk through the canyon. Make sure you lock your car. Beware of the resident baboons, who eagerly await unsuspecting visitors to raid their vehicles for food.

Dune 45 is one of the most photographed dunes in the world, renowned for its stunning views of the parched earth from its summit. Despite not being the tallest dune in Sossusvlei, it attracts many tourists due to its proximity to the road, relatively gentle slope, and breathtaking vistas. We returned to this dune to watch the sunset. Located 45 kilometers from the Sesriem gate, Dune 45 provided a mesmerizing experience, even though the afternoon was a bit hazy. We stayed until sunset before returning to the campsite, only to realize we had forgotten the Sesriem gate closed at 7:30 PM. We raced back, unsure of what would happen if we missed the closing time, and arrived at the gate just in time at 7:29 PM. The Jimny did it!

Sossusvlei isn’t merely a destination; it’s an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes, where nature’s grandeur reigns supreme!

Author: Cristy
Photo Credit: Nathan