Planning a Trip To Visit Deadvlei in Namibia

By Ariadne van Zandbergen

No trip to Namibia is complete without setting foot in the Namib Desert. This sea of sand stretches for more than 2,000km/1,200mi along the Atlantic coast of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Deadvlei, in the Sossusvlei area of Namib-Naukluft National Park, is the most iconic and accessible place to visit in this starkly beautiful region.

96 Deadvlei Safaris

About Deadvlei

Deep in the heart of the Namib Desert lies the Sossusvlei area, which is known for its sculpted red dunes and crusted salt pans. The pans are quite a unique phenomenon. They lie at the end of the Tsauchab River, which literally peters out in the sand and never reaches the sea.

Some of the pans, including Sossusvlei, occasionally receive water while others are now permanently dry due to a change in the river course. Deadvlei is one of the latter. It is by far Namibia’s most photographed landmark. When you get here in the late afternoon or early morning, you’ll understand why. As you climb over the rise of a low dune, you’ll set eye on a surreal scene. A geometrical pattern of smooth white clay stretches out across the pan. Sprouting from this are black skeletons of ancient trees, some of them more than 500 years old. Their dead branches throw long shadows across the white expanse. This duotone scene is starkly offset by the huge red dunes rising up into the blue sky.

Nearby Sossusvlei lacks the dead trees and is therefore less interesting photographically. But not always so. Occasionally, perhaps every decade, flash floods fill Sossusvlei and when that happens, the pan transforms miraculously. For a short time Sossusvlei comes alive with water lilies and birds settling in for the season.

How To Get There

The journey to Deadvlei is part of the attraction. The gateway to the Sossusvlei area is Sesriem, a settlement about 360km/220mi southwest of the Namibian capital, Windhoek. The drive from Sesriem to Deadvlei is 60km/37mi on a good 2WD road. This ends in a parking area where you might have to leave your car if you’re on a self-drive safari (unless you have a 4x4 vehicle). If you’re on an organised excursion, your guide will drive to the 4x4 parking area farther along the track.

Alternatively, there is a hop-on, hop-off shuttlebus that does the circuit between the first parking area, Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. From the car park or drop-off point at Deadvlei, the walk to the pan takes about 20 minutes.

Planning Your Visit

Dead tree on saltpan in Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft National Park in Namibia

Deadvlei is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon. This is the most beautiful time of the day, and it also helps you avoid being out in the midday heat. It is more difficult to plan for late afternoon visits due to the sunset time limit (when the park closes), so visits at sunrise are very popular.

Deadvlei is located in Namib-Naukluft National Park. Opening hours for the park vary with the time of year, but are around sunrise and sunset. There is only one campsite and lodge within the park, and most visitors stay in and around the settlement of Sesriem. For sunrise visits, it is recommended to get to the gate up to an hour before opening time, which is between 6 AM and 6:45 AM. For afternoon visits, you need to take note of the closing time between 5:15 PM and 6:15 PM.

Early mornings are very cold in the desert, especially when traveling in an open vehicle, so bring plenty of warm clothing. The road to Sossusvlei is flanked by high dunes. They get more impressive the closer you get to the pans and some of them are numbered, referring to their distance in kilometers from Sesriem. Dune 45 is popular for a great climb: you can follow the crest to the top for a fantastic view over the surrounding sea of sand. Moving on, you’ll get to the car park of the Sossusvlei area, from where you’ll walk or drive farther along.

You can visit Deadvlei on its own or take your time exploring several pans in the Sossusvlei area. Either way, you’ll have to do some walking through thick sand, so come well prepared with water, sunscreen and a hat.

121 Namib-Naukluft Safaris

Where To Stay

Sossus Oasis Campsite, Namib Naukluft National Park in Namibia

There are several wonderful lodges and camps in the Sesriem area. Some of the small establishments offer a very exclusive desert experience, while others provide more basic, down-to-earth accommodations.

Deadvlei is incredibly photogenic, and many people try to get to the pan as early as possible to take those special photos at sunrise. So it makes sense to consider your location and the distance you have to cover to get to Deadvlei. Sossus Dune Lodge is the only lodge located within the park entrance gate. Staying here has the advantage of not being limited by gate opening times and avoiding a queue on your way in. The campsite inside the park is usually booked up long in advance for the same reasons.