Namib-Naukluft National Park

For sand lovers <3

Driving from Windhoek to Sesriem entrance gate was one of the most liberating things I'v done in a long time. We rented a 4x4 Toyota Hilux in Windhoek, packed out things and drove into the wild. No guide, only our guide book.

First stop was Desert camp in Sossusvlei, just outside theNamib Naukluft National Park entrance . The camp has a gas station next door equipped with cold beer, ice cream, bbq stuff and outside the store by the camping tables a mist raining over you when you're eating your ice-cream. Big plus in the heat.

Gates open between 6.00-6.45am (depending on season), but be at the gate at least 15-20 min before. We came just 5 min before and had a whole caravan before us waiting at the gate.

The morning drive was just amazing, no pot holes, red dunes, a few oryxes running in the sun rise. We drove to the Sossusvlei area to do the morning desert drive, prepared to do it ourselves in out powerful 4x4. Arriving to the end of the tarmac road though we spotted the first 4x$ stuck in the sand, we quickly decided to take the park service. No doubt would it been fun to drive around in the sand, but the heat comes quickly and if you want to save time and energy, take the service.

Hiking in the sand is tough, bring water, sun screen and a hat. Arriving to Deadvlie we spotted a beautiful fashion shooting taking place, which says something about the scenery. If you are planning to hike up the Sossusvlei dune, do that in the early morning.

Solitaire is a great stop on the way, great coffee and apple cake and a lot of vintage cars having out in the back ground makes great scenery.

An amazing experience the dunes have to be seen to be believed

An extraordinary experience

For our one year anniversary, we were thinking about potential trips we could take from the States. We had settled on South Africa, when one of our well-traveled friends suggested that we consider Namibia. We Google Image-d it; as soon as we saw pictures of Deadvlei, we knew we had to go there.

We went during the "rainy" season (I put it in quotes because the area has been experiencing a multiyear drought; most of the riverbeds we saw were dry). This is the low point for tourism, which worked to our advantage; during high season, the dunes are apparently crawling with tourists.

The gvt does an exception job maintaining the park - they are clearly well-prepared for tourists. We went on a guided tour from our lodge. The park is enormous - we went at daybreak, and spent a few hours driving straight into the park. We stopped at one of the massive dunes and took 45 minutes to climb up and down it. You must try it - that experience was so fun! Dune sand is unlike any sand you're used to - it's not coarse at all, it's like silk. I highly recommend bringing a waterproof container with you and taking some sand with you, you'll want to bring some home with you. (Also, go up the dunes barefoot in the morning when the sand is cool, and run down them - it's a lot of fun!).

The Deadvlei was breathtaking - just as spectacular in person, a photographer's dream. And much bigger than one expects from photos!

Overall, visually stunning, and a unique experience. So glad we chose Namibia!

The breathtaking beauty of the desert left me speechless.

I had high hopes of the park as a I like deserts. But the colours and shapes of the landscape far exceeded my expectations. I loved the Namib desert. It is surprising how animals can survive in such a harsh environment but they do. The sight of Oryx (in my view the most beautiful of the antelopes) set against the massive, golden dunes will stay with me forever. The lodge we stayed in was the friendliest and prettiest in our whole trip.

Not sure if Namib Naukluft National Park qualifies as a safari destination. However, the scenery is breathtaking beautiful. A definite-must.

Beautiful vistas ... great geology.

Wilderness in its entire splendor!

An ideal place to experience quietude and divinity. Barely witnessed any sign of human presence at all throughout my staying in the park. Immense areas of empty desert and desolate mountains where various refined for such harsh conditions creatures live. Climbing a dune through dawn to marvel at the desert sunrise, and hiking for a few hours through the extreme desert heat to Sossusvlei salt/clay pan and its for-ages-immemorial-dead trees were among the highlights of the trip.

The Namib-Naukluft is vast and is a place of spectacular scenery - from the Atlantic coastline, the sand sea of the Namib to the rugged terrain inland.

This is truly a must-see in Namibia. It was our first experience with the desert in our lives and it was absolutely breath-taking.

Start your days early (the ground temperature can rise to 80°C) and visit the Deadvlei, Sossusvlei and climb the Dune 45 (before 11:00, because of the exposure and heat).
Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. The view from Dune 45 is astonishing. It gives a broad overview of the area and you’ll be able to see the massive Big Daddy and Big Momma dunes.

An advice we learned while visiting: if you go early enough then climb it on your bare feet. If you can’t make it to the dune early in the morning then climb it while wearing socks.
The soft sand makes it hard to walk on either sneakers or walking shoes.

Most campsites have waterholes for the Oryx’s. In our case we had one just a few meters from our cottage so during the day (and especially the night!) it was swarming with desert foxes and Oryx’s.
If there is a pool near your campsite/cottage then make sure to visit it at night. It usually attracts thirsty wildlife.

especially the red dunes in the morning light are unforgettable!