#41 of 79 · desert
Sesriem to Sossusvlei
Sesriem → Sossusvlei
65 km · May – Sep · Easy
A park road into red dunes that are older than the argument. Sesriem at first light, sixty kilometres of gravel and saltbush, then Big Daddy and a pan of dead trees.
Viewpoints
Dune 45
The numbered one. Climb it if you must; the light is the reason.
45 km
800 m
Sossusvlei pan
The clay, the trees, the wall of sand. Walk. The car is done.
65 km
540 m
Deadvlei
A short walk from the 4×4 park. The black trees. Go before the tour groups.
64 km
550 m
- Road
- Park tar then gravel, corrugated, sand in the last five kilometres — 4×4 or the shuttle. Gates open at sunrise; that is when you should be in the queue.
- Permits
- Namib-Naukluft park ticket at Sesriem. Stay inside the hours. The last 5 km to the vlei is 4×4 or a park shuttle.
Tips
- 01
Be at the gate in the dark
Sunrise on Dune 45 is the postcard. Nine o’clock is a parking lot.
- 02
Water, and a full tank
Sesriem is the last shop that matters. The dunes do not care.
From the road
2 notes
Field reports from people who have driven this route.
Driven this road? Join as a driver to leave a note from the road.
Annelie K.
Jun 2025
Gate in the dark. Dune 45 with the sun. Deadvlei before the groups. The last five kilometres is sand — we took the shuttle.
Pieter V.
Sep 2025
Nine o’clock is a car park. Be in the queue. Water from Sesriem. The pan is a walk; the car is done.
