A visit to Namibia wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Namib Desert. Over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) of this sea of sand run along the Atlantic coasts of South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. The most famous and easily accessible location in this incredibly picturesque area is Deadvlei, which is located in the Sossusvlei section of Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Concerning Deadvlei

The Sossusvlei region, renowned for its crusted salt pans and sculpted red dunes, is located deep within the Namib Desert. The pans are a very unusual occurrence. The Tsauchab River literally peters out in the sand at their location, never making it to the sea.

A shift in the river’s channel has left some of the pans permanently dry, while others, like Sossusvlei, occasionally receive water. Of the latter is Deadvlei. It is by far the most photographed landmark in Namibia. You’ll see why when you arrive here in the late afternoon or early morning. You will see a bizarre scene as you ascend above the slope of a low dune.

The pan is covered in a smooth white clay geometric pattern. Black skeletons of old trees, some of which are over 500 years old, are sprouting from this. Long shadows are cast across the white expanse by their dead branches. The enormous red dunes towering up into the blue sky provide a striking contrast to this duotone picture.

Because it doesn’t have the dead trees, nearby Sossusvlei isn’t as photogenic. Not always, though. Flash floods occasionally, maybe once every ten years, fill Sossusvlei, and the pan miraculously changes during those times. Birds settling in for the season and water lilies bring Sossusvlei to life for a brief period.

How to Get There

One of the attractions is the drive to Deadvlei. Sesriem, a community located roughly 360 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, serves as the entry point to the Sossusvlei region. On a decent 2WD road, the drive from Sesriem to Deadvlei is 60 km/37 mi.

If you’re going on a self-drive safari, you may have to leave your car in the parking area at the end (unless you have a 4×4 vehicle). Your guide will drive to the 4×4 parking lot farther down the track if you’re on a planned excursion.

An alternative is a shuttlebus that runs the circuit between Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the first parking lot. It takes roughly 20 minutes to walk to the pan from the Deadvlei parking lot or drop-off location.

Organizing Your Trip

Early morning or late afternoon is the ideal time of day to visit Deadvlei. In addition to being the most beautiful time of day, it also helps you avoid the noon heat. Sunrise visits are particularly popular because it is more difficult to prepare for late afternoon trips because of the sunset time limit (when the park shuts).

The Namib-Naukluft National Park is home to Deadvlei. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, though these hours change depending on the season. The majority of visitors stay in and around the Sesriem village, and the park has just one campsite and lodge. It is advised to be at the gate up to one hour prior to opening time, which is between 6 and 6:45 AM, for sunrise visits. Keep in mind that the closing time for afternoon visits is between 5:15 and 6:15 p.m.

Bring lots of warm clothes because it gets really chilly in the desert in the mornings, especially if you’re driving in an open car. High dunes line the route to Sossusvlei. The closer you approach to the pans, the more stunning they are. Some of them have numbers that indicate how far they are from Sesriem in kilometers.

Popular for a tremendous climb, Dune 45 offers a breathtaking perspective of the surrounding sea of sand from the summit, where you can follow the crest. You will then reach the Sossusvlei area’s parking lot, from where you can continue walking or driving.

You can explore the several pans in the Sossusvlei area or go to Deadvlei alone. In any case, you’ll need to walk through some heavy sand, so pack plenty of drink, sunscreen, and a hat.

Places to Stay

The Sesriem area has a number of excellent resorts and campgrounds. While some of the small facilities provide a highly special desert experience, others offer more straightforward, everyday lodging.

Many visitors attempt to arrive at the pan as early as possible in order to capture those unique dawn shots because Deadvlei is so attractive. Therefore, it makes sense to think about where you are and how far you need to travel to reach Deadvlei.

The sole lodge inside the park’s entrance gate is Sossus Dune Lodge. The benefit of staying here is that there are no restrictions on gate opening times, and there is no line to get in. For the same reasons, the park’s campground is typically reserved well in advance.