The Namib-Naukluft is on of Africa’s (and the worlds) oldest deserts, a vast area of dunes, pans and gorges created over thousands of years, cover an area of 49,768 km2 the national park is larger than Switzerland! This incredible desert is a must on nearly all of our Namibia itineraries, it is here that you will find the landscapes that spring to mind when you first think of this beautiful country.
The area is often referred to as Sossuvlei as these are the highest and best known dunes within the Namib Desert and also happen to be very accessible, a visit here usually only takes up a couple of nights on an itinerary visiting Sossusvlei and DeadVlei along with the Sesriem Canyon.
For those looking to explore the desert further a stay in the busier Sossuvlei area can be combined with the stunning NamibRand private reserve which is one of the more exlusive and remote areas in the country. This is a much quieter area and is home to a few oerators, including &Beyond and Wolwedans who do a great job of combining activities to keep you entertained and informed and allowing you to simply soak up the majesty of this ancient desert.
This part of Namibia is definitely a year round destination where the rains have less of an impact on the area, having said this depending on what you are travelling for will still have an impact on your itinerary as a whole. For photography the middle of the dry season is best around July-August and this works nicely with viewing game in other parts of the country.
With a driving time of around 5 hours on good roads from the Capital of Windhoek and to the Skeleton coast town of Swakopund, the Namib is often included at the start of a self drive Namibia itinerary, for those in the private concessions it is also possible to use charter flights to access the area in much less time.
The dunes here are the main attraction with the largest, Sossusvlei, reaching some 300 metres from the floor of the gravel pan along with the Sesriem Canyon and activities from quad-biking and horse riding to ballooning and start gazing this is a fantastic part of Namibia.
Top Namib-Naukluft camps
Hoodia Desert Lodge
Namib desert, Namibia
Perfect for value for money and reasonable access into the Sossusvlei area, this is one of our top properties for those self driving around the country.
Wolwedans Boulders Camp
NamibRand Reserve, Namib desert, Namibia
Perfect for an exclusive and authentic experience in a private reserve in the Namib Desert, its fantastic wildlife and great activities combine well with a stay in a property closer to the famous dunes.
Desert Homestead
Namib desert, Namibia
Perfect for one of the nicest properties outside of the private reserves that offers exceptional value for money, great when combined with a self drive camping trip or a best value lodge itinerary.
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Namib desert, Namibia
Perfect for a luxury and contemporary feel in the desert, this modern and very high end property has an entirely different feel to its neighbours and offers an interesting alternative to a more traditional approach.
Top Namibia itineraries
Classic Namibia Driving Itinerary
Classic Safari
Duration: 13 nights
Guide price: £3,280