Welcome to some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world
Hopefully the other pages in this guide have helped you understand and navigate the entry gate system, where to stay and how to get your park permit now you need to know what to see where everything is and how to have the best experience in the Namib desert (without getting too much sand in your pants).
How to explore the Namib Desert and see the sand dunes, where is Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Deadvlei and other attractions of the desert in Namibia?
Lets start with where the Namib Desert is located in Namibia, it is in the southwest corner of the country stretching up from Luderitz area the way up to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund a distance of over 1600 km of rolling sanddunes.
Now a closer look at where the main attractions are in the Namib Desert, Sesriem, Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Dune 45, Elim Dune, Sunset Dune and Sesriem Canyon
Sesriem - The entrance into the Namib Desert and the Namib Naukluft
National Park, here you will find the Parks office where you get your
permit for entering the Desert and visiting Sesriem Canyon. This is the
only entry point to go and visit Sossusvlei, Dune 45, Elim Dune, Deadvlei
and Sesriem Canyon.
This is also the access point to the four places to stay inside the Namib
Desert National Park, Sesriem Camping, Sossus
Dune Lodge, Sesriem Oshana Campsite
and Dead Valley Lodge.
Sesriem Canyon - Carved out of the desert floor millions of years
ago by the Tsauchab River Sesriem Canyon is a natural gorge that still
floods with water after good rains, it is up to 30 metres deep in places
and 1km long.
Its name Sesreim comes from when the early trekkers who were making their
way north had to tie six (ses) belt lengths (riem) of hide together to
reach the waters below to get the fresh cool waters that hide in the shade
at the canyons bottom.
Sesriem Canyon is a great place to explore as there is plenty shade of
through the canyon keeping temperatures pleasant, note though it can still
get very hot in the canyon around midday, so early morning or late afternoon
is the best time to explore the fascinating layers of rock carved out
by years of flowing water.
There are plenty photographic opportunities as the light shines into the
canyon and at some times of the year there are pools of water sill in
the canyon filled with seasonal barbells!
Sesriem Canyon is about a 10 minute drive from Sesriem entrance and will
only take about an hour for a leisurely exploration, please be aware there
is no solid path into the canyon and the ground can be quite slippery
with loose rocks and sand so wear decent shoes and proceed with caution.
Sossusvlei - This is what it is all about, the 'heart' of the Namib
Desert Sossusvlei, Namibias best known attraction, spectacular gently
curving red sanddunes under a blistering hot sun.
Sossusvlei is a large dry white salt pan surrounded by towering red dunes
that reach up to 400 metres above sea level, making them the highest (not
tallest) sand dunes in the world. Sossusvlei means 'dead end marsh' because
it is where the Tsauchab River meets its match when it does flow and gathers
in a shallow lake barred from any further progress towards the sea by
the large dunes that block its path. Water only runs this far into the
desert every 8 years or so when there is enough rain far inland to flood
this far
This area of flat white crusted desert and surrounding dunes make some
of the most photogenic desert scenery you will ever witness. Te best time
to visit, both for good photos and the best experience is at dawn to experience
the first light flooding over the sand dunes, watch the changing colours
and chase the shadows as the sun rises high into the clear blue sky, feel
the temperature go from cold to cool to warm then hot then blistering!
You can also go late afternoon to experience the lowering sun but you
cannot watch sunset at Sossusvlei as you have to leave the park before
sunset and Sossusvlei is a 69km from the entrance gate!
The road from Sesriem to Sossusvlei is tar (narrow slightly potholed)
for the first 65km accessible in a 2wd vehicle, then there is a 2wd vehicle
parking area where you can choose to walk into the vlei or you can pay
for a ride in an NWR 4wd transfer vehicle that will take you the last
5km into the Vlei, if you have a 4wd you are allowed to drive the last
5km but the track has very deep sand so lower tyre pressure and know how
to 4 wheel drive in hot sand! 
Deadvlei - 1 km into the desert from Sossusvlei is this amazing
flat, open, white, salt crusted area dotted with dry preserved tree remains
that are 900 years old, the arid dry, hot climate has preserved them like
statues of nature. It makes for surreal photos as the stark dark trees
contrast with the white ground, red dunes and blue, blue sky, a photographer
can spend hours here.
It is a hot shadeless walk from Sossusvlei to Deadvlei so take a hat and
water as well as all that camera equipment!
Dune 45 - This remarkable wandering dune is 45km from Sesriem,
hence the name Dune 45.
Dune 45 is 85 metres high but what makes it very distinctive is that it
stands out from the main desert almost separate showing off its beautiful
elegant shape. It is a very photographic and often has the wind whipping
across the top creating beautiful images making it well worth the stop
on the way back from Sossusvlei or even an option for sunrise.
Elim Dune - Located just 5km north of the Sesriem entrance Elim
Dune often referred to as Sunset Dune is a red dune that can be reached
by a 2wd vehicle or even makes a pleasant early morning/afternoon stroll
from the Sesriem camp site. It is not a big dune but is an excellent place
to sit and absorb the surrounding beauty and enjoy sunset.
Hopefully this gives you a good idea on how to get the most out of your trip to the Namib Desert at Sesreim. If you have questions please drop us a message either by email or via our social media platforms which are linked at the bottom of the page.
Have a great experience in Namibia and feel free to share your photos with us.