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Salt and clay pan in the Namib Desert, Namibia
Photo: Moongateclimber, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Sossusvlei is the main attraction of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The word vlei is an Afrikaans word that means "pan" and Sossusvlei is a clay pan between large sand dunes. The name of the 'town' (i.e. petrol station) is Sesriem, also the name of a nearby canyon.
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A small canyon just south of the petrol station. It's a nice place to watch the sunset, and you can easily climb down into the canyon and walk along the dry riverbed. The old Dutch name means the place where six thongs are required to get water, ses meaning six, and riem meaning thong.
All around, dunes ranging from 100m-450m, including some petrified dunes.
Campsite run by Namibian Wildlife Resorts. There are 24 sites with a thorn tree for shade and a fire pit at each site. Showers and toilets are available at the two ablution blocks and there is a swimming pool. There is also a bar with a small menu and gift shop in the building with the permit office. Reservations are made through Namibian Wildlife Resorts or some travel agencies and are recommended during the busy season.
This is the upscale option if you want to stay inside the park, with 25 individual chalets set at the foot of a mountain. The chalets have a wood frame with canvas walls and a thatch roof, and a veranda for taking in the view. There is a restaurant, bar and gift shop on site and a swimming pool.
Sesriem is the better part of a day's drive from Windhoek. As you pass from the Great Escarpment down into the Namib Desert you need to choose a mountain pass.
Read in the guideThe road from the accommodations in Sesriem to Sossusvlei is 65 km and tarred for all but the last 5 km. The road is somewhat maintained, and driving is easy.
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Walvis Bay(Rooikop) · International · WVB
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