Namib-Naukluft National Park

Namib-Naukluft National Park: History & Culture

Discover Namib-Naukluft National Park

Namib-Naukluft National Park covers about 49,768 km² of western Namibia and runs roughly 600 km along the Atlantic coast. It is one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Its best-known sights are the tall orange dunes around Sossusvlei, the dead trees of Deadvlei and the hiking country of the Naukluft Mountains.

Quick facts

• Country: Namibia
• Region: Hardap
• Size: about 49,768 km²
• Coordinates: -24.54638889, 15.32972222
• Best time to visit: May to September, when it is cooler
• Managed by: the Ministry of Environment and Tourism
• Namibia Wildlife Resorts contact: +264 61 285 7200

A short history of the park

The park began in 1907 as “Game Reserve No. 3” under German colonial administration. It reached its current boundaries in 1986, when the government gained control of parts of the Sperrgebiet diamond-mining area. The park also includes a marine reserve of about 1,600 km of ocean.

The landscape and climate

Here the Atlantic fog brings more moisture than the rain does. Rainfall is about 106 mm a year. The dunes are among the tallest in the world, at over 300 m, and their burnt-orange colour comes from iron oxidation.

Top attractions in Namib-Naukluft National Park

Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei is a clay pan ringed by towering dunes. Sesriem is the hub for visiting it.

Deadvlei

Deadvlei is a pan filled with dead trees. They stand in stark contrast to the dunes around them.

Dune 45

Dune 45 is a popular spot for watching the sunrise.

Big Daddy

Big Daddy is a dune said to rise over 325 m.

Sesriem Canyon

Sesriem Canyon is a small gorge with tight walls, carved by the Tsauchab River.

The Naukluft Mountains

The Naukluft Mountains form the park’s eastern boundary. They are protected to conserve Hartmann’s mountain zebra. The range has its own campsite and trails, and it is hiking country.

Wildlife

You can see gemsbok, springbok, leopard, hyena, jackal, caracal and desert-adapted reptiles. There is no Big Five here.

Things to do

Watch sunrise from the dunes

Dune 45 is a favourite sunrise spot. Dune climbing is best done early. In summer (December to February) temperatures can exceed 40°C, which makes hiking and dune climbing dangerous after 10:00.

Hike in the Naukluft

• Olive Trail: about 10 km, 4 to 5 hours. It is exposed, has drinkable water on the route, and is open all year.
• Waterkloof Trail: about 17 km, 6 to 8 hours. It is a strenuous loop through rocky gorges with natural pools, and hikers need to be fit and experienced.

Check current trail status and booking requirements with Namibia Wildlife Resorts before you go.

Leave the drone at home

Drones are strictly prohibited in the park.

Getting in: the Sesriem gates

There are two gates at Sesriem:

• Outer gate: for day visitors. It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.
• Inner gate: for guests of the Sesriem campsite and Sossus Dune Lodge. It opens one hour before sunrise.

Where to stay near Sossusvlei

Lodges

• Sossus Dune Lodge: inside the park, with access to the inner gate.
• Sossusvlei Lodge: beside the Sesriem gate. It has 45 en-suite rooms and serves breakfast and dinner.
• Kulala Desert Lodge: on the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve.
• Desert Homestead Lodge and Ondili: a short walk from the park.

Camping

• Sesriem Campsite: the base for the Sossusvlei dunes.
• Naukluft Campsite: in the Naukluft Mountains.
• Desert Quiver Camp: about 5 km before the Sossusvlei entrance.
• Sossus Oasis Campsite: has a pool and is 5 km from Sesriem Canyon.
• Tsauchab River Camp and Little Sossus Campsite: two more options in the area.

Planning your visit

May to September is the cooler, ideal time to visit. March was also suggested for hiking. Start early, carry water, and plan to be off the dunes before the heat builds.

Gate times matter here. Day visitors enter at sunrise, so staying inside or beside the park gives you the earliest access to the dunes.

Photo by Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.