a

Sossusvlei

Namib Desert  >  Namibia

This famous and incredibly beautiful red dune valley in Namib Naukluft National Park has a great biodiversity and is also a good spot for birding.

Added* by Piero 85
Most recent update 8 марта 2022

Description

Situated in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular attraction. Characterised by the large red dunes that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world. Sossusvlei literally translates to “dead-end marsh”, as it is the place where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River to flow any further, some 60km east of the Atlantic Ocean. However, due to the dry conditions in the Namib Desert the River seldom flows this far and the pan remains bone-dry most years. But when the pan fills it can hold water for as long as a year. Despite the harsh desert conditions in the area, one can find a wide variety of plants and animals that have adapted to survive.

Details

Access

From the capital Windhoek, follow the C28, then following the signs for Sesriem where you can also sleep in numerous accommodations from a campsite to a lodge. Sesriem is a small settlement in the Namib Desert, close to the southern end of the Naukluft Mountains. It is the main access point to the Namib-Naukluft National Park and Sossusvlei.

Terrain and Habitat

Desert , Dunes

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Winter , Autumn , Spring

Best time to visit

Autumn , Spring , Winter

Route

Paved road , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

Show more birds Show less birds
Show more images Show less images

Comments & Tips

Give feedback
Rate this area