Sossusvlei (Namib-Naukluft National Park): landscape and origins
Four dunes may be climbed. The most famous of them has only a number.
Arriving at Sossusvlei, you see hundreds of dunes. According to Namibia’s report to UNESCO, only four may be walked on: Dune 45, Big Daddy, Big Mama and Sossusvlei itself. Dune 40 is to be added to relieve Dune 45, which has suffered most.
Dune 45 stands right by the road, around 45 kilometres (28 mi) beyond the Sesriem gate, the first of the permitted dunes along the way. Big Daddy rises above Deadvlei at the end of the sand track.
According to NWR the highest dunes reach up to 325 metres (1,066 ft) measured from their base. Visitors are counted from tickets and registers at Sesriem: between around 133,000 and 214,000 a year, almost all for a single day.
Namibia to UNESCO: Periodic Report Namib Sand Sea (visitor numbers, permitted dunes) ↗
The park in numbers
- Permitted dunes
- Dune 45, Big Daddy, Big Mama, Sossusvlei
- Planned
- Dune 40
- Location of Dune 45
- around 45 km (28 mi) beyond the gate
- Highest dunes
- up to 325 m (1,066 ft) from the base
- Visitors
- around 133,000 to 214,000 a year
- Length of stay
- usually one day
