After a few days on the Skeleton Coast, we were ready for our adventure in the famous Namib Desert. The views started changing as soon as the ocean was out of sight. The waves crashed right into the sand. We turned east and headed back into the rocky hills and away from civilization.
All the Basic Info on The Namib Desert
The Namib Desert actually covers over 62,000 square miles across multiple countries. It’s a coastal desert with sand seas that run the length of the Namibian coast and into Angola and South Africa. The area is mostly uninhabited, but there are a few indigenous pastoral groups and settlements.
The Namib desert area that we visited is in the southern portion near Sesriem. The dunes here reach 1,000 feet in height and have incredible dune patterns. The area is home to antelopes, desert elephants, and plenty of smaller creatures that don’t need a lot of water.
There is a small airport here. Otherwise, you can reach the national park from Windhoek or Swakopmund. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. We camped with a roof tent throughout the country and would encourage others to do the same.
Places to Explore and Enjoy the Namib Desert
Solitaire
Our travel consultant gave us a tip to stop in the small “town” of Solitaire for their famous Apple Crumble from McGregor’s Bakery. Anytime someone insists on a dessert stop, we can’t resist. Considering we don’t really like apple desserts, we were pleasantly surprised and had our plates cleared within 2 minutes.
Solitaire is a fuel station and rest stop of sorts. There was a car graveyard out front and cactuses growing everywhere. Getting out of the car after hours on the gravel roads and stretching our legs was nice.
Sesriem
Sesriem is the town located at the entrance to the national park. We were up before the first light to make the drive. Watching the sun come up over the desert landscape was incredible. We passed a herd of oryxes and stopped to take a few photos. They have the coolest profiles. There are some smaller dunes right outside of town called the Elim Dunes. You can also stop and get fuel here which is worth noting.
The Dunes
Getting to the Namib Desert National Park, we found that it’s just one long road with giant orange dunes on both sides. There were a few tour buses, but we had the road to ourselves most of the time.
Dune #45 has a climbable pitch, and we couldn’t resist. There’s a pull-off to park easily. The wind was crazy that day, and our shoes gained sand weight with each and every step, but it was such a cool experience. You can hold the sand in your hand and feel just how smooth it is. And even with thousands of pictures, you can’t imagine how beautiful those orange dunes are until you are there in person.
Deadvlei
As we ventured further into the park to find the famous Soussesvlei trees, a sandstorm began, and the wind continued to pick up. We reached the point where the road turned to sand, and they turned away all non-4×4 cars. We started down the road, and within minutes, the truck in front of us found themselves stuck in deep sand and barely able to get out due to the wind. For our own safety and sanity, we turned around. It wasn’t worth having damage done to the car from sand or getting stuck. We don’t have many good pictures from the storm, but you can see a few seconds of it in the video we posted around the 5-minute mark.
It’s important to point that out because this is the Insta-famous spot in the country, and it seems like it should be easy to get to. I’m sure many people get there without issues, but it was not accessible for us that day, and we were totally OK with that. Here is a photo from Unsplash so you know what it looks like sometimes.
Anywhere Under the Stars
The stars are incredible. There are zero lights, and you feel like you’re on your own planet. I cannot recommend spending a few minutes every night (no matter how tired you are) just laying outside and taking it all in. Transcendent is the only word I can really find to describe it.
Don’t forget to pack a headlamp.
Where to Stay in the Namib Desert
We stayed at the Gondwana Namib Desert Lodge. It was stunning. Surrounded by nothing but desert plants and the giant sky, we just sat and took it all in. Our campsite here (see the photo above) had a private bathroom, an outdoor cooking area, and a lot of quiet.
We enjoyed our final night in the desert with dinner at the property’s restaurant. They had a huge buffet with many vegetarian options and incredibly cheap and tasty wine. It ended up being at least five courses of food once we included dessert.
Next time, I would stay at Sossusvlei Lodge or Kulala Desert Lodge to be closer to the national park. Plus, we drove by both of them, and it was stunning.
Final Thoughts on the Magical Namib Desert
The Namib Desert was one of the coolest places I’ve ever seen in my life. While it didn’t have nearly the wildlife that Etosha did, everything we saw amazed me because of the conditions they could survive in. The Oryxes that hung out right at our campsite were easy-going and quiet neighbors. The desert’s mysteries are just waiting to be discovered by the creatures that can handle the terrain. After the Outback and this desert trip, I am really excited to explore more of the desert regions of the United States. That dry heat works for me.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is an airport located in Sesriem for small aircraft, but the easiest way to get to the Namib Desert National Park is via truck or SUV from Windhoek or Swakopmund.
The climate is extremely dry in the Namib Desert. The temperatures are warm and comfortable. Bring water and plan for wind and sand storms.
The Namib Desert is an incredible place to visit. It’s easy to add to a road trip through Namibia and accessible by road with a 4×4 vehicle.
Deadvlei is a salt pan that creates a beautiful backdrop with a white floor, orange sand dunes, and a blue sky. Several trees have been preserved there. The easiest way to get there is through the town of Sesriem.
