Namib-Naukluft Park Namibia Wildlife Resorts
Namibia’s largest national park at a whopping 49,000km sq, the Namib Naukluft is made up of mountains, sand seas, moonscapes oasis, and riverbeds. The black skeletons of camel-thorn trees on a glaring white clay pan, set against a singularly striking backdrop of vivid hues created by some of the tallest sand dunes on Earth. They’ve been published in every travel magazine and used in countless adverts, calendars and online posts. Yet neither all that exposure, nor all the visitors, should diminish the wonder of this most magical of desert realms. Spanning over 49,768 square kilometers, it is one of the largest protected areas in Africa and one of Namibia’s top tourist attractions. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking tranquility, Namib-Naukluft has something for everyone.
The Naukluft Mountains are a range of mountains that extend beyond the borders of the national park. The southern region of the range is located in the easternmost part of the national park. The mountains are home to leopard and mountain zebra; however, it is more challenging to see these. They may easily be further into the mountains outside the national park.
There are plenty of accommodation options around the fringes, particularly Sesriem, which is the best base for trips to Sossusvlei. It is one of the least populated areas in the country where the visitor can experience an intense feeling of vastness and alloscomp isolation. Here the magical and awe-inspiring beauty of the night skies can be enjoyed like few places on earth.
The best time to visit is during Namibia’s dry season, from May to October. During this period, temperatures are cooler, and the skies are clear, making it ideal for outdoor activities and photography. The daily entrance fee for Sesriem and Naukluft is $1.50 a vehicle, plus $11 per person. If you’re just transiting the park you can buy a tourist transit permit for $5 per person, plus $1.50 per car. Each morning and evening the sun paints the never-ending dunes around Sossusvlei in dramatic hues and shadows – a sight not to be missed.
He managed to come to within about 20 kilometres of coast – without finding any water or people. Over 34,000 square kilometres of dune fields – the Namib Sand Sea. Visually stunning, but physically an incredibly harsh and inaccessible environment. The park’s landscapes are incredibly photogenic, offering endless opportunities for capturing dramatic scenery. The short loop trail leads along the canyon’s rim and into its depths, where visitors can marvel at the sheer walls towering above them and witness the effects of erosion on the landscape. This easy walk offers surreal landscapes of cracked white clay punctuated by skeletal camel thorn trees, providing excellent photo opportunities.
For visitors to Namib-Naukluft who like statistical significance, they can proclaim that they have visited the largest national park on the continent of Africa. They can also declare that they have seen the oldest desert in the world. The dunes are some of the most popular features of the national park. The park administration has developed asphalt roads that make it easy to see many of the more famous dunes and surrounding landscape. However, the cooler months from May to October are the best time to visit. The weather is not too hot during the day, which is better for hiking and exploring the dunes.
Etosha National Park
- The Desert Grace is the result of a daring architectural feat, with each building constructed entirely from sandbags instead of bricks.
- The trail is rated moderate to difficult and requires good physical fitness.
- Several operators hold exclusive concessions in different parts of the sand sea, and offer unique trips of several days, some of them along the coast.
- The black skeletons of camel-thorn trees on a glaring white clay pan, set against a singularly striking backdrop of vivid hues created by some of the tallest sand dunes on Earth.
- Namib-Naukluft National Park is more than just a collection of stunning landscapes—it’s a testament to the beauty and resilience of nature.
Unique in every way, this property offers a new insight into the rhythms of the mighty Namib. The Desert Grace is the result of a daring architectural feat, with each building constructed entirely from sandbags instead of bricks. Facing the west, this lodge offers unparallel views of the sunset from the comfort of a private plunge pool. Pink Gin and Tonic’s and indulgence is the language in this iconic location. A place where the pulse of the desert comes alive as the setting sun dips into the western horizon. Guests have the opportunity to join a Sossusvlei Excursion, guided and inclusive of a champagne brunch.
Naukluft Mountains Trail
Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan nestled in a sea of towering red sand dunes. The pan is located in the southern region of the Namib Desert serving as one of the favorite attractions of travelers exploring the national park. The Namib-Naukluft National Park is a national park in western Namibia, situated between the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the edge of the Great Escarpment. It encompasses part of the Namib Desert (considered the world’s oldest desert), the Naukluft mountain range, and the lagoon at Sandwich Harbour. The best-known area of the park and one of the main visitor attractions in Namibia is Sossusvlei, a clay pan surrounded by dunes, and Sesriem, a small canyon of the Tsauchab.
- The park’s landscapes are diverse, featuring towering sand dunes, rugged mountains, salt pans, gravel plains, and unique rock formations.
- Over 34,000 square kilometres of dune fields – the Namib Sand Sea.
- Our knowledge of the more-distant past in the sand sea remains very limited, yet enough evidence has been found to show that people used the area, at least sporadically, for hundreds of thousands of years.
- If you want to camp in the park you need to be 100% self-sufficient, with firewood, water, and food.
- Its imposing stature offers an exhilarating challenge for hikers keen on scaling its steep slopes.
Along with the dunes, the park is characterized by rocky outcrops and rock formations that are locally known as kopjes and inselbergs. These rock formations are usually comprised of granite, feldspar, and sandstone. The name Namib-Naukluft naturally evolved as the park was expanded to include both areas. ‘Namib’ is a Nama word meaning ‘desert’ and ‘naukluft’ is an adaptation of the Afrikaans words ‘nou kloof’, meaning ‘narrow gorge’.
Day Namibia Safari – Sossusvlei, Etosha & Damaraland
Yet the allure of the near-impenetrable dune sea remains – now accessible through four-by-four adventures. There are more than 340 bird species, along with many insects and reptiles that live in the desert. Some mammals you may see include the rare aardvark, desert leopard, black-backed jackal, oryx, kudu, giraffe, and Hartmann’s mountain zebra.
