Namib Naukluft National Park: Introduction
Namib-Naukluft National Park is one of Africa’s largest parks, with some of the most accessible and spectacular desert scenery on the continent. It is home to the Sossusvlei area, an expanse of enormous red sand dunes that is one of Namibia’s main tourist attractions. The desert habitat doesn’t support many large animals, but spotting the occasional wildlife amid the magnificent scenery makes any visit here worthwhile.
The park is not primarily a wildlife destination, but quite a few species are easily encountered. Seeing a herd of gemsbok walking across the sands is an unforgettable sight, while black-backed jackals stalk the area at night. The Naukluft Mountains are mainly a hiking destination, where Hartmann’s mountain zebra are sometimes spotted.
Locate the Namib Naukluft National Park
How to get there & Best time to visit
How to get there
Namib-Naukluft National Park consists of different sections with different entry points. The park can be visited on an organized tour or independently on a self-drive safari. The main routes to and within the park are open to normal 2WD cars. Permits are required for some minor roads and a 4WD vehicle is recommended for these areas.
Most people who visit Namib-Naukluft come to see the Sossusvlei area. Sossusvlei is about 360km/220mi from the capital, Windhoek, by car and accessed through the Sesriem entry point. The 310km/193mi drive from Windhoek to Sesriem (where many of the lodges are located) takes about 4 to 4½ hours*. From the coastal city of Swakopmund to Sesriem it’s 347km/216mi, which is a drive of about 4½ to 5 hours*. The 50km/31mi drive from Sesriem to Sossusvlei takes around 1 hour.
The main point of entry into Namibia is Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), 40km/25mi east of Windhoek. Both self-drive visitors and people who’ve booked an organized safari will usually start their trip by 4x4 vehicle in Windhoek
Best time to visit
Namib-Naukluft National Park is a premier travel destination in Namibia that’s mostly visited for its stunning desert scenery and less so for its wildlife. It has a predominantly dry desert climate and may be visited throughout the year. However, the most comfortable time is during the cooler months from May to September. Outside of these months it can be very hot, which may limit how much time you spend outside during daylight hours.
Namib-Naukluft National Park has a hot and extremely dry climate with very little rainfall. Temperatures can peak well above 38°C/100°F during summer, but nights can drop below freezing in winter. Summer corresponds with the Wet season (November to April), but rainfall is low. Winter is known as the Dry season (May to October). The altitude in the park varies widely, as do temperatures as a result. The Sossusvlei area sits at a low altitude and temperatures can get very hot there. The higher altitudes are mostly in the Naukluft Mountains section, where it tends to be a bit cooler.