Overview–namibia

Namib-Naukluft National Park

The Namib-Naukluft is one of Africa’s largest parks. It is home to the Sossusvlei area – an ocean of enormous red dunes and one of Namibia's main tourist attractions. The desert habitat doesn’t support many large animals, but if you take time to absorb the spectacular scenery and smaller creatures, visiting here will be more than worthwhile.

Best Time to Visit

Namib-Naukluft is a premier travel destination in Namibia, mostly visited for its stunning desert scenery and less for its wildlife. Therefore, the park may be visited throughout the year, but the most comfortable time is during the cooler months from May to October. Outside of these months, it can be very hot, limiting how much time you may want to spend outside.

May to October –Dry Season – Winter

It is less hot in the middle of the day (except for October)
Best time for hiking in the Naukluft Mountains
The Sossusvlei area gets quite busy at times
It is cold in the early morning
It is very dry and dusty and the sky can be hazy

November to April –Wet Season – Summer

The rain comes as a relief after a long dry period
Flowers brighten the desert scenery and the views tend to be clearer after the rain
Excellent time for birding with migratory birds present
It tends to be oppressively hot
Occasional flash floods can restrict access to some areas
If visiting both Namib-Naukluft and Etosha; wildlife viewing in Etosha isn't as productive

Scenery

Namib-Naukluft has amazing desert scenery. A famous photo opportunity in the Sossusvlei is Dune 45. It is 80m/262ft high and can easily be climbed. Another one is nearby Deadvlei; a white pan dotted with dead trees against massive red dunes. A less visited, but also very scenic landmark, is the much lusher Naukluft Massif; a mountain area with deep gorges and crystal-clear springs.

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Rates

From: $319 to $2000 pp/da

Best Time to Go

From: May to September (Less hot)

High Season

From: July to November (Busy and high rates apply)

Size

From: 49,768km² / 19,216mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Namib-Naukluft is not a wildlife destination. Visitors come here to see the desert environment. There are a variety of creatures present, although not all of them are easily seen. Oryx and springbok are most conspicuous; these desert-adapted antelope even inhabit the driest areas of the park. Closer to the rivers you can find klipspringer, steenbok, and troops of desert-adapted baboons.

Wildlife Highlights

The Naukluft Mountains are a less visited section of the park. This area is more lush and home to additional species including the endemic Hartmann's mountain zebra. Smaller creatures include meerkat, yellow mongoose, and Cape ground squirrel. Both spotted and brown hyenas are present and you might well come across their distinctive white droppings.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

As wildlife viewing is hit-and-miss throughout the year, Namib-Naukluft can be visited at any time. There is very little precipitation, so when it does rain it is usually welcome. The cooler winter months from May to September are the most pleasant.

General Wheather

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 (November to April), but nights can drop below freezing point in winter (May to October).

The altitude in the park varies widely. Sossusvlei is located at a low altitude and temperatures get very hot. The higher altitudes are mostly in the Naukluft Mountains section where it tends to be a bit cooler.

Winter –May to October

These coolest months bring relief from the oppressive heat at other times of the year. There is almost no rain at all and it gets drier as the winter progresses.

May, June, July & August – It is sunny and totally dry. These are the coolest months and the average afternoon temperature is 25°C/77°F. Areas at lower altitudes, such as Sossusvlei, can be substantially hotter. It is cold in the early morning, with temperatures around 9°C/48°F.
September & October – It is still dry and sunny. This is the end of winter and temperatures increase to an average of 27°C/81°F, but can reach a peak of 38°C/100°F and above in low-altitude areas. Early mornings are less cold, at around 9°C/48°F.

Summer –November to April

The summer months are hot. Although daytime temperatures average 30°C/86°F, they frequently rise to 38°C/100°F and above in low-altitude areas of the park, including Sossusvlei. Early mornings average 13°C/55°F. Summer corresponds with the Wet season, but rainfall is low.

November & December – It is very dry. When the first rain falls, it comes as a relief after a long dry winter. Afternoon temperatures are around 30°C/86°F. Areas at lower altitudes, such as Sossusvlei, will be much hotter.
January, February & March – These are the only months with regular rain, although it is still mostly dry and sunny. People need to be careful of flash floods in dry riverbeds during occasional storms. It usually cools down after rain and average daytime temperatures are around 30°C/86°F.
April – Rain decreases rapidly in April. The weather cools slightly with average temperatures around 28°C/82°F.

Prons

Stunning desert scenery including red dunes at Sossusvlei
Encounters with desert-adapted wildlife in a pristine setting
Good walking options in the Naukluft mountains

Cons

Very hot and dry
Low animal densities and little variety

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 minor roads and a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.

Most people who visit the park come to see the Sossusvlei area, which is located about 360km/223mi from 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*. The 50km/31mi drive from Sesriem to Sossusvlei takes about 1 hour.

The main point of entry into Namibia is Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), located 40km/25mi east of Windhoek. Both self-drive visitors and people who’ve booked an organized safari will usually start their trip by 4x4 in Windhoek.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) and what tickets would cost.