Sossusvlei and Namib-Naukluft Park

The Namib-Naukluft Park is the largest conservation area in Africa and the fourth largest in the world encompassing the ancient Namib Desert, the dramatic Naukluft Mountains, and the iconic dune sea of Sossusvlei. The star-shaped dunes of Sossusvlei rising over 300 metres are among the tallest in the world and their deep red and orange hues against blue skies create some of the most photographed landscapes on Earth. Deadvlei — a surreal white clay pan dotted with 900-year-old dead camelthorn trees — is an iconic image of African wilderness. Despite the harsh desert environment the park supports adapted wildlife including gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, and the remarkable Namib desert beetle. The Skeleton Coast section to the north adds shipwrecks and Cape fur seal colonies. This is not a traditional Big Five safari destination but an essential addition to any Namibian itinerary for its unrivalled landscapes.