← Rössing National Marathon·2 nights

Sesriem and Sossusvlei: Red Dunes After the Coast

Two nights beside the Namib dunes, with one early morning among red sand and a clay pan of dead trees.

Duration2 nights
TransitPrivate car or guided transfer, about 346 km, mostly on dirt roads
DepartsSwakopmund

After the Rössing National Marathon: Sesriem and Sossusvlei

The Route: Swakopmund → Sesriem → Sossusvlei → Sesriem → Swakopmund Logistics: Sesriem is about 346 km from Swakopmund by road, mostly dirt, through the Kuiseb and Gaub passes. A guided transfer is the sensible choice for a tired runner, because the road is long and has few services. Marathon Month: March Duration: 2 nights

Swakopmund ──(about 346 km, mostly dirt road via Kuiseb and Gaub Passes)──> Sesriem ──(60 km tar road)──> Sossusvlei ──> Sesriem ──> Swakopmund

Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan ringed by red dunes in the southern Namib. It lies a long way from Swakopmund, and the drive is the hard part. Do this only if your legs are recovering, and plan to sit in a vehicle for most of two days.

March in the Namib. March is hot. At Sesriem the mean daily maximum is about 34°C and the minimum about 20°C, and March is the wettest month there, at about 40 mm on average. Heat is the main constraint: climb nothing in the middle of the day, drink constantly and expect a thunderstorm to be possible. Roads can change after rain, so ask your operator about conditions before you set off.

Getting there and back

Start early. The route passes through Solitaire, the only settlement on the road, which has a petrol station, a general store, restaurants and a small lodge. Fill the tank and carry water. The road crosses the Kuiseb Pass, where it dips through a canyon and riverbed, then the Gaub Pass. Ask your operator for the current journey time, and do not plan an arrival after dark. The Foreign Office advises care on rural roads and prearranged transport.

Night one: Sesriem

Le Mirage is about 21 km from the gates of Sossusvlei, and its days begin with guided quad-bike trips at sunrise. It is the verified base for this plan. Settle in, drink and rest. Gate times and park permits should be confirmed with the lodge.

Day two: Sossusvlei

The tar road runs 60 km from Sesriem towards Sossusvlei. Dune 45, about 45 km along, stands about 80 m high. The paved road ends at a parking area, and the last 6 km towards Sossusvlei need a four-wheel-drive vehicle or a shuttle. Deadvlei, a clay pan about 2 km further on, is known for dead, blackened camelthorn trees left after a river changed course. The walking is on soft sand, so go slowly and do not attempt Big Daddy, the highest dune at about 325 m, with tired legs. The flat walk across the pan is easier and gives the view.

Go at sunrise and be off the sand before the heat builds.

Night two: Sesriem

Rest in the afternoon, eat early and sleep. Take an evening drive or sit outside to watch the light change on the dunes.

Getting home

Leave Sesriem in the morning for the long road back to Swakopmund. Do not plan a same-day international flight. Sleep in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay the night before you fly.

Practical notes

  • Dune climbs are not recovery-friendly. Choose a vehicle, a short walk and shade.
  • Carry water, a hat, sunscreen and a full tank.
  • Check road and permit information with the lodge or the park office before you go.