Namib Desert

Overview of the Namib Desert

The world's oldest desert stretches along the entire length of Namibia's coast, with a maximum width of 160 km. It features several natural parks (Namib-Naukluft, Cape Cross, Skeleton Coast...) and immense dunes, some of which are UNESCO-listed among the tallest in the world (Sossusvlei, Deadvlei).

Key facts

• Type de lieu: desert.

• Intérêt touristique: ★★★★ (must-see or highly recommended).

• Caractéristiques:

• Localisation:

• Superficie: 81,000 km².

• Altitude:

• Site internet: www.namibian.org/namib-naukluft.htm

Desert environment

Wildlife and flora

What to see

Key highlights of the Namib Desert include:

Sesriem Canyon ★★
Just beside the eponymous locality, this small canyon is the country’s second most visited site.

Cape Cross ★★★
North of Swakopmund, Cape Cross is home to a colony of tens of thousands of fur seals.

Skeleton Coast ★★★
This is the northern part of the Namib Desert. Particularly inhospitable, this coast (a designated natural park) is littered with whale skeletons (hence the name) and shipwrecks.

Namib-Naukluft National Park ★★★★
Africa's largest park and the fourth-largest in the world. It is internationally renowned for the orange dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the country's top tourist attraction, as well as the Sesriem Canyon located a few kilometres before them. Local hiking is possible.

Sossusvlei ★★★★
This salt desert with its stunning sand dunes is Namibia’s most visited site. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby salt pans of Deadvlei and Hiddenvlei.

Nearby

What to do

Climate and weather

Precautions

Transport

Getting there

Getting around

Sleeping and eating

Further reading