Full day excursion to Sossusvlei from Hoodia Desert Lodge

Vlei next to Dead Vlei

According to Wiki, Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia. The name "Sossusvlei" is often used in an extended meaning to refer to the surrounding area (including other neighbouring vleis such as Deadvlei and other high dunes), which is one of the major visitor attractions of Namibia.

Sossusvlei is surrounded
by high red dunes

Vife trekking on dunes

The full day excursion to the massive sand dunes surrounding Sossusvlei from Hoodia Desert Lodge turned out to be the ideal way to visit Sossusvlei and sourroundings, for many THE most famous Namibian tourist attraction. The huge pans (or vleis) receive water from Tauchab River at rare occasions (not every year), from where it evaporates, creating a surreal landscape in the desert only surpassed by Salvador Dali!

 Dead Vlei,
surreal landscape in the desert

We left Hoodia Desert Lodge at 05.30 am to be ready at the Sesriem Gate at 06.00. Our guide Daniel was very talkative along the whole tour but also very skilled and a remarkable source of information.

Hoodia Desert Lodge

• 1. stop: A small bushman walk in the dunes on the way to Sussosvlei. The main attraction was to see a White Lady spider. In the distance, the balloons hovered along the red sand dunes – impressive sight

White Lady spider

• 2. stop: Dune 40 + 45 at distance. We did not climb, but it seems you can avoid the crowds by choosing dune 40 which opened recently. Go early before it gets too hot!

Dune 40

• 3. stop: Daniel explained the history and geology of South Western Africa drawing on a sand dune. Very interesting and informative.

Parking Dead Vlei

• 4. stop: We climbed red sand dunes and reached Dead Vlei via a less known vlei to the right of Dead Vlei. This turned out to be the perfect way to avoid the crowds using the main track for Dead Vlei

Dead Vlei

• 5. stop Lunch at Elin Dune. An “Out of Africa” experience. Tablecloths and cool white wine in the middle of the desert under an acacia tree!

Elin Dune, lunch

Conclusion, this full day excursion from Hoodia Desert Lodge was the perfect way to explore the area.

Read our blog about Hoodia Desert Lodge (link)

Read our blog (warning) about Dead Vlei Lodge (link)

Read further about Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei at Wiki (link)