The Namib Desert is a highlight all on its own. Several of the species are endemic and have adapted to the climate quite well. The Sossusvlei pan features abundant wildlife which includes jackal, oryx, kudu, springbok, ostrich, and a number of reptiles and arthropods. The pan is actually a drainage basin for the Tsauchab River which gives it seasonal life. The name is derived for the Afrikaans words that translate, “marsh, no return, and a dead end.” One might say it is a dead-end marsh of no return. The pan is located in the southern region of the Namib Desert serving as one of the favorite attractions of travelers exploring the national park. Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan nestled in a sea of towering red sand dunes.
They can also declare that they have seen the oldest desert in the world. This terrain and vegetation attract hundreds of thousands of birds creating a birdwatcher’s haven.įor visitors to Namib-Naukluft who like statistical significance, they can proclaim that they have visited the largest national park on the continent of Africa. These rock formations are usually comprised of granite, feldspar, and sandstone.Īs the desert moves closer to the shoreline, the terrain is characterized by lagoons, mudflats, and wetlands. Taking a scenic flight or balloon ride over the dunes is captivating as it allows you to truly capture the astounding size of the dunes and the endless sea of rolling desert.Īlong with the dunes, the park is characterized by rocky outcrops and rock formations that are locally known as kopjes and inselbergs. One of the best ways to truly appreciated the majestic nature of the dunes is from above. The park administration has developed asphalt roads that make it easy to see many of the more famous dunes and surrounding landscape. The dunes are some of the most popular features of the national park. Sossusvlei is the most renowned, however, all three are known to home to wildlife that is attracted to the salt. Sossusvlei, Hiddenvlei, and Deadvlei are three of the most visited pans. Salt and clay pans are iconic attractions in the national park. Many of the dunes serve as landmarks as well as individual attractions. The landscapes include remarkable mountains, naturally carved canyons, tremendous gravel plains, and towering and captivating sand dunes. As the oldest desert in the world, it displays brilliantly colored sand dunes that are considered some of the largest in the world. The Namib Desert is at the heart of the national park. It is a renowned park featuring the splendor of the Namib Desert. The park covers an area of 19,216 square miles (49,768 sq km) creating the largest national park in Africa and the fourth largest in the world.
It borders the neighboring Dorob National Park to the north. The park lies between the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean through to the beginning of the Great Escarpment which extends into South Africa. Namib-Naukluft National Park is located on the western side of Namibia just south of the midway point.