Visiting Deadvlei was one of the main reasons I wanted to travel to Namibia. I’d seen countless photos, and it was one of those places I had to see with my own eyes. I wanted to take my own photos and be amazed by how beautiful our world is. It takes a while to get there, but there’s no other place like it in the world. Here’s everything you need to know.
In This Post
What Makes Deadvlei So Special?
I get it, you’re wondering what’s so special about some old trees. There was a kid nearby asking her parents when they were going back, complaining it was hot and these were just some dead trees. Fair, at that age. She’ll get it later.
Deadvlei is a clay pan inside Sossusvlei, the protected area in the Namib Desert that most people picture when they think of Namibia. The two names get used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same thing: Sossusvlei is a nearby, similar clay pan of its own, smaller and less striking, while Deadvlei is the iconic one you’ve seen in photos.
What makes it special are the dead camel thorn trees. They died around 600 years ago, and the air is so dry they never rotted away. Against the orange dunes and the white clay pan, it’s one of the most photographed scenes in Africa.
It’s also bigger than you’d expect. I thought we were the first ones there, until I noticed about 15 other people walking around that I hadn’t even registered at first.
What's the best time to visit Deadvlei in Namibia?
The best time of the year would be from April to October. It’s cooler, and the skies are clearer for photography. Namibia’s summer (roughly November to March) brings the temperature up to the 40s in Celsius, which makes climbing dunes and walking in the daylight sun less pleasant.
In terms of time of the day, my goal was to be one of the first to arrive, to get the best light for photography. Sunrise is my favorite hour for photography, with long shadows stretching across the clay.
That said, Deadvlei looks good throughout the day, so don’t let a late start put you off entirely. Getting there during the actual sunrise is one of the harder logistics in Namibia (more on that below). Many photographers visit later instead, since they’re combining it with other spots in the area, just be ready for the heat, there’s no shade past the parking lot.
Tour groups start arriving mid-morning, so aim to have your photos done by 9AM. We visited in April 2023, and when we left around 9:30AM, the parking lot was already full and groups were pouring in.
Where to Stay: Inside or Outside the Gate
This is the first real decision to make, and it determines how early you can get in. There are two gates at Sesriem. The inner gate opens an hour before sunrise, but only guests of Sossus Dune Lodge or Sesriem Campsite, both inside it, can use it that early. The outer gate, which everyone else passes through, opens right at sunrise instead.
If being first at Deadvlei or catching sunrise from one of the dunes matters to you, book one of those two inside options. If you don’t, or couldn’t get a spot, Sesriem or Solitaire outside the gate work fine, you’ll just start your morning about an hour later.
Always check the exact sunrise time for your specific date before you go, mobile coverage out here is unreliable once you’re on the road.
Desert Grace
During my time in Namibia, I stayed as a guest of Gondwana Collection at Desert Grace, outside the gate between Solitaire and Sesriem. Every unit had its own small private pool overlooking the desert, one of the most memorable places I’ve stayed.
It’s a bit over an hour to the Sesriem gate from here, and another hour to Deadvlei. In April 2023 we decided to drive off around 6AM, exactly one hour before the gate opened, and reached Deadvlei around 8AM.
How to get to Deadvlei in Namibia?
To reach Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, you first drive the road between Solitaire and Sesriem, a dirt road where a 4×4 helps. Once you reach Sesriem, it’s straightforward: register at the gate to continue toward Sossusvlei.
From Sesriem Gate to Deadvlei
After the gate, it’s about an hour to the Deadvlei parking area. That road is in good condition at first, but the final 5 kilometers turns to soft sand. Without a 4×4, or without experience driving in loose sand, take the shuttle from the first parking lot instead. Take that seriously, I watched multiple cars get stuck.
Can You Self-Drive the Last Stretch?
One thing to check before you go: whether you’re even allowed to self-drive that final stretch. The rules have changed more than once recently. At the end of 2025 only shuttles were allowed to reach the final parking. Since May 2026, 4×4 self-drivers are allowed again. Confirm the current rule with your lodge or at the Sesriem gate itself, don’t rely on any single article, including this one, to still be accurate by the time you go.
From the parking area, it’s a 15-minute walk over one small dune to reach the pan itself.
Deadvlei Entry fees
You’ll need a permit to enter, paid at the Sesriem office: NAD 280 (about $16) per person per day, plus a small vehicle fee of NAD 60 (about $3). Permits are valid 24 hours from entry.
If you’re taking the shuttle for that final sandy stretch instead of driving it yourself, budget around NAD 250 ($15) per person return on top of your permit. The shuttle is run by a private operator at the 2×4 parking, so prices change: confirm on site. Both card and cash work, though I’d still carry cash as a backup as there are no ATMs around.
The moment you want to buy your permit depends on where you stay. Staying outside the gate, like we did? Pay the moment you leave, you don’t want to lose time at the office when you’re racing the light to Deadvlei.
Staying inside, at Sossus Dune Lodge or Sesriem Campsite? Buy your permit the afternoon before, since the office isn’t staffed yet when the inner gate opens.
Where to stay to visit Deadvlei in Namibia?
If you didn’t book a stay within the gates, you can search for a place in Sesriem or Solitaire.
During my time in Namibia, I stayed as a guest of Gondwana Collection at Gondwana Collection: Desert Grace. This luxurious lodge is located between Solitaire and Sesriem and from there it took a bit more than one hour to reach Sesriem, and another to deadvlei.
All lodges had a small private pool and overlooked the desert. Truly one of the most incredible accommodations I’ve personally stayed at!
Photography Tips for Deadvlei
Back to Deadvlei! If you want to return with the best photos, I got you covered! Capturing the trees isn’t hard, but if you want to blow away your friends with your photos, here’s my advice.
- Go during the early hours of the day, so you can use create a rich contrast in your photos with the shadows reflecting on the dunes
- Add people to your photos, so the scale of the area will be reflected through your photos
- Use a telelens (70-200 or longer) to compress the background
- Vary your angles, so the sunlight gets in from different sides
You can see all these techniques coming back in the photos of this post. Take the one directly under this paragraph. Did you spot the people at first? It makes you realise how big this place actually is!
Can I fly my drone at Deadvlei?
No. Drones aren’t allowed at Deadvlei itself, largely because of the wildlife living in the protected area. That’s why you won’t see any drone shots of the pan in this article.
If you want to try for permission anyway, you’ll need approval from both the NCAA (Namibia’s Civil Aviation Authority) and MEFT (the environment ministry). We did get permission to fly at the lodges we stayed at, just not at Deadvlei itself.
Other Things to Do Near Deadvlei
After driving all the way to Deadvlei, there’s so much more to see and to do in this area. As we were on a collaboration with the hotel and had to shoot some extra content, we made our way back early. Here’s a list of things to do after you visit Deadvlei in Namibia.
Climb the Sand Dunes
Most visitors climb at least one dune while they’re around. Dune 45, right next to the road, is the easier and more popular option: about 170 meters, a 40-60 minute climb, and no 4×4 needed to reach it.
Big Daddy is the harder climb, around 325 meters and closer to an hour or more to the top, but it’s right beside Deadvlei, so most people who summit it walk straight down to the old trees. Bring more water than you think you need, the soft sand makes the climb tougher than it looks.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you want a completely different view of the dunes, a sunrise balloon flight over the Namib is worth the money. It’s typically booked through your lodge and adds a different perspective on a landscape you’ve already seen from the ground.
Sesriem Canyon
Another great activity is visiting Sesriem Canyon. Right past the entrance gates, this is worth a stop on your way in or out: narrow rock passages carved by the river, and actual shade, pretty rare out here.
Spot Wildlife
Wildlife is never far away in Namibia, and on the way to Deadvlei we saw a lot of animals. Oryx especially are common and striking to see against the desert backdrop.
See the Stars
Namibia is famous for stargazing, and this corner of the country is one of the best places to do it. If you’re staying in Sesriem, Solitaire, or anywhere between, clear nights here are worth staying up for.
Frequently Asked Questions about Deadvlei, Namibia
Is Deadvlei the same as Sossusvlei?
Not quite. Sossusvlei is a separate, smaller clay pan nearby, part of the same protected area. Deadvlei, with its famous dead trees, is the one almost everyone means and the one worth prioritizing if you only have time for one.
How much does it cost to visit Deadvlei?
Entry costs NAD 280 (about $16) per person per day, plus a vehicle fee of NAD 60 (about $3), paid at the Sesriem gate. If you don’t have a 4×4 for the final stretch, add the shuttle: roughly NAD 200-260 ($12-16) per person round trip.
Do I need a 4x4 to visit Deadvlei?
For the last 5 kilometers to the parking area, yes, or you’ll need to take the shuttle instead. The rest of the road from Sesriem is manageable in a normal car.
What's the best time of year to visit?
April through October, for cooler temperatures and clearer skies. Namibia’s summer heat (November-March) makes the walk in from the parking area considerably tougher.
Can I fly a drone at Deadvlei?
No, drones aren’t permitted at Deadvlei itself due to the protected wildlife in the area. Some lodges nearby can authorize drone use on their own property instead.
