Namib naukluft park

Namib-Naukluft Park is a major conservation area in western Namibia, officially established in August 1979. Covering about 49,800 square kilometers, it was the largest protected region in the country at the time and remains one of the biggest parks in Africa today.

Located along the Atlantic coastline, the park borders Dorob National Park to the north, the Restricted Diamond Area (Sperrgebiet) to the south, and the privately managed NamibRand Nature Reserve to the east.

Its northeastern section includes the rugged Naukluft Mountains. The park encompasses a significant portion of the ancient Namib Desert, featuring world-famous sites like the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, the stark beauty of Deadvlei, and the narrow, winding Sesriem Canyon. Its vast, varied landscape and ecological importance make it a centerpiece of Namibia’s natural heritage.

Highlights of the Namib-Naukluft Park

Namib Desert

The Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, stretches across all of western Namibia. Within the park, this desert spans around 500 km in length and 100 to 180 km in width. It is home to some of the world’s tallest sand dunes, reaching up to 300 meters high.

Naukluft Mountains

The Naukluft Mountains lie on the eastern edge of the park and rise to nearly 2,000 meters. These rugged mountains offer dramatic scenery, natural springs, and popular hiking trails.

Sandwich Harbour

Located about 45 km south of Walvis Bay, is a hidden lagoon nestled between giant sand dunes. It's a haven for birdlife, with over 200,000 flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, and other seabirds, and can only be accessed by 4x4 vehicles from Walvis Bay.

Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and Sesriem

Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and Sesriem Canyon are the most visited attractions in the park. Sesriem Canyon, carved by the Tsauchab River, is about 1 km long and 30 meters deep. Sossusvlei is a famous salt and clay pan surrounded by massive red dunes, about 60 km from Sesriem.

Much of the Namib-Naukluft Park is remote and inaccessible, especially the vast dune fields which cover around 32,000 km². Visitors mainly explore areas north of the Kuiseb River, the Naukluft Mountains, and the Sossusvlei region.

Since 2010, the park has been part of the Namib Skeleton Coast National Park, the largest conservation area in Namibia and the eighth biggest in the world. This vast protected area runs the full length of Namibia’s Atlantic coast—from Angola in the north to South Africa in the south—stretching 1,570 km and combining several parks and reserves into one.