Namibia Deadvlei, Sossusvlei
About five hours from Namibia's capital Windhoek, in the middle of the Namib Desert, lies the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The village's tree cemetery is special. These are the remains of countless camel thorn trees that are already over 1000 years old. The tree graveyard was created about 900 years ago when the Tsauchab River, which was still there at the time, began to dry up. Only in some areas on the edge of the Vlei, there is little vegetation. The predominant image of the Dead Vlei is the dust-dry clay pan with bizarre-looking skeletons of camel thorn trees. For landscape photographers, this is considered one of the most spectacular locations in the world. Dead trees are in the middle of the Namib desert just before sunrise with dunes in the background.
Photography Tips
Visit during the golden hours of sunrise or sunset. The soft, angled light enhances the colors of the dunes and the textures of the dead trees, creating dramatic shadows. Experiment with silhouette shots by positioning the trees against a brightly lit sky or dune. This works exceptionally well during sunrise or sunset when the sky is vividly colored. Shooting from a low angle can emphasize the height and grandeur of the dunes while also capturing the cracked clay pan texture in the foreground.
Travel Information
A hiking trail leads to the remote Dead Vlei from the parking lot at the end of the asphalt road through the valley of the Tsauchab River.
From Sesriem, a regular vehicle can drive the first 45 kilometers to the 2x4 parking area. Due to deep sand, the remaining 5 kilometers to the Deadvlei parking area require a 4WD vehicle. Shuttle services are available for those without 4WD. The entrance fee for Namib-Naukluft National Park is approximately NAD 100 per person per day for international visitors. An additional vehicle fee may apply. Make sure to bring enough to drink, it is really hot, you will need it.
From Sesriem, a regular vehicle can drive the first 45 kilometers to the 2x4 parking area. Due to deep sand, the remaining 5 kilometers to the Deadvlei parking area require a 4WD vehicle. Shuttle services are available for those without 4WD. The entrance fee for Namib-Naukluft National Park is approximately NAD 100 per person per day for international visitors. An additional vehicle fee may apply. Make sure to bring enough to drink, it is really hot, you will need it.
Spot Type
Outdoor
Crowd Factor
A decent amount of people
Best Timing
Sunrise
Sunrise & Sunset
06:00 - 19:29
| current local time: 00:22
Photo Themes
bäume
Dead Acacia Tree
Deadvlei
desert
desolate
Dry river
Landscape
Landschaft
Namib-Naukluft Park
namibia
red dune
Red Sand
salz-ton-pfanne
Sand
Sand and salt
sand dunes
sanddüne
sandwüste
Sunrise
Trees
Wüste
Locations
Deadvlei
Sossusvlei
Desert
Namib
Namib-Naukluft Park
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