Namib Desert Namibia

You can take one of the organised safari trips from Windhoek (the capital of Namibia) where you can join a 2 days and 1 night, camping or accommodated trip where they will drive you to the desert and back do all the park papers etc and you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

This is a cost effective way of getting to some of the more remote areas of Namibia and a great way to meet more travellers, the safari companies do also have private safaris for families and groups.

It is quite easy to drive yourself to Sesriem and then on to see Sossusvlei as long as you do a little bit of preperation.

First you do not need a 4 wheel drive car, you can take a normal sedan - although low sports cars may not do so well, so leave the porshe at home and take the VW polo, vehicles can be rented in Windhoek or driven across the border from South Africa and Botswana as long as you have the correct paperwork.

If you are driving from Windhoek it It should take around five hours (not including for any time taken taking photos along the way).

There are a number of routes to follow from Windhoek to the Sesriem. The most direct
route with (usually) the best road surfaces is given below. Others include taking the B1 South to
Rehoboth and then on to Solitaire via the C24 and D1261 - a slightly longer route, the only
advantage being the asphalt surface of the B1. Another would be following the C26 Walvis Bay
road all the way to the C14 and then turning south to Solitaire - again a longer route.

here is a summary of the route:

Leave Windhoek via the B1 Western Bypass (Sam Nujoma Drive).
Travel for 4,4 kilometres and turn left onto the B1 Rehoboth road.
Travel for 5,5 kilometres down the B1 and turn right onto the C26 Namib Naukluft road at the Tjunction.
After 7,1 kilometres along the C26, the road surface changes from asphalt to gravel at a low bridge and
maintains this surface for the duration of the trip.
Travel for 22,8 kilometres through the Amani Pass and turn left at the intersection (T-Junction), still
following the C26 Solitaire/Walvis Bay via Gamsberg Pass road.
Travel for 70,7 kilometres along the C26 and then turn left at the Nauchas/Rehoboth intersection (TJunction).
o Travel for 53 kilometres along the D1261 to Nauchas.
Resuming once again on the D1261, turn right at the Spreetshoogte T-junction just down the road from
the shop onto the D1275.
The viewpoints at the top of the Spreetshoogte Pass are reached after 16,4 kilometres along the D1275.
Thereafter, the road winds down the pass over some very steep sections in places. The gravel surface of
the road has been covered in sections with concrete interlocking paving so as to improve traction.
Exercise extreme caution over this section, engage a lower gear and maintain a slower speed. No coaches,
caravans or trailers are permitted. They must use the Remhoogte Road, straight ahead at Nauchas.
A further 34,4 kilometres down the D1275 from the viewpoints at the top of the Spreetshoogte Pass, turn
left onto the C14 at the Solitaire T-Junction.
Travel 9,3 kilometres down the C14 to Solitaire and turn right at the C19/Sossusvlei intersection (TJunction).
Continue on the C19 from Solitaire for a further 71,3 kilometres.
At the D826 Sossusvlei /Sesriem intersection (T-Junction), turn right and travel for 12 kilometres.
The entrance gate to Sesriem is in front of you as the road takes a a left hand turn.

Most of this route is on GRAVEL roads (there is no tar route to Sesriem) so please drive slowly, carefully and enjoy the wonderful scenery on the way.