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An update from Evaneos
Deadvlei

Deadvlei (Namibia)

Practical information about Deadvlei

  • Desert
  • Essential
5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
It's a 5km drive from Dune 45, and you can only get there in a 4x4
When to go
All year round at sunrise
Minimum stay
One day

Reviews of Deadvlei

Emmanuelle Bluman Travel writer
163 travel articles

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic landscapes in Namibia, this petrified valley in the heart of the red desert is beautiful. It's a great experience. 

My suggestion:
You'll need to get up early and be at the entrance to the park if you want to enjoy the beautiful colours at sunrise and the mild temperatures. The last five kilometres to Dead Vlei can only be made in a 4x4 or with a travel agency. 
Summary:

You won't immediately get to Dead Vlei when you're visiting Namib Naukluft National Park. First of all, there are orange dunes for as far as you can see, some of which are more famous than others. 

If you want to see Dead Vlei, you'll first have to park up and walk into the heart of this vast area. You can quickly lose your bearings, so it's best to follow other people who are there. So I continued without knowing what would appear in front of me. And then the plain appeared. In the middle of the desert, the ground is a dry and flat clay which acts like a mirage, and there are a few trees scattered here and there. There are no leaves or green branches, just some stunted trunks which are incredibly photogenic! 

This is the course of an old river which has now dried up. It was created briefly by the dunes before being starved of water forever in the heat of the desert. Dead Vlei is an essential part of a holiday in Namibia.  

Petrified tree, Dead Vlei