There are very basic toilet facilities at Deadvlei (ie. pit-latrine toilets). No other services or facilities are available - visitors should take plenty of water when walking to Deadvlei.

You can only reach Sossusvlei to walk to Deadvlei, by 4WD. There is a parking area 5km away, which can be reached by an sedan vehicle, and then from there their is a 4WD shuttle that takes you to Sossusvlei at a fee. (ie. in 2019 it was NAD180pp).

There is also no visible signage at Sossusvlei to direct you in the right direction. Tracks4Africa GPS Maps has all the points well marked to take along on your hike. (June-2018).

The ancient sand dunes of Sossusvlei forms part of the Namib Sand Sea World Heritage site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1430) and travellers are reminded to minimise their impact on the environment when visiting this eco-sensitive area by adhering to a few simple guidelines:
• Stay on the main trails rather than walk criss-cross over the sensitive vegetation areas – they may seem bare and lifeless, but many plants remain dormant until the first rains.
• The “lifeless” trees in Dead Vlei are preserved by the harsh, dry climate and are estimated to be about 900 years old. Do not damage them by climbing on them, or break branches off for firewood or keepsakes.
• The red dunes in the area has been formed over millions of years. Limit the shifting of sand down the dunes by following the trails of others, rather than sliding or running down, taking half the dune down with you.

The Deadvlei is located near the famous salt pan of Sossusvlei, in the Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia. It is a white clay pan, and its name means 'dead marsh.' The Dead Vlei is surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world, with a height that reaches 300-400 meters on average 350m, and it is named Big Daddy or Crazy Dune. The Dead Vlei was formed after the Tsauchab River flooded, and then creating temporary shallow pools where camel thorn trees where allowed to grow. But as the climate changed and the area was hit with extreme drought and the sand dunes blocked of the river preventing the water to get to the trees. The camel thorn trees died because of a lack of water. Some of the plant species survived as they adapted to the harsh climate by surviving of the morning mist and very rare rainfall. All that remains are the skeletons of the once flourished trees, which is believed to be 900 years old, and black from the scorching heat of the sun.

PERMITS:
Entry fees/permits are payable at Sesriem Gate/Sesriem Reception. Please do not drive off the road.

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