Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp
Sossusvlei, Namibia
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SOSSUSVLEI WILDERNESS CAMP -
SOSSUSVLEI, NAMIBIA
Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp is
situated 34 kilometres from Sesriem, the entrance to Sossusvlei within
the heart of Namibia's Namib Desert. This is one of the most remarkable
sites in the Namib-Naukluft National Park and the Namib Desert. Huge
towering dunes, the highest in the world, rise dramatically over 1000
feet above
the surrounding plains at Sossusvlei itself. The spectacle of changing
colours and the lonely Oryx silhouetted against red dunes is one which
visitors and photographers from around the world come to savour and capture
on film.
The camp is situated on the 21,000 hectare Kulala Wilderness
Reserve with wonderful desert scenery. It affords access to Sossusvlei,
but also offers privacy and exclusivity. The property harbours vast desert
plains and rugged mountains with views onto the dunes in the distance.
As this is a privately owned reserve, access is exclusive to residents.
Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp is owned and operated by Wilderness Safaris.
Accommodation 
For images of Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp, click Sossusvlei
Images
The camp is
built near the top of a mountain, using natural materials of
brick, rock, timber and
thatch, and provides a refuge from the desert. There are only nine
guest chalets, each with its own private plunge pool. The rooms are superbly
appointed and offer comfort and atmosphere. The en-suite bathrooms also
have panoramic views overlooking
the plains below and have hot and cold running water, showers and flush
toilets.
Chalet details:
There are nine chalets in total consisting of:
• 8 twin bedded chalets (2 can accommodate triples);
• 1 honeymoon chalet;
• 3 pilot/guide beds (1 single and 1 twin) which are not the same standard as a guest room.
This camp can accommodate 18 guests plus escort/guides.
• Rock brick, timber and thatch units built on the side of a mountain with exceptional views.
• All units have large glass fold-back windows overlooking the desert.
• En-suite shower (also with great views of the desert).
• Outside private plunge pool on each unit.
• Fans and large mosquito nets in rooms.
• Soap, shampoo and insect repellent are supplied in each room.
• Safe in each chalet.
Camp Details:
• Main unit under thatch.
• Large outside veranda area with views of the desert.
• Pub and dining area with small curio shop.
• Star gazing platform & open air dining deck under the stars.
Daily service is included; however, laundry facilities are limited due to a water shortage in the area.
The main area is under thatch with an outdoor deck where guests enjoy sundowners or dinner under the stars, while breakfasts are sometimes served under camel thorn trees amongst the dunes. The clear African night skies are viewed through a powerful telescope from the stargazing platform. The Namib is considered by many to be the finest star-gazing
area in Southern Africa.
Activities
Activities center
on early morning excursions in 4x4 vehicles to the magnificent Sossusvlei
dunes and the "vlei" itself
at the end of the Tsauchab River - a dry river bed that flows only in
years of exceptional rainfall. Hiking in the red sand dunes and among
the dead Camelthorns in Dead Vlei provides unbelievable photographic
opportunities. Those guests who are fit can attempt to climb "Big
Daddy",
one of the tallest dunes in the world - the views from the peak are amazing!
Depending on the temperature, breakfasts are served under the spreading
Camelthorn
acacias
in Sossusvlei
before
returning
to camp
in
the midday
via the nearby Sesriem Canyon.
• Full day excursions to Sossusvlei which include brunch at Sossuvlei and return to camp between 14h00 and 16h00 (note that it is a 1hr 30 minutes to 2 hour drive to the end of Sossusvlei).
• 3 closed Land Rovers and 1 open Land Rover. Blankets are provided on the vehicles when it is cold and windy.
• Hot Air balloon excursions at Sesriem (on request and at additional cost).
• Nature drives on the property.
• Nature walks on request.
• Aub River Trail which starts and ends at this camp.
• Optional night drive after dinner to look for Bat-eared Foxes and Aardwolf.
Afternoon and evening activities take
place on the private reserve - taking in the desert scenery and
its unique fauna and
flora.
Wonderful
early morning ballooning safaris are offered as an optional extra. For
guests on a three-night stay, an excursion to the rock pools of the Namib-Naukluft
Park is offered.
Wildlife and Environment
The camp is named after the nearby world-famous Sossusvlei, an enormous clay pan, flanked by the famous red sand dunes that stand out starkly against the blue sky. These dunes - the most well-known being Big Daddy or Dune 45 - have developed over millions of years, the wind continuously remodelling the contours of this red sand sea. The 'vlei' itself only fills after rare heavy rainfall when, in a complete turn-around, it becomes a spectacular turquoise lake. The camp offers easy access to Sossusvlei as well as privacy and exclusivity, so early morning excursions to the dunes and the vlei are most popular. Awe-inspiring ballooning safaris are at extra cost. Experienced guides bring the desert to life during nature drives and walks, with night drives producing sightings of nocturnal species.
Sossusvlei itself means 'the gathering place of water' in the local Nama language, and, odd as it may seem, in good years seasonal rains in the foothills of the Naukluft and Tsaris Mountains succeed in reaching the vleis, creating temporary lakes that mirror the sand dunes surrounding them. The vleis have evocative names such as Hidden Vlei and Dead Vlei, while the dunes rise up to 300 metres above the valley floor with razor-sharp edges that stand out against the blue sky.
Sossusvlei is situated within the Namib Desert which itself is part of the Namib Naukluft National Park that stretches 400km south of Walvis Bay and is sandwiched between the west coast and the escarpment that runs parallel more than 100km inland. Its huge red dunes and flat valley floors make up the archetypical view of the Namib that is world famous. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok eke out an existence and are sparsely distributed here. Larger predators include spotted hyaena and occasionally brown hyaena, an almost mystical shaggy-coated scavenger. Smaller creatures such as bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, porcupine, Cape fox and aardwolf can be seen at night in the cool desert air, and one bird, the aptly named Dune Lark, has its entire global distribution limited to the area, so dependent is it on the area's characteristic sands.
Despite the lack of vegetation and low rainfall, a surprisingly diverse array of insects, reptiles and rodents make their home here - surviving thanks in part to the coastal fog that creeps up off the sea each dawn and penetrates up to 50km inland. Shovel-snouted lizards with their peculiar thermoregulatory dance and tenebrionid beetles have all adapted to life here. Nocturnal explorations can reveal dancing white lady spiders and perhaps Grant's golden mole, a Namib Desert endemic.
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