Big Daddy is the tallest dune in the Sossusvlei area and
stands at a towering 325m, way higher than the surrounding dunes. Carry plenty of water and then once you make
it to the top enjoy the magnificent views of Dead Vlei below, you will have
earned it! It can take between 1.5 and 2 hours to summit so make sure you are
prepared, we recommend starting early as it will get hotter as the day
progresses. It may take a long time to reach the top but your descent will take
just minutes as you ”˜run’ down the dune.
Dune 45 is a popular choice for a climb. It gets its name as it is 45km from the Sesriem
gate. As one of the closest to the
entrance and easiest to get to, it is one of the most climbed and also most
photographed of dunes. Compared to Big
Daddy this is a small dune at only 170m high, but don’t let this fool you, it’s
always a challenge and it has a sneaky surprise, once you think you’ve reached
the summit, there’s a dip before the actual top. Arrive early and you can see the sunrise over
Dune Valley, a view to remember.
One thing we can be certain of is that the way down a dune
is much easier and quicker than the way up. Try to keep to the shady side tough,
as the sand will be cooler.
Our top tips are to start early, carry plenty of water and
take a camera for capturing the awe-inspiring scenery.
There are many dunes to climb, stick to the main ones where it's known to be safe to climb. Dune 45 and Big Daddy are the most coveted.
You can climb anytime of year, but we think it best to avoid the hottest months (December, January) and also start your climb as early as possible, the sand soon gets hot as the day heats up.
As a self-driver you can make your own way to the dunes, they are signposted, and begin your climb, there will most likely be others attempting it at the same time. Often the nearby lodges organise trips into the park and will stop off while members of the party make the climb.
A high quality small group guided holiday travelling by road and air to some of Namibia's highlights.