Deadvlei | Walvis Bay

Information

Landmark: Deadvlei
City: Walvis Bay
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Deadvlei, Walvis Bay, Namibia, Africa

Deadvlei is a white clay pan characterized by a forest of ancient, desiccated camel thorn trees located within the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It is situated approximately 2 kilometers west of the Sossusvlei salt pan and 66 kilometers from the Sesriem park gate.

Visual Characteristics

The pan consists of a flat, bleached-white clay surface cracked into geometric patterns. It is populated by approximately 900-year-old skeletal Acacia erioloba trees that have turned black due to intense sun exposure. The basin is encircled by the world's highest sand dunes, including Big Daddy, which feature a deep iron-oxide orange-red coloration and sharp linear crests.

Location & Access Logistics

Access requires traveling 60 kilometers on a tarred road from the Sesriem gate to the 2x4 parking area. From there, a 4x4 vehicle is mandatory to traverse the remaining 4 kilometers of deep sand to the Deadvlei parking lot; a park shuttle is available for a fee. Reaching the clay pan requires a 1.1-kilometer hike over soft sand from the final parking area.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The pan formed when the Tsauchab River flooded, creating shallow pools that allowed camel thorn trees to grow. Approximately 600 to 900 years ago, shifting sand dunes blocked the river's path, causing the area to dry out. The trees died but did not decay because the environment is too arid for wood-decomposing organisms to survive.

Key Highlights & Activities

Photography is the primary activity, focusing on the contrast between the black trees, white clay, and red dunes. Visitors typically climb the lower slopes of Big Daddy to view the pan from above. Walking among the dead trees is permitted, though touching or climbing them is strictly prohibited to prevent damage.

Infrastructure & Amenities

There is no infrastructure within the vlei itself. A basic shaded area and pit toilets are located at the 4x4 parking terminus, 1.1 kilometers away. There are no food or water vendors at the site, and cell phone signal is entirely absent due to the surrounding high dunes.

Best Time to Visit

The optimal time for photography is at sunrise, specifically during the 15-minute window when the sun illuminates the red dunes in the background while the white pan remains in shadow. The winter months of June through August provide the most manageable hiking temperatures.

Facts & Legends

Despite their appearance, the trees are not petrified; they are simply sun-parched and preserved by the lack of moisture. A specific tip: the hike from the parking lot to the vlei is poorly marked; visitors should follow the existing footprints heading west-southwest to avoid getting disoriented in the dune troughs.