Roadtrip Namibia Part 2 | Lüderitz, Kolmanskop, Tirasbergen & Sossusvlei

around the country Namibia to get to know it is best to have a big one roadtrip be made, or a roadtrip which you divide into several pieces. This is part 2 of the roadtrip in which we will explore south-west Namibia! From the beautiful Orange River we head back north with a stop in the harbor town of Lüderitz, next to which is the beautiful abandoned mining town of Kolmanskop. A little further north we visit the beautiful Tiras Mountains and the world famous Sossusvlei. Later a 3rd part of the roadtrip being added!

Also read: Preparation trip to Namibia | Best travel time, packing list and more
Also read: Itineraries Namibia in 2, 3, 4 or 5 weeks | Must sees and example routes
Also read: Roadtrip Namibia (1) | Keetmanshoop, Fish River Canyon & Orange River
Also read: Roadtrip Namibia (2) | Lüderitz, Kolmanskop, Tirasbergen & Sossusvlei
Also read: Roadtrip Namibia (3) | Solitaire and Swakopmund

Table of contents

Lüderitz

After 125 kilometers with left the restricted area and on the right the Namib-Naukluft desert you arrive in the town Lüderitz† Lying on the Atlantic Ocean, this old fishing village with many German buildings is not often visited by tourists. Around the center are many pastel colored houses. The mornings are often foggy due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, but in the afternoon the sun comes out and it becomes pleasantly warmer. The harbor area has been rebuilt and looks modern with nice restaurants to eat in. Furthermore, the city is not really aimed at tourists. Fortunately, there is plenty to do in the vicinity of Lüderitz.

Luderitz Peninsula

The Peninsula is located a few kilometers outside of Lüderitz. This area on the Atlantic Ocean is very rugged and full of animals. To have a beautiful view of the city of Lüderitz go to Griffith Bay† Continue to Diaz Point, here in 1488 the first European came ashore. Here is a camping site and a small restaurant. The rocks nearby are inhabited by fur seals and seals.

Roadtrip south-west Namibia | Diaz Point with the restaurant and lighthouse

Continue to Halifax Island that in the Atlantic Ocean where you can't come by car. A large African penguin colony lives on this island. This can be seen from shore with binoculars or a zoom lens. If you want to get closer, you have to book a boat cruise where you can get close to the island. There are still several places you can go. Finally the Gross Bucht, here it is a paradise for windsurfers and kiteboarders. The conditions are perfect with especially a lot of wind.

Roadtrip south-west Namibia | The great African penguin colony on their own island

From Lüderitz there is the possibility to do excursions into the Sperrgebiet where, among other things, several diamond mines are still in operation. Also take a look at the beautiful Bogenfels which lies slightly south of Lüderitz in the Sperrgebiet.

Kolmanskop

Kolmanskop is a world famous ghost town and is a popular place for photographers and tourists. This was once the village of a local diamond mine. Since 1956, the mine was closed and turned into a ghost town. When the mine was still open, 350 people lived there who could enjoy all the luxury. The town had a bowling alley, refrigerators and a swimming pool. All this was already a lot by this time.

Roadtrip south-west Namibia | Sand so high that the door won't open

Now the town has been completely taken over by nature. Most houses are still complete, but in many the sand has found its way inside. This gives you a beautiful and unrealistic image that, together with the sun, creates beautiful scenes. To enter here you have to buy an entrance ticket as Kolmanskop is located in the Sperrgebiet. It is also only open until 13:00 PM with a guided tour at 9:30 and 11:00 which is included in the entrance fee. You can just walk around freely and take pictures wherever you want.

From

We go back 125 kilometers from Lüderitz to From where we make a stop at the desert horses. These wild horses live 20 kilometers west of Aus. Here is a small waterhole with a viewpoint where the desert horses can be seen regularly. Once every 5 days they come to drink at this watering place, so they are not seen very often. If you drive past it, stop to see if they might just be there. In the village of Aus there is nothing more than a small shop and gas station.

Tiras Mountains

Continue to the north. Here are beautiful roads with landscapes that you will not soon forget. So is the D707 one of the most beautiful where on your right the Tiras Mountains and on your left the orange colored dunes of the Namib desert† Stop here at one of the many lodges and farms that dot the area. As a result, stay in one of the most remote parts of Namibia where nature still completely prevails. Also don't forget the C27 en D407 drive to discover the beauty of Namibia sharing the road with other road users such as zebras, giraffes and orxies.

series

When talking about staying in Sossusvlei then it is usually about staying there I series† Here is the access to it Namib Naukluft National Park where Sossusvlei can be visited. In Sesriem there is a gas station and a small shop where you can get the essentials. To be the first to gain access to the national park in the morning, you must stay in the park. This allows you to set off for Sossusvlei an hour before the park opens. Sleep on the camping pitches of NWR in the park or the Sossus Dune Lodge from NWR. If you sleep outside, you have to wait until sunrise before you can enter the park. The last 5 kilometers can only be driven with a 4×4. Don't try, you won't be the first to get stuck in the deep sand after 5 meters.

Sesriem Canyon

About 4 kilometers outside Sesriem you can take the Sesriem Canyon find. It is 30 meters deep and formed by the Tsauchab River† You can only look up, but there is also the option to hike down and walk through the canyon. If there has just been a good rainy season, there is a possibility that there is still water in the canyon. This was the case in April 2021, but by July 2021 all the water was gone. If there is water, do not hesitate and put on your bathing suit and go for a swim in this very special and rare water.

Roadtrip south-west Namibia | Sesriem Canyon in July 2021

Dune 45

Approximately after 45 kilometers from the national park gate, on the left is one of the park's most famous dunes. It is close to the road and therefore easy to reach. If you sleep in the park and leave an hour earlier, drive here and walk up the dune and watch the sunrise from here. Please note: this is the most famous dune and you will not be alone during busy times.

deadadvlei

Many find deadadvlei more beautiful than Sossusvlei yourself. To experience the most special experience, you can visit the dune Big Daddy climb up. This is the highest dune in the desert and therefore particularly recognizable. Within 45 minutes you will be at the top to have a beautiful view from here. After that you can run down the dune to deadadvlei† For those who don't want to walk that long, you can follow the 1 kilometer long hiking trail to Deadvlei.

Roadtrip south-west Namibia | The world famous Deadvlei

Deadvlei is an old salt pan that has dried up. Only the skeletons of the trees are still standing and have become the figurehead of Namibia. There has been no rain here for hundreds of years, making it extremely dry and extremely hot during the day, even in winter. So go here before 11am and after 3pm.

Sossusvlei

Opposite Deadvlei is the well-known Sossusvlei. Most of the time there is a white salt pan here, but once every few years there is so much rain that the river continues here and there is water in Sossusvlei. The last time this happened was in 2011, so the joy was great when in 2021 the water also reached Sossusvlei. As a result, various water birds such as flamingos returned to the further sandy landscape.

Hiddenvlei & Naravlei

Hiddenvlei en Naravlei are next to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and are much less known but also beautiful. Hiddenvlei can be reached after 2 kilometers from the parking lot and looks very much like deadvlei. Naravlei looks a lot like Sossusvlei again. Both are worth a visit in my opinion if you have the time!