From 1 May 2026, self-drive access to Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft Park in southern Namibia will be prohibited. This was announced yesterday by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT). Access will then only be permitted for the official shuttle service and tour guides from the surrounding lodges.
This applies to the approximately 5 km long off-road track from the sedan car park to Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei. It runs in the river bed of the Tsauchab Rivier (dry river) and consists of deep sand in some sections.
The shuttle service is offered by the concession holder, About Africa Co. It includes a guided tour to the highest dunes in the world. According to the most recent announcement, the tour costs 260 Namibian dollars per person (13.45 euros, amount at the current exchange rate; 1 ZAR = 1 N$). Children pay half price.
Besides About Africa Co., lodges in and around the Namib-Naukluft Park are permitted to offer tours to Sossusvlei for their overnight guests. Other companies, i.e., tour operators, will no longer have access from 1 May.
Criticism of lack of transparency
Dead Vlei, south of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert in south-central Namibia. Photo (2006): Sven-Eric Stender
The travel industry reacted with outrage to the announcement. Their criticism focused primarily on the monopoly granted to a single provider and the lack of transparency regarding the concession conditions.
The handling of the concession does indeed raise questions. About Africa Co. had already announced a closure of access to Sossusvlei twice. In both cases, MEFT halted the move following strong protests from the tourism industry (see the Namibian.org report).
In December 2025, MEFT still assured the public: "[T]he concession does not restrict self-drive visitors and Namibia Tourism Board-registered tour operators and lodges from accessing Sossusvlei at no cost."
Now, however, tour operators are explicitly excluded. Furthermore, MEFT states: "Self-driving by tourists beyond the 2x4 parking area will not be permitted. This is part of the Ministry's concession agreement [...]." The concession holder is stated as "Grow Namibia trading as About Adelt Sossusvlei Management."
Concession for nature and communities
In January 2024, MEFT awarded the concession for shuttle services from the sedan car parking area to Sossusvlei to About Africa Co. This concession apparently also permits the construction of a kiosk at the parking area. In addition, a campsite is to be built on the former farm 'Arbeid adelt' outside the dune field in the national park.
About Africa has previously justified a ban on self-drivers by citing the need to protect nature. They argued that self-drivers constantly create new tracks.
The Namib Desert in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, where Sossusvlei is located, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. This status is tied to conservation criteria. MEFT has long planned to strengthen environmental protection.
About Africa's concession has a term of 25 years. It stipulates that the operation must also benefit the communities of the !Karkhoen Nama and the town of Maltahöhe.
About Africa had promised these communities more than 100 million Namibian dollars. In terms of figures, this would translate to 4 million Namibian dollars per year.
Multi-lane off-road track from the sedan car parking area to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. Photo (2019): Sven-Eric Stender
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