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Big Daddy Dune
Big Daddy Dune
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Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Dewald R
    Cape Town Central, South Africa3,293 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Achievement
    The Big Daddy Dune in Sossusvlei is massive, and I completely underestimated it. The climb was quite difficult, as it's dune sand all the way from the bottom to the top. We took it slow (just over an hour to the summit) and often paused to rest and take in the views. Reaching the top is definitely worth it as a sense of achievement washes over you. From here, you have breathtaking views of Sossusvlei, as well as the seemingly endless sea of dunes stretching out before you. To descend, you have multiple options, with most opting for the straight down route towards Deadvlei. We ended up deciding to go straight down and it was a lot of fun, and very exhilarating as you move quite quickly. It is however good to note that this option is potentially risky and not for everyone. At the bottom, we headed back through Deadvlei towards the main Sossusvlei area. If you're planning on visiting Deadvlei as well, I highly recommend climbing Big Daddy first. I have climbed multiple dunes in the past, but Big Daddy was special. It was one of the highlights of my trip through Namibia and something I will never forget!
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 4 February 2024
  • nickiBH
    559 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    stunning
    As I wrote in my other review about Sossusvlei in general, we got up early before sunrise, lined up at gate then changed into 4x4 shuttle..make sure you bring masks if you don't like the sand on the way as the traffic can be quite busy too...both ways. . For our family, we enjoyed the place according to our individual abilities. Two climbed the Big Daddy (300m+) (45min - 1 hr to go up....depending on people traffic :).....quite a few hikers taking their time...nonetheless it was good to occassionally stop to admire neighbouring dunes dwarfed by Big Daddy....to come down was also much fun.....to just run down (not as dangerous as it seemed because the sand helped positioning the feet anyway....)....and down in less than 20 min to meet others in the Deadvlei, where the 900+years old ancient dead trees were. Those waiting on the flat Deadvlei wouldn't be bored as there were lots of photo opportunities, with the black dead trees on the white pan, against the red dunes, below the blue cloudless sky....all seem to be surreal or photoshoped but they are real and natural.... No hiking shoes are required....in fact not helpful at all but hindering you if you run downhill afterwards.....
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 August 2024
  • Jan
    Oss, The Netherlands14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see, hike is doable for kids too
    We camped at sesriem Oshana and did a self drive to this dune (approx 1 h) once the gates opened (approx 6:00 am). Somewhere halfway you will be asked / appointed to park your vehicle and get in a tour vehicle, which you have to pay for (don’t know how much). However, if you feel comfortable to drive the last part in deep sand yourself just kindly refuse as we did and proceed (a 4x4 is required, but it’s quite easy to do - just keep accelerating) through to gate. At arrival the sun was still behind the other dunes and therefore the hike was not too hot yet. Nevertheless bring enough water. The hike is a little tough, but we managed to make it to the highest top with 2 young kids (age 6&9). Just take your time and breaks. The view at the top on deadvlei on one side and the remaining desert on the other is very rewarding. We decided to glide down all the way right into deadvlei, especially nice for the kids.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 16 August 2024
  • JP_and_Maria
    Sofia, Bulgaria561 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you climb one dune in the park, make it this one!
    We stayed at the Sesriem Oshana campsite for a night. We had our private bathroom, a shelter, and a sink. It was clean, slightly noisy in the evening, though. Near this campsite there is a public one which doesn't have private bathrooms, as well as a lodge (it was unfortunately full, so we stayed at the campsite). The advantage of staying at the campsite is that you can enter the park around one hour before sunrise and exit it one hour after sunset (people staying outside the park can only enter at sunrise and should exit at sunset). The sunrise was at 7am that day, so we were told to be at the gate at 6.15am. We arrived at 5.50am and were the second car waiting for the second gate to open. However, afterwards, we were overtaken by almost all cars as the speed limit is 60km/h, and we seemed to be the only guys respecting the speed limit. It was still worth it to be amongst the first to arrive and climb the dunes in early morning. At 11am, it was already crazily hot. We drove until the end (around 50 min, we didn't stop at Dune 45 on the way there), parked our car, and took one of the 4WD shuttles for the last 5 km (200 NMD per person). We climbed Big Daddy, which is the highest dune of the park, with amazing views of the surrounding dunes, Deadvlei, the mountains, and the ocean. It was slightly challenging but worth it. We ran down to Deadvlei from Big Daddy, and it was so much fun. Listen for the noise of the sand, it's amazing. We wore our diving shoes, which was the best decision ever. People wore sneakers and walking shoes, and I think most were spoiled by the sand… Barefoot didn't seem reasonable as there were beetles, sharp grass, and lizards in the sand. Down at Deadvlei, we walked around to see the beautiful trees and headed back. On the way back we stopped at Dune 45 but didn't climb it as it was not worth it after Big Daddy (this is also a very touristic place where people are taking pictures and a lower dune than Big Daddy, much less impressive). We also stopped at a viewpoint. In the late afternoon, we went for a 1-hour hike at Sesriem Canyon, and the golden hour colours on the rocks were stunning (the ticket for the park allowed us to stay 24 hours in the park). The previous day, we climbed Elim Dune for the sunset - it was quite hard as the dune is not that high but is very large. The following morning, we saw the park from a hot air balloon at Namib Sky Balloon Safaris - not the dunes but some amazing mountains, the views were spectacular. 
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 September 2024
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles549 reviews
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Rainer
Celle, Germany323 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Family
Started in the morning on time at the lodge before sunrise with a small group and lodge staff, we were early and not yet in the heat at the dune Big Daddy. On the ascent (quite exhausting) it got much warmer. The climb takes about 50 to 60 minutes. A great view and a fresh breeze compensated for the effort. Down we went quickly barefoot directly into the deadvlej (5 minutes for 360 meters steeply down). Make sure to plan enough water and sturdy footwear for the ascent. Good fitness is required.
Automatically translated
Written 1 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dewald R
Cape Town Central, South Africa3,293 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
The Big Daddy Dune in Sossusvlei is massive, and I completely underestimated it. The climb was quite difficult, as it's dune sand all the way from the bottom to the top. We took it slow (just over an hour to the summit) and often paused to rest and take in the views. Reaching the top is definitely worth it as a sense of achievement washes over you. From here, you have breathtaking views of Sossusvlei, as well as the seemingly endless sea of dunes stretching out before you. To descend, you have multiple options, with most opting for the straight down route towards Deadvlei. We ended up deciding to go straight down and it was a lot of fun, and very exhilarating as you move quite quickly. It is however good to note that this option is potentially risky and not for everyone. At the bottom, we headed back through Deadvlei towards the main Sossusvlei area. If you're planning on visiting Deadvlei as well, I highly recommend climbing Big Daddy first. I have climbed multiple dunes in the past, but Big Daddy was special. It was one of the highlights of my trip through Namibia and something I will never forget!
Written 5 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julien666
Ivry-sur-Seine, France177 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2024 • Family
Clearly one of the most beautiful moments of our tour in Namibia.
The ascent of this gigantic dune, then the descent on Dead Vlei is just magical, unique, incomparable with what you can usually do on a trip.
Be careful, it's still quite physical, whether it's uphill or downhill (it's very very steep). You can "have fun" climbing the dune if you feel able to, but you must keep strength for the descent and other dunes to climb in the park. Even in the "winter" period, the sun beats very hard, expect rather in the early morning or late afternoon but it takes time so manage your time well because the park closes early (18h15).
Automatically translated
Written 26 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan
Oss, The Netherlands14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2024 • Family
We camped at sesriem Oshana and did a self drive to this dune (approx 1 h) once the gates opened (approx 6:00 am). Somewhere halfway you will be asked / appointed to park your vehicle and get in a tour vehicle, which you have to pay for (don’t know how much). However, if you feel comfortable to drive the last part in deep sand yourself just kindly refuse as we did and proceed (a 4x4 is required, but it’s quite easy to do - just keep accelerating) through to gate.
At arrival the sun was still behind the other dunes and therefore the hike was not too hot yet. Nevertheless bring enough water. The hike is a little tough, but we managed to make it to the highest top with 2 young kids (age 6&9). Just take your time and breaks. The view at the top on deadvlei on one side and the remaining desert on the other is very rewarding. We decided to glide down all the way right into deadvlei, especially nice for the kids.
Written 16 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brittany_11_10
Los Angeles, CA1,856 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
...is the same as the air at the bottom, but the views are better from the top! The walk was maybe 30-40 minutes, nice in the early evening when the sand was a little cooler (especially when you plunge your heels in deep), and the temps lower than at midday. Thought Dune 45 was actually longer? Not sure. Maybe we were just warmed up after Dune 45, so Big Daddy seemed easier...

Anyway, definitely worth the walk for the stunning views!
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gustova_69
Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia3,680 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
The Namib Desert in Sossusvlei Nature Reserve is considered the oldest desert in the world. The giant dunes located on it are among the largest in the world. They were formed under the influence of winds. It took this persistent builder millions of years to shape them into clearly defined figures. The wind constantly moves the sand, changing the height and shape of the sand giants. One of the largest dunes is Big Papa, its height is 325 meters, the largest dune is considered to be dune No. 7, its height reaches 388 meters.
Google
Written 3 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nickiBH
Hong Kong559 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2024 • Family
As I wrote in my other review about Sossusvlei in general, we got up early before sunrise, lined up at gate then changed into 4x4 shuttle..make sure you bring masks if you don't like the sand on the way as the traffic can be quite busy too...both ways. . For our family, we enjoyed the place according to our individual abilities. Two climbed the Big Daddy (300m+) (45min - 1 hr to go up....depending on people traffic :).....quite a few hikers taking their time...nonetheless it was good to occassionally stop to admire neighbouring dunes dwarfed by Big Daddy....to come down was also much fun.....to just run down (not as dangerous as it seemed because the sand helped positioning the feet anyway....)....and down in less than 20 min to meet others in the Deadvlei, where the 900+years old ancient dead trees were. Those waiting on the flat Deadvlei wouldn't be bored as there were lots of photo opportunities, with the black dead trees on the white pan, against the red dunes, below the blue cloudless sky....all seem to be surreal or photoshoped but they are real and natural....

No hiking shoes are required....in fact not helpful at all but hindering you if you run downhill afterwards.....
Written 13 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maksim B
London, UK3,452 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Friends
Climbing the Big Daddy Dune was a much bigger challenge than we had thought. Not sure if due to the tequila the night before or due to the fact that the sand was feeling so soft versus climbing a normal mountain, but it was exhausting. Still once you are up there, the view is mesmerising! It is worth every single effort.Then you get rewarded with having a really fun going downhill, being in sand up till your knees and finishing at the Deadvlei.

An important tip is: start climbing it as early as possible, this will give you time to enjoy also Deadvlei without having the heatwave of the pre-noon and noon hours frying you.
Written 28 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

G2144WQ
25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2022
This was one of the best things we did on our month-long trip. The views from the top are incredible. And it's a MUCH easier climb than Dune 45 (and Dune 45 also has terrible views, so if you're only going to climb one, make it Big Daddy).

Make sure you don't follow the crowds (who are taking a much longer route than necessary). Walk from the car park through the pan to the left and then start the climb when you can see the ridge straight to the top.

Also, we made the mistake of walking to Deadvlei first. Don't! Climb Big Daddy, get the views over Deadvlei, and then run down the dune (it looks vertical but is SO much fun) and walk through Deadvlei back to the car park. It's magical.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane Doe
Lower Saxony, Germany275 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
I've been here several times. Walking up Big Daddy is strenuous. Make sure you pack enough water and sunscreen. On the leeward side there is a level area that you can follow at first, so that you don't have to walk on sand all the time. However, it gets a bit steeper at the end.
The effort is worth it. The view is amazing. You discover things that you don't necessarily expect. And you're usually alone up there.
It's best to walk up very early. Duration: approx. 2 hours round trip
Google
Written 4 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Big Daddy Dune - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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