Sossusvlei Scenic Flights

See the Namib Sand Sea From the Air

Standing at the foot of Big Daddy, you see one dune. From a light aircraft, you see the whole Namib Sand Sea: hundreds of star dunes running to the horizon, the white clay pan of Deadvlei set among them, and the dry Tsauchab River winding towards Sossusvlei. A Sossusvlei scenic flight is the only way to take in the full scale of the oldest desert on earth in a single morning.

We are a Namibian operator, and we fly guests over the Sossusvlei dunes two ways: as a full fixed-wing scenic flight from Swakopmund, or, for those staying in the Sossusvlei area, as a helicopter flight straight over the dunes from Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

What you see over Sossusvlei

From the air the dune field reads completely differently to the ground:

• The star dunes of the Sand Sea, whose shapes only make sense from above.
• Sossusvlei und Deadvlei, the clay pans ringed by some of the tallest dunes in the world.
• The Tsauchab River course and Sesriem Canyon, the thin green line and the crack in the plain.
• Tsondabvlei, a breeding area for the rare Lappet-faced Vulture, on the Swakopmund route.
• On the full route, the run back out to the Skelett-Küste und des Sandwich Harbour, where the same sand sea meets the Atlantic.

Seeing the desert meet the ocean on one flight is what makes the Namib different from any dune field on earth.

Two ways to fly

From Swakopmund (the full flight)

Our most popular option departs Swakopmund Airport, flies inland over the Kuiseb Canyon to the Sossusvlei dunes, then returns down the coast past the shipwrecks and Sandwich Harbour. It is roughly an hour to the dunes and an hour back, so you see the desert and the coast in one trip. Because the plane is private, the per-person price depends on your group: from N$7,000 per person at five passengers, up to N$35,000 to charter the plane on your own. This is the same aircraft and route detailed on our Swakopmund scenic flights page.

Helicopter flights from Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

If you are staying in the Sossusvlei area, you can fly straight over the dunes by helicopter, departing directly from Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. A helicopter flies low and slow over the sand and gets you angles on the star dunes, Deadvlei and Big Daddy that a fixed-wing pass cannot. There are three flights to choose from, all with a minimum of two guests.

60-Minute Sossusvlei Helicopter Scenic Flight

An hour over the dunes, straight from Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. You cross the mountains behind the lodge to reach the red dunes of the Namib, flying over the star dunes, the Devil’s Fork formation, and Deadvlei with its dead camel thorn trees standing on the white pan. The flight also takes in Big Daddy, one of the tallest dunes anywhere.

• Dauer: 60 minutes · N$15,750 per person (minimum 2 guests)

90-Minute Sossusvlei and Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight

The same start, taken all the way to the coast. From Sossusvlei Desert Lodge you cross the mountains to the Sossusvlei dunes, over the star dunes, Devil’s Fork, Deadvlei and Big Daddy, then carry on west across the sand sea. Where the desert runs out, you reach the point on the Skelett-Küste where the dunes meet the Atlantic.

• Dauer: 90 minutes · N$23,625 per person (minimum 2 guests)

150-Minute Ultimate Sossusvlei and Skeleton Coast Helicopter Safari

The full trip, desert and coast in one flight, and the longest helicopter option in the area. From Sossusvlei Desert Lodge you cross the mountains to the Sossusvlei dunes, over the star dunes, Devil’s Fork, Deadvlei and Big Daddy, then west across the Namib Sand Sea to the Atlantic. At the coast you turn north for a low pass over empty beaches and one of Namibia’s largest Cape fur seal colonies. The standout here is the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck, stranded well inland after years of shifting sand. The route back gives you the dune sea a second time from a different angle.

• Dauer: 150 minutes · N$39,375 per person (minimum 2 guests)

Scenic flight or balloon?

Both put you above the dunes at their best, and they are different experiences:

• Eine scenic flight covers huge distances, reaches Deadvlei and even the coast, and is the choice for scale and photography of the whole sand sea.
• Eine hot-air balloon drifts silently just above the dunes at sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast, and is the choice for atmosphere over distance.

If the balloon is what you had in mind, go straight to our hot air balloon over Sossusvlei page.

When to fly

Fly at sunrise if you can. Low light throws long shadows down the dune faces and turns the sand deep orange, exactly what the photographers come for. Our Sossusvlei photography guide covers the light in detail.

Plan the rest of your Sossusvlei trip

• Sossusvlei budget tour: the guided ground option.
• Best time to visit Sossusvlei
• How long to spend in Sossusvlei
• Swakopmund to Sossusvlei: the drive a flight can replace.

Want us to build a Sossusvlei flight into your itinerary? 

FAQ

Can you do a scenic flight over Sossusvlei? Yes. We fly light aircraft over Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and the Namib Sand Sea as a full flight from Swakopmund, and for guests already at the dunes we can arrange a helicopter flight over the dune field.

Can I fly over Sossusvlei if I’m already there? Yes. We run helicopter flights straight from Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, so you can fly over the dunes without returning to the coast. There are three options: a 60-minute flight over the Sossusvlei dunes and Deadvlei, a 90-minute flight that adds the Skeleton Coast, and a 150-minute safari that also takes in the Cape fur seal colony and the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck.

How long is a Sossusvlei scenic flight? The fixed-wing flight from Swakopmund is roughly an hour to the dunes and an hour back. A local helicopter flight over the dune field is shorter, since it skips the coastal transit.

How much does a Sossusvlei scenic flight cost? The fixed-wing flight from Swakopmund starts from N$7,000 per person at five passengers, since the plane is private and the price is shared across your group. The helicopter flights from Sossusvlei Desert Lodge are priced per person, minimum two guests: N$15,750 for 60 minutes, N$23,625 for 90 minutes, and N$39,375 for the 150-minute safari.

Is a scenic flight or a hot-air balloon better over Sossusvlei? A scenic flight covers more ground and reaches Deadvlei and the coast; a balloon gives a slow, silent sunrise drift close to the dunes. Many guests do one of each on a longer trip.

When is the best time for a Sossusvlei flight? Sunrise, for the low light and long shadows on the dunes.