---
type: "Article"
title: "Impressive Sesriem Canyon at Sossusvlei park entrance"
description: "Recommendable experience: Visit the Sesriem Canyon near the main entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/namibia/sesriem-canyon-sossusvlei"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 9
tags: ["Nature", "Namibia"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/namibia"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/review"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lodge"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:29:36+00:00
---

# Impressive Sesriem Canyon at Sossusvlei park entrance

> Sesriem Canyon is a dramatic 3-kilometer gorge near the entrance to Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia, where the Tsauchab River has carved 30 meters into ancient rock over 30 million years.

## Destination
Near the main entrance to Namib-Naukluft National Park, close to Sossusvlei, Namibia.

## When to go
Visit around noon when the sun shines directly down onto the dried riverbed, illuminating the canyon walls — unlike most desert excursions, an early start is not necessary here.

## What to see
- **Sesriem Canyon gorge** — A gorge just under 3 km long and up to 30 meters deep, carved by the Tsauchab River, with impressive rock walls and occasional residual pools after heavy rain.
- **Rock reflections in water** — After rainfall, water collects in pools at the end of the gorge and fascinatingly reflects the canyon walls.

## What to do
- **Walk through the canyon** — Descend into and walk along the dried riverbed — a guide can provide geological context along the way.

## Good to know
The name 'Sesriem' means 'six straps' in Afrikaans, referencing early settlers who tied six oryx-hide straps together to draw water from the canyon when other sources dried up. Nearby Little Kulala Lodge is noted as a suitable base.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sossusvlei-namibia-travelmemo-14.jpg"
    caption: "Link zu Walters Review der Dünen und toten Bäume von Sossusvlei"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo.jpg"
    caption: "Sesriem-Canyon vom Parkplatz aus"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-2.jpg"
    caption: "Walter vor dem Abstieg in den Sesriem Canyon"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-3.jpg"
    caption: "Walter beim Abstieg"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-7.jpg"
    caption: "Walter mit Guide Gabriel im Sesriem-Canyon"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-8.jpg"
    caption: "Sesriem Canyon um die Mittagszeit"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-12.jpg"
    caption: "Sesriem Canyon"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-10.jpg"
    caption: "Sesriem Canyon"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sesriem-canyon-namibia-travelmemo-9.jpg"
    caption: "Restwasser nach Regenfällen"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
```