The last stretch into Sossusvlei is 5 km of soft sand, and for a few weeks in 2026 it looked as though only an official shuttle would be allowed across it. That rule did not last. Here is what the shuttle costs, when it runs, and how the self-drive option works now.

Can you still drive to Deadvlei yourself?

Yes. A rule announced on 15 April 2026 restricted the sandy final section to the concessionaire shuttle and registered guides from 1 May, but on 2 May 2026 the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism issued a new notice: self-drivers in a 4×4 may continue past the 2×4 car park to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, and the shuttle is optional (per Inside Namibia’s May 2026 update). Buses and trucks are barred from the final stretch. Our guide to Sossusvlei’s final five kilometres covers how that rule came about. Since the Sesriem gate opening time decides when you reach this point, plan the two together.

What the shuttle costs and when it runs

The shuttle is run by the park concessionaire, About Africa, not by Desert Tracks. Its fare was listed at N$250 per adult and N$125 per child under 12 in May 2026 (earlier guides quote N$200), and pricing may change, so confirm before you go. It runs continuously from about 06:00 to 17:00 (MAT Travel). There is no published timetable: you buy a ticket at the 2×4 car park, wait for the next departure, and do the same at the pickup point to come back.

The 5 km sand track and the walk at the end

Beyond the 2×4 car park the track to Sossusvlei is 5 km of soft sand, the part a 2×4 cannot manage. From the 4×4 car park it is about a 1 km walk over a dune to Deadvlei itself, whether you drove or took the shuttle. If you are weighing a 2×4 against a 4×4 for the whole trip, our guide to whether you need a 4×4 in Namibia covers the wider decision.

Doing it as part of a self-drive

Sossusvlei is a fixed point on many a Namibia self-drive route. Aim to arrive at first light and carry water for the walk. If you would rather not drive the sand, the shuttle takes the one genuinely technical section out of the day.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Sossusvlei shuttle?

It was listed at N$250 per adult and N$125 per child under 12 in May 2026, run by the park concessionaire, About Africa. Pricing may change, so confirm before you go.

Can you still drive to Deadvlei yourself in 2026?

Yes. A rule that restricted the final stretch to the shuttle and registered guides from 1 May 2026 was superseded by a new Ministry notice on 2 May, so 4×4 self-drivers may continue past the 2×4 car park to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Buses and trucks are barred from the final stretch.

How far is the walk from the 4×4 car park to Deadvlei?

About 1 km on foot over a dune. Whether you self-drive or take the shuttle, the last part is always walked.

What time does the shuttle run?

Continuously through the day, roughly 06:00 to 17:00. There is no published timetable: you wait at the pickup point for the next departure.