Report a problem

What is the problem?

Could not attach a screenshot — send without it

Namibia restores self-drive access to Deadvlei amid concession dispute

17.06.2026 04:15 1 min 3 sources
Travelnews ENG + 2 more
Namibia restores self-drive access to Deadvlei amid concession dispute
Original source: Travelnews

In Brief

Namibia's Ministry of Environment has reversed a ban on self-drive access to Deadvlei, introduced in May 2024. Visitors with 4x4s can now enter independently, but the concessionaire contests the decision, and the tourism industry fears a monopoly.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism of Namibia has reversed its decision restricting self-drive access to Deadvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park. According to a notice dated 2 May 2026, visitors with 4x4 vehicles and guides registered with the Namibia Tourism Board may drive in. Buses and trucks remain prohibited.

Previously, from 1 May 2024, self-drive was banned: movement between the 2×4 and 4×4 parking areas (Deadvlei) was allowed only for About Adelt Sossusvlei Management shuttles and lodge guides. The concessionaire awarded the shuttle contract contests the ministry's new decision, asserting its contractual rights remain valid. Tourism industry representatives expressed concerns about a potential monopoly and its impact on small businesses and pricing.

Aggregated by OpenVan.camp from the public sources listed below, with AI-assisted translation and summary. We always link to the original source. Machine translation may differ from the original -- check the source for important details. Images and content remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright information

Story sources

Namibia restores self-drive access to Deadvlei

11.06.2026 Travelnews ENG Original source

Namibia restores self-drive access to Deadvlei

09.06.2026 Southern & East African Tourism Update ENG Original source

Deadvlei access limited to a few shuttle operators

15.04.2026 The Namibian ENG Original source

🇳🇦 Namibia — fuel prices

Updated: 20.06.2026

Diesel

$1.70 /l

NAD28.26 · €1.50/l

79 of 132

pricier than 59% of countries

Petrol

$1.42 /l

NAD23.48 · €1.25/l

64 of 134

cheaper than 53% of countries

Popular route

Distance

Fuel cost

~

Est. time

~

Quiz: test yourself
Guess the vanlife lingo — 3 quick questions
1 / 3
Q1 When is a hardstanding pitch especially useful?

Best cities in the coming days

Katima Mulilo +25°·39 km/h
92
Rundu +27°·39 km/h
90
Tsumeb +26°·42 km/h
90
Ndiyona +26°·35 km/h
90
Grootfontein +25°·47 km/h
89
Avoid now
Omaruru +27°·50 km/h
73
Katutura +23°·62 km/h
77

You May Be Interested

All News

South Korea passes law banning unauthorized parking of motorhomes

South Korea's National Assembly has passed a bill prohibiting the unauthorized long-term parking of motorhomes and travel trailers in public parking lots. The law, proposed by lawmaker Jeong Jun-ho, establishes a basis for imposing fines. The move addresses growing complaints from residents about such vehicles occupying spaces for months in residential areas.

German Federal Fiscal Court: Luxury motorhome sales can be tax-exempt

Germany's highest fiscal court has ruled that the short-term resale of expensive motorhomes is not necessarily subject to speculation tax. The decision stems from a case where a Saxon couple sold a motorhome for €315,000 a few months after purchase. The court classified the motorhome as an item for personal use, which is an exception to the one-year tax rule for private sales.

News from Namibia

All News
NA Namibia

10-Day Namibia Itinerary: From a Hilton Suite to a Desert Cabin With No Wi-Fi

Traveler Sandra Awodele shared her experience organizing a 10-day mid-luxury trip to Namibia. She used Go2 shuttle service instead of renting a car, stayed at Gondwana lodges, and received an upgrade to the Diplomatic Suite at Hilton Windhoek thanks to Hilton Gold status. Mobile signal was absent for three to four days in the desert, requiring offline maps and flexible arrival planning.

NA Namibia

Mercedes-Benz Classe V Marco Polo: comfort and equipment

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the Classe V Marco Polo camper van, focusing on comfort and functionality. The model features a compact kitchen with two burners, a dishwasher, and a fridge, along with two sleeping areas with ergonomic mattresses. It includes AIRMATIC air suspension, an MBUX system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and a suite of safety assistants. The starting price is €30,260.

Install OpenVan.camp

Get quick access and offline reading.

Install on iOS

  1. 1 Tap Share in Safari.
  2. 2 Choose "Add to Home Screen".
  3. 3 Confirm by tapping Add.

Already installed

The app is already installed on this device.

Install from browser menu

Use your browser menu to install or add to home screen.

→ Glossary