Opposition from tour operators has led to the postponement of a move to restrict self-drive 4x4 vehicles from accessing the flagship attractions of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei in Namibia.
About Africa Co, the sole operator designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) within the Sossusvlei Concession, issued a notice on December 1 that no self-drive visitors will be permitted beyond the 2x4 parking area from December 15. If the ban were implemented, only Namibia Tourism Board-registered operators and About Africa’s shuttle service would be permitted to use the 4x4 sand track leading to the attractions.
About Africa CEO Heiko Dörgeloh said the ban has subsequently been postponed following feedback from operators who requested more lead time.
“Following recent stakeholder input and engagement with MEFT, the implementation date has been postponed and self-drive access will remain unchanged until further notice, pending the release of an updated implementation schedule,” said Dörgeloh, adding this will be finalised and communicated in early 2026.
Dörgeloh said the proposed transition from unregulated self-drive access to a managed access system is based on environmental protection, track management and visitor safety – consistent with MEFT’s mandate and the provisions of the 2023 concession agreement.
“MEFT has, for several years, considered formalising a controlled-access system for the Deadvlei section as the volume of self-drive traffic has outpaced the area’s resilience and enforcement capacity,” Dörgeloh said.
He pointed to key concerns such as:
- Track widening and proliferation caused by off-track driving or attempts to bypass soft portions of the route
- Repeated disturbance of dune crusts, which form part of a fragile UNESCO World Heritage landscape
- Accelerated erosion from incorrect tyre pressures and loss of driving discipline in deep sand
Dörgeloh said there are frequent incidents of stuck vehicles and breakdowns caused by inexperienced sand driving.
“These challenges are longstanding and are directly acknowledged in the request for proposal issued by MEFT, which states that public access to Deadvlei must be controlled through the concessionaire with no self-driving tourists permitted on the final section,” Dörgeloh pointed out.
Public outcry includes concerns about a price increase for About Africa’s shuttles from N$200 (US$12) to N$260 (US$15).
Dörgeloh said he is aware of the perception, particularly among domestic tourists, that the self-drive ban is a money-making scheme.
“The pricing system is currently under joint review with MEFT following the postponement. Nothing will be implemented without MEFT’s approval,” he pointed out.
“We appreciate the responsibility that comes with communicating changes in such an iconic and sensitive part of Namibia’s tourism landscape. We will continue working with MEFT and the industry to ensure an orderly and well-understood transition,” Dörgeloh said.
