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Namibia
Erongo Region
Swakopmund
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Welwitschia Plains
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Welwitschia Plains

See all things to do
See all things to do
Welwitschia Plains
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
406 reviews
Excellent
191
Very good
134
Average
66
Poor
10
Terrible
5
YolandaBurger
Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa22 contributions
Lovely plants, not accesable without 4x4
Aug 2022
Very interesting drive from Swakopmund to view the Welwitchia planes. I'm leaving this review so people will know that you can not drive all the way there without a 4x4 vehicle. The dirt road is really bad after the moon landscape turnoff, and we had to turn around without reaching the final destination. However, we did see some plants next to the road before we had to turn around. We really tried to keep going for as far as possible, but it was just too dangerous as the car was shaking so much. Rather use a guided tour company if you do not have a 4 wheel drive vehicle. By the way, we easily reached the moon landscape viewpoints, and even the oasis, without any problems.
Permit was easy to get in Swakopmund, took less than 5 minutes.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gideon_Lam
Singapore, Singapore229 contributions
Fascinating plant. It was worth the drive.
Mar 2020
It was worth the 50km drive to spot this plant that is endemic to Namibia. I learnt that it is a prehistoric plant. Bring sunscreen and hat to protect yourself from the hot plant. Bring a jacket as it has strong winds there. My guide Uwe Kessler is very knowledgeable and thus it was a informative and wonderful trip. He was a good driver too so everything went smooth.
Written 20 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane N
London, UK970 contributions
Very unusual plant
Sep 2019
This plant is a must-see and features in Namibia's coat of arms. It is endemic to the Namib desert within Namibia and Angola. Research suggests they can live for over 1,000 years. Though their leaves can spread for several metres across and their roots over a metre down, it is still a mystery how they obtain water. Young plants are rare as they only germinate when the conditions are perfect in years of exceptional rain.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aaron95
Cheshire79 contributions
Fascinating plants in a beautiful part of the world
Nov 2019
The plants are utterly fascinating. The desert around the area is also beautiful and well worth the hour or so it takes to drive out there from Swakopmund.

One thing to be aware of - you need a permit to enter the national park. They are available in Swakumond We didn't know this and got stopped by the police. The fine was $2400 so an expensive mistake to make. There were no signs warning of this (we checked on the way back).
Written 16 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael
4 contributions
Kalahari Axarob Tours
Sep 2019 • Couples
Very interesting as it includes a history tour to which related to the ox wagons trucks and the left overs of the first world war.
Written 22 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terrence H
Awali, Bahrain61 contributions
The old lady
Aug 2019 • Family
Take the round trip from Swakopmund to the Welwitschia plans were an incredible site of these old plants can be seen. Some of them range between 1000 and 1500 years old.

Take care and tread lightly as they are fragile and most of their water they source via their two big leaves due to the dessert mist.

After leaving this field it is recommended to do the round trip and visit the moon landscape which is also an imcediable site to see. Strange moonscape of undulating hills. Worth the trip.
Written 11 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephan
Centurion, South Africa43 contributions
Namibia tour
Jun 2019 • Family
Never arrived. The roads leading to the main view point is horrible. Badly corrugated dirt roads. We had to turn around and take photos at one of the smaller versions. Still an amazing plant.
Written 8 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon K
Swakopmund, Namibia9 contributions
Awesome. Local is lekker
Jun 2019
Each time is a super AwesomE trip. You need to visit this. Our pride and joy of the coast of Namibia
Written 3 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary
Knysna, South Africa36 contributions
Worth the drive...amazing scenery!
May 2019 • Couples
It seems like forever to get to the Oldest Welwitschia but when you look at it you can appreciate the age and survival of this particular plant...worth the drive! Do the loop to the "moonscape".
Written 16 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DianevanVuuren
Durban, South Africa199 contributions
A lovely days outing.
Jun 2019 • Friends
Definitely worth the drive to see the Welwitschia plains - fascinating plants. We were fortunate to see a good number of these plants after having driven for a couple of hours.
Written 10 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Welwitschia Plains (Swakopmund) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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