Its source is in the southern Naukluft Mountains, from where it flows westwards through the Namib-Naukluft National Park into Sossusvlei, an endorheic basin.

The lower river has in the past had a slightly different courses and also formed two other basins, the Deadvlei and the Hiddenvlei.

[2] Since it is in the Namib Desert, the Tsauchab carries water only during the rare times when rain falls in the Naukluft Mountains and runs off, since it cannot seep into the soil fast enough (see flash flood).

Past the canyon, the Tsauchab flattens and grows broader, and is surrounded by a riparian forest as it slopes towards the Sossusvlei salt pan.

[3] Sossusvlei, Sesriem Canyon and the high sand dunes between the two are some of Namibia's major tourist attractions.