Best Time to Visit Namibia
Warm sunshine, clear skies, and mild evening temperatures make September the ideal month to explore Namibia. Because of the scarcity of water supplies, animals congregate around waterholes, providing excellent opportunities for game viewing.
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Georgie, Botswana, Namibia Specialist
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO VISIT NAMIBIA | Travel Guide
Month-by-month guide for traveling in Namibia
Visiting Namibia in January
Summer has officially begun in Namibia. Humidity is common, and temperatures can soar to 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert and 86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit elsewhere. Although afternoon thunderstorms are possible, they do not occur daily. The weather is typically clear in the mornings and rainy in the late afternoons.
Events & Festivals
- In the summer, from November to February, birdwatchers can see more than 450 kinds of birds in the Caprivi Strip, making it the ideal time to visit if you’re interested in birding.
- Thousands of flamingos congregate in Swakopmund lagoons throughout the summer months (November–February), making it the ideal time to witness a flamboyance of flamingos.
Visiting Namibia in February
Hot and muggy days with the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms are typical, much like January.
Events & Festivals
- In the summer, from November to February, birdwatchers can see more than 450 kinds of birds in the Caprivi Strip, making it the ideal time to visit if you’re interested in birding.
- Thousands of flamingos congregate in Swakopmund lagoons throughout the summer months (November–February), making it the ideal time to witness a flamboyance of flamingos.
Visiting Namibia in March
As soon as it stops raining, temperatures drop and precipitation levels drop as well. The days are warm and sunny, reaching 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but the nights are getting chilly again, with lows of about 59 degrees.
Visiting Namibia in April
Daytime highs should fall to about 77 degrees Fahrenheit by April, and the rain should have ceased by then as well. Even though the desert can be cooler, nighttime lows can reach 55°F.
Visiting Namibia in May
It is in May that the winter season in Namibia begins. Humidity is low and rainfall is minimal throughout the winter. The depletion of rivers and other water sources causes wildlife to congregate around waterholes.
Visiting Namibia in June
Temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, and in arid regions, they can reach subfreezing. However, throughout the day, you can enjoy balmy temperatures in the 70s Fahrenheit under partly cloudy skies.
Visiting Namibia in July – August
The winter months often fall in July and August. Warm clothes are a must for game drives in open vehicles; the temperature can drop to freezing points. Highs range from 70 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Even in the desert, temperatures at night can drop below freezing, with lows of 45°F.
Visiting Namibia in September
The most popular season to visit Namibia is in the beautiful month of September. Humidity is still low and temperature is just right, so it’s a perfect temperature for relaxing. The skies are clear and the weather is dry.
Visiting Namibia in October
In October, the verdant foliage begins to wither as the temperature begins to rise. Due to the unusually dry weather, this is an ideal time to watch a sporting event. Daytime highs can reach 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and the desert is significantly hotter.
Visiting Namibia in November
November brings very high temperatures with little humidity. The heat index keeps climbing. The average high during the day is over 86 degrees Fahrenheit. As the afternoon progresses, a possibility of precipitation increases as clouds gather.
Events & Festivals
- In the summer, from November to February, birdwatchers can see more than 450 kinds of birds in the Caprivi Strip, making it the ideal time to visit if you’re interested in birding.
- Thousands of flamingos congregate in Swakopmund lagoons throughout the summer months (November–February), making it the ideal time to witness a flamboyance of flamingos.
Visiting Namibia in December
Typically, December is when we see the first rains, and the temperature drops along with them. After the first rains, the environment undergoes a metamorphosis as vegetation grows and animals disperse in search of new water sources.
Events & Festivals
- In the summer, from November to February, birdwatchers can see more than 450 kinds of birds in the Caprivi Strip, making it the ideal time to visit if you’re interested in birding.
- Thousands of flamingos congregate in Swakopmund lagoons throughout the summer months (November–February), making it the ideal time to witness a flamboyance of flamingos.
Best Time to Visit Namibia
Wildlife viewing peaks between June and October
Visiting Botswana at any time of year is a fantastic idea, but the best time to see the animals is during the peak season.
From June to October, wildlife viewing is at its best in many regions, with concentrations of animals increasing as the amount of water on the outskirts decreases. Keep in mind that the nights in June and July, especially in the desert, can get downright chilly—but the days are usually sunny, mild, and just delightful.
In September and October, the temperature rises throughout the day and at night. By mid to late October, the daily temperatures reach a height of approximately 40˚C, but thankfully, it is always dry heat, not humid heat, which is a significant improvement.
Namibia. The Africa you have to see!
Understand the seasons and take advantage of low rates
During the months of January through March, you can anticipate a relatively low volume of visitors while yet enjoying the same exceptional guiding and lodging services at off-season prices.
December through March is when Botswana receives the most of its precipitation. Even though it can be challenging to observe animals due to the thick vegetation, you will still encounter many of species, including newborn calves and many migrating birds. If you can, try to arrive in late April or early May when the weather is still mild during the day and clear at night.
Once a year in April or May, the Okavango experiences its annual “flood.” This causes the savannah to be flooded, leading to the creation of beautiful waterways that are ideal for exploring by Mokoro. As a result, the wildlife in the area comes to concentrate on a smaller number of islands. The amount and timing of rainfall also has a significant impact on local wildlife in the Linyanti Swamps, Selinda Spillway, and Savuti Marsh, influencing factors like the size of buffalo and elephant herds as well as the abundance of predators in the area.
Namibia Travel: Camping Documentary for Self-Drive Road Trips
Namibia travel guides
The landscape of Namibia is expansive and breathtaking, featuring the oldest desert on Earth, the tallest dunes, and the second-largest canyon. Skeleton Coast is a great place to see seal colonies, while the expansive plains of Damaraland are the perfect place to go on a trek to see black rhino. The nation is prepared to be discovered in novel ways, from self-drives to hot air balloon tours, and it can accommodate both the most energetic vacationers and those in quest of a little luxury.
If you’re planning a vacation to Namibia, whether it’s a honeymoon or a family safari, our travel guides will be a great asset.
Inspiring Namibia Itineraries
Our goal in creating these itineraries was to provide you with some ideas for what you may see and do in Namibia by highlighting some of the best routes we’ve come across.
Namibia Travel Advice
Even though it feels like another planet, the desolate landscape of Namibia is both welcoming and yet familiar. A land of stark contrasts and brilliant colors, it is a photographer’s dream. Namibia is one of the world’s least inhabited countries, but its hypnotic vistas and vast desert expanses will win the hearts of those seeking tranquility. Namibia exemplifies the best of Africa: a place of boundless grassland and bushland, inhabited by warm, genuine people. The expansive Etosha National Park and numerous smaller nature reserves and ranches provide a safe haven for a diverse array of wild species. Namibia is an exciting destination, but thrill seekers aren’t required to enjoy it.
Places to Visit in Namibia
Many of the destinations we suggest seeing in Namibia can easily be covered in a single vacation. Etosha National Park is a great place for safaris, Damaraland is home to desert-adapted elephants, and Sossusvlei offers sunrise views over burnt orange dunes. From the verdant Caprivi Strip to the rugged Naukluft Mountains with their deep valleys and outcrops to the shipwreck-strewn Skeleton Coast with its sandy beaches, the country’s landscapes are as diverse as the people who live there.
Things to Do in Namibia
There is a lot more to see and do in Namibia than only the animals in Etosha National Park, which is famous around the world. Every drive here is an adventure, what with the towering sand dunes, mist-covered shoreline, and massive canyons.
Climb the tallest sand dunes on Earth at Sossusvlei, paddle with seals at Pelican Bay, or, for a stark contrast, discover the verdant waterways of the Caprivi Strip in this country of limitless horizons and azure sky. Visiting the secluded Damaraland region to see the desert-adapted elephant is another great choice for a Namibian vacation.