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Best time to visit Namibia

The best time to visit Namibia is the dry winter season (June to October), when wildlife clusters around waterholes, leading to thrilling encounters with predators. Yet as our guide to the best time to travel to Namibia explains, in a country that enjoys 300 sunny days annually, the December to March rainy season brings relief, baby animals and rain-refreshed scenery for photographers.

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Best time to visit Namibia

Namibia basks in over 300 days of sunshine per year.

The best time to visit Namibia is during the dry winter from May to October. Temperatures are comfortably around 20°C, vegetation is thinner and wildlife congregates around waterholes, where predators hungrily await. This is also the best time to travel to Namibia and Botswana for a combined trip. But the desert climate is harsh. Night-time temperatures can drop below freezing in winter and it’s parched; we recommend packing moisturiser and lip balm. The rainy season in Namibia is from November to April. It’s drier on the coast, though, and this is the best time to go to Namibia for bird watching.

Call us for the best time to go to Namibia

A month by month guide on when to go to Namibia

January in Namibia

Midsummer

Hot, humid weather

Short, sharp showers

You’ll need to pack for rain if visiting Namibia in January. This is midsummer, and the heat and humidity is accompanied by torrential downpours, though these are usually short and confined to the late afternoon, with mornings clear and dry. It’s significantly less rainy in Namibia’s coastal desert, but the mercury can top 40°C during the daytime.

February in Namibia

Bird watching

Wettest month

Rain affects some roads

The rains continue in Namibia in February; this is typically the wettest month of the year. While you can travel in Namibia year-round, those planning self drive adventures should be aware that the rain can affect road surfaces. February can be the best time of year to go to Namibia for birdwatching, especially along the Caprivi Strip where some 450 species have been recorded.

February is great for our wildlife sanctuary volunteering holiday

March in Namibia

Lots of young animals

Rainfall and temperatures ease

Enjando Street Festival

There’s a baby boom in Namibia in March, which coincides with lush vegetation from all the rains, providing plenty to eat and plenty of places for young animals to hide. Wildlife viewing is trickier, as animals are dispersed around the parks rather than clustering around waterholes, but that just means when you do get a sighting it’s all the more exciting. Windhoek celebrates its artists and performers with the Enjando Street Festival.

March is great for our Namibia and Botswana camping safari

April in Namibia

Desert wildflowers

Walking

Windhoek Carnival

Namibia in April tends to be relatively dry as winter nears. There are rich greens in the foliage and pretty wildflowers give the desert sands some colour. It’s a good month for walking, and the Fish River Canyon trail opens in mid-April. April is an in-between month for travel, offering milder temperatures and decent prospects for wildlife watching in places like Etosha. Windhoek Carnival is one of the year’s biggest cultural events.

May in Namibia

Wildlife watching

Dry with low humidity

Onset of winter

May is the start of winter and the air feels very crisp and clean after the rains. Precipitation is low across the country, as is humidity, and with water sources beginning to dry up, animals congregate around those that remain, which leads to some thrilling sightings. Namibia in May is a great option, as you’re just on the cusp of peak season. The vibe in Swakopmund on the coast is getting lively, but it doesn’t feel busy yet.

May is great for our Namibia small group guided holiday and safari

June in Namibia

Stargazing

Cooler temperatures

Etosha and Sossusvlei

Clear blue skies are the norm for Namibia in June. With cooler temperatures around 20-24°C and virtually zero rain, it’s no surprise that this is the start of the busy season. It gets decidedly chillier at night – but wrap up because winter is the best time for stargazing in Namibia, and those skies are vast. June is good for everything from safaris in Etosha National Park to hiking Fish River Canyon and climbing to the top of Dune 45 in Sossusvlei.

June is great for our Namibia self drive safari

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When it’s dry, the bush dies down quite a lot so your chances for sightings are better. But if you can only go in January, it’s still good.

– Grace Kemp from our partner Sunway Safaris

July in Namibia

Excellent wildlife watching

Night-time chills

Fish River Canyon

Wildlife watching is superb in Namibia in July, with animals – including elephants, giraffes and lions – all seen around waterholes and thin vegetation giving excellent visibility. You’ll need a jacket, though, especially after dark. Night-time temperatures can fall below freezing in the desert. July can be the best time to visit Namibia for wildlife, but don’t neglect other activities. This is an ideal month for hiking the magnificent Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa.

August in Namibia

Clear, sunny weather

Cold after dark

Busiest month

Namibia’s flag depicts a bright yellow sun on a blue sky, and there’s every chance it was inspired by an August day. The weather this month is fabulous for enjoying every aspect of the country by car, by safari jeep, on foot, or even in a canoe along the Orange River. Do book early to visit Namibia in August because this is high season. That said, apart from popular spots like Etosha and Sossusvlei, it rarely feels crowded.

August is great for our Namibia and Botswana safari holiday

September in Namibia

Amazing wildlife encounters

Temperatures increasing

Fish River Canyon trail closes

Temperatures are still comfortable in September but there’s less of a chill in the early morning and rain remains scant. Come the end of September, much of Namibia is heating up. With the threat of extreme summer temperatures and flash floods, the famous Fish River Canyon trail closes. Visit Namibia in September for thrilling wildlife encounters in Etosha. It’s so dry that animals gather in huge numbers around waterholes and salt pans.

October in Namibia

Whale watching

Jacaranda trees in bloom

Dusty roads

Namibia in October can be glorious, though the rains of summer are on the horizon. Self drive holidays are easy here, and in October vehicles kick up clouds of dust. October is one of the best months for whale watching in Namibia as southern right, humpback and minke whales pass by the coast. The best place to see them is Walvis Bay, of course – Walvis means “whale” in Afrikaans. There’s beauty onshore too, as white and purple jacaranda trees bloom around Windhoek.

November in Namibia

Rainy season begins

Wildlife disperses

Afternoon storms possible

November signals the start of the wet season, although the rains might not really get going till December. Namibia in November is hot, with daytime temperatures reaching 30°C – and a lot higher in the desert. Mist and breezes make it feel cooler on the Skeleton Coast. Dramatic storms are possible in the afternoons, and wildlife becomes more spread out around the parks as the rain increases.

December in Namibia

Birthing season for zebras

Higher temperatures

Off-peak travel

Daytime temperatures are around 25°C in Windhoek and higher still in the Namib Desert. Rain begins falling in earnest now, but rarely enough to disrupt travel, so self-drivers can continue to roam in confidence. Not many people choose to visit Namibia in December due to the weather, but you can witness some wildlife wonders by coming now. For one, this is birthing season for zebras and springboks, and you may see some little ’uns taking their first steps.

Windhoek/interior Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

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SEP

OCT

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DEC

PLAY

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Best times to visit Namibia for festivals & events

Enjando Street Festival (March)

March can be the best time of year to visit Windhoek, with the vibrant Enjando Street Festival taking place across the city. Namibia’s different ethnic groups, including the Ovambo, Herero, San and Himba, congregate in a fiesta of traditional music, dance, costume and food. Enjando celebrates the diversity of urban culture in a country that is most known to tourists for its amazing natural landscapes.

Windhoek Carnival (April)

Windhoek Carnival (or Karneval) has Germanic origins, Namibia having been brutally colonised by Germany for around 30 years before World War I. It is the biggest event on Namibia’s cultural calendar, and the capital-wide celebrations include colourful parades, music performances and a masked ball. Many ethnic groups such as the Ovambo and Herero are represented – and it doesn’t have religious roots, hence it takes place after Lent.

Luderitz Crayfish Festival (April or May)

Crayfish is one of Namibia’s biggest exports, and this festival in the Atlantic coast town of Luderitz pays tribute to its crustacean chums by cooking them up in a host of delicious ways. The steamed or barbecued varieties, sprinkled with melted lemon butter, are the most popular crayfish dishes. You can tuck into a plateful or two while watching music performances and browsing stalls selling local handicrafts.

Oktoberfest Namibia (October)

Oompa bands – check. Bratwurst – check. Lederhosen – check. Copious amounts of foaming beer? Check! It’s Oktoberfest, and Namibia’s sizeable German community, along with many thirsty visitors, gather in the capital to celebrate Bavarian culture with two days packed with feasting, musical performances, and quite a lot of drinking. And all of it in the sweltering heat of a Namibian summer.

Our travellers also ask…

What is the best month to visit Namibia?

The best months to travel to Namibia are from May to October, with pleasant, dry weather the norm across the country. Self-drivers will find getting around by car is easy in these conditions, wildlife watchers will be in their element, and the weather is also ideal for walkers. The clear night skies are brilliantly carpeted with stars, and really the only thing you need to consider is that it gets chilly after dark, sometimes dropping below freezing in the desert.

Which season is best for safari in Namibia?

The dry winter season between May and October is the best time to visit Namibia for a safari. Vegetation is thinner at this time of year, allowing for clearer sightings. And, with near-zero rainfall, thirsty animals congregate around waterholes which can lead to some spectacular confrontations as lions and cheetahs size up their prey. Temperatures can be quite cool on early morning and late afternoon safari drives, so you will need a jacket.

What are the rainy months in Namibia?

Namibia’s rainy season is between November and April, with January to March the wettest months. These summer months are marked by heavy afternoon showers and thunderstorms, and while they are not enough to significantly disrupt travel, they can damage unpaved roads. The rainy season makes wildlife watching more difficult, but the flipside of that is that animals are giving birth, so – particularly from January onwards – you may see lots of babies.