Weather & Seasons

How cold does it get in Namibia?

Colder than many first-time visitors expect.

Namibia is one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, but describing the entire country simply as “hot desert” does it a disservice. Climate varies considerably between the Namib coast, the central highlands, the south and the more tropical north-east.

Inland summer days can be extremely hot, while winter days are often beautifully warm and clear. Once the sun disappears, however, temperatures can fall quickly. Frost and temperatures below freezing are possible in some inland areas during winter.

The coast plays by its own rules. Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are strongly influenced by the cold Benguela Current and can be cool, misty and foggy even while inland Namibia is baking in sunshine. Then, every so often, an east wind arrives from the interior and the coast becomes unexpectedly hot.

When does it rain?

Most of Namibia receives the bulk of its rain during the summer months, broadly from November to April. Rainfall generally increases as you travel north and east, while the Namib and much of the south receive very little.

Rain in Namibia is also wonderfully unreliable. One summer may transform dry plains into grasslands, fill pans and send ephemeral rivers flowing; another may deliver considerably less. Even within the same season, one area can receive a spectacular thunderstorm while another a short distance away stays completely dry.

In the far south-west, some rainfall can also occur during winter, while along the coast fog is often far more dependable than rain.

So, when is the best time to visit Namibia?

There is no single best month. It depends on what you want Namibia to look like and what you hope to do while you are here.

The dry winter months are popular for wildlife viewing and comfortable daytime temperatures. Summer brings dramatic skies, thunderstorms, newborn animals and, following good rains, surprisingly green landscapes. The shoulder months can offer a particularly pleasant compromise between weather, crowds and scenery.

Here is a rough month-by-month guide. Treat it as a guide rather than a promise — Namibia's weather has never been particularly interested in calendars.

January

January is midsummer: hot, with a good possibility of thunderstorms over much of the interior. Following good rain, landscapes become greener and wildlife may spread away from permanent water sources. Some gravel roads can deteriorate after heavy storms, particularly in more remote areas. The coast remains popular during the Namibian holiday season, especially early in the month.

February

Traditionally one of the wetter parts of the summer, February can be hot and humid by Namibian standards. This is a quieter tourism period and a beautiful time for travellers who enjoy dramatic skies and green landscapes. Wildlife may be less concentrated around permanent waterholes than it is in the dry season.

March

March generally remains warm, with summer rainfall still possible. After a good rainy season, this can be one of the most colourful times to see the country. Grasslands are green, ephemeral rivers may have flowed and the landscape can look completely different from the familiar dry-season photographs.

April

Temperatures begin to moderate and the summer rains usually start tapering off. Nights become cooler while days remain pleasantly warm. In years with good rainfall, the landscape can still be green and lush. April is one of the months we particularly like for travelling.

May

Winter begins to make itself felt. Days are generally warm, skies are clear and evenings become distinctly cooler. Rain is uncommon across most of the country. The veld starts drying out and wildlife gradually becomes easier to see around permanent water sources.

June

June brings warm, sunny days and cold nights, particularly in the interior. Early mornings can be surprisingly chilly and temperatures may approach or fall below freezing in some areas. Rain is unlikely over most of Namibia. Dry conditions usually favour wildlife viewing.

July

July is firmly winter. Days are often mild and beautifully clear, but nights and early mornings can be very cold. Conditions are dry and animals increasingly depend on permanent water, making this a popular wildlife-viewing period. It is also firmly within Namibia's busy travel season.

August

Days begin warming while nights can still be cold. The country is usually very dry by this stage and dusty conditions are common. Wind can pick up, particularly later in the month. Wildlife viewing is generally very good, but August is also one of Namibia's busiest tourism months, so accommodation should be booked well ahead.

September

September is the transition towards summer. Early in the month the nights may still be cool, but daytime temperatures rise steadily. Rain remains unlikely in most areas and the landscape is dry. Wildlife is still strongly concentrated around water sources, making this another popular month for Etosha and other wildlife areas.

October

October can be hot — very hot. Thunderclouds sometimes begin building over the interior before meaningful rain arrives, leading to that familiar Namibian ritual of staring hopefully at the sky. Wildlife viewing can remain excellent until the rains begin, but travellers should be prepared for high daytime temperatures.

November

Summer is arriving properly. Temperatures can be intense and the first substantial thunderstorms may arrive, although their timing varies enormously from year to year. If the rains begin early, the landscape can change remarkably quickly.

December

December is hot, with thunderstorms possible over the interior. The first half of the month can be relatively quiet, while the Christmas and New Year period brings substantial domestic travel. Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are particularly popular escapes from the inland heat.

A note about the coast

Pack differently for the Namibian coast than you would for the desert interior.

Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and the Skeleton Coast can be cool, cloudy and foggy at almost any time of year. A morning at the coast may require a jacket while travellers only a few hours inland are wearing shorts in the heat.

Layers are therefore useful throughout Namibia — and are exactly why “desert country” does not necessarily mean “pack only summer clothes”.