In January, mornings are often clear, but thunderstorms are common in the afternoons, which can make for spectacular photos. The weather can be quite humid and very hot, and not just for you. The animals will be looking for shade and vegetation to cool off behind and due to the large amount of surface water, they do not need to congregate around water holes so are a little more difficult to spot.
January is a great time for keen birders, and scenery can be greener, making for some beautiful photos. This time of year is the birthing season and you can see springbok and zebra with their new-borns and plenty of predator action.
Namibia is a large country so the weather you encounter will depend on your location. Windhoek is located at quite a high altitude and temperatures can soar here, the Kalahari will be hot too with occasional thunderstorms. The Caprivi Strip is prone to more rain, so much so we recommend you avoid it completely at this time of year. If you choose to travel in January to Namibia, we suggest safaris that explore the coast and southern regions. In contrast to most of the rest of the country, the coast is actually quite mild and sunny so it is a great time for a Skeleton Coast Flying Safari.
February is the peak wet season and traditionally the most hot and humid month with the highest rainfall. Rain means greener landscapes and unique photography of Namibia’s usually arid environment. It also means that the wildlife no longer has to congregate around the water holes and can be harder to spot. Similar to January, we suggest avoiding the more northern areas, including the Caprivi Strip which is the wettest area in Namibia.
February is an excellent time to explore the bewildering Skeleton Coast as it is mild and sunny. Exploring by plane, you’ll see the coast go on for miles, orange sand brilliantly contrasting the beautiful blues of a rather ferocious sea.
It is still the birthing season so there may be some excellent predator action or babies with their mothers. There will also be a lack of tourists in February and cheaper rates. Game is not at its best in Etosha National Park in February.
March sees the end of the wet season, and the heat is slightly reduced compared to February. It is still hot and humid with high chances of rain, usually in short bursts in the afternoon.
Birding can also be excellent in March, with migratory birds present. The landscapes are at their greenest, giving you a really unique look at Namibia and its desert landscapes and it is also common to see some new-born animals.
Despite not being the peak time for wildlife, March can often be busy, depending on the dates for Easter. It is a popular family destination, for good reason, so families often choose the Easter Holidays as a time to escape urban life and embark on a Namibia adventure. March is not the best time in regards to seeing wildlife in Etosha, but it can be a great time to travel for birds, unique landscapes, and good prices.
April marks the end of the rainy season and the start of a shoulder season; air is fresh and largely free from dust, and the vegetation is as lush as it can be. Days are shorter, temperatures are cooler and the average rainfall drops dramatically. This is still not a prime time for game viewing, as there is still plenty of water around.
As with March, there are green patches in the normally orange and arid desert, and bright flowers can pierce through. The mix of wildlife, birds, and stunning green landscapes makes May a great time to travel and there are fewer tourists and good prices.
This can be the best time to travel if you are looking to cover a vast majority of Namibia in one safari as April is also a good time to get to the Skeleton Coast. A celebration of music and dancing, the Windhoek Carnival takes place in April, marking the capital’s most important cultural event.
In May, the summer has ended and the rain is called to a halt, the days are short and the weather is warm, although the nights have not dropped enough to be considered ‘cold’. Low season rates still apply as May is still a shoulder month and not hugely popular with tourists so the majority of parks can be nice and empty, although Etosha is always busier than the rest.
If the rainfall in previous months has been particularly high, you can expect plains of golden grass stretching into the horizon. May is a great time for exploring the Kalahari and is also a wonderful time to fly over the Skeleton Coast. A balloon safari also gives a really unique perspective on wild Namibia, with the surreal greens and oranges of the desert beautifully contrasting.
The ground in Etosha National Park will not have dried out completely, so water sources are still plenty. Wildlife sightings are improving as the land dries out, and every part of the country is accessible. It is still not the peak time for wildlife, but as we move closer towards the ‘winter’, the drier it gets, and the better the wildlife viewing.
Winter draws in and the weather is mild, although the nights are getting colder – it’s definitely time to get the jumper out! This is especially true in the desert areas, where in some parts it can drop below freezing. There is virtually no rain in June so you are pretty much guaranteed clear skies. Namibia has one of the most impressive star-filled skies at night, the detail and colours you can see are astounding, especially in Southern Namibia where you find one of only two dark sky reserves in the world.
June is a great time to explore, without being restricted by rain, heat or any other weather-related hindrance. Namibia is really starting to dry out now, and the wildlife sightings are excellent in Etosha, as well as the other parks. Water holes are now scarcer, and you’ll see wildlife gathering together with the common goal of hydration around them. Vegetation is drying out as well, giving the animals fewer places to seek shade or shelter.
We recommend June for those who want to avoid crowds and hot weather, but are aiming to see a lot of wildlife. Parks are still relatively quiet at the start of the month, but they do get busier towards the end due to the start of the South African school holidays.
Being the middle of winter, July is one of the coolest and driest months and you can avoid the sweltering heat at this time. At night, temperatures drop dramatically and desert areas can hit zero degrees. Bring plenty of warm jumpers for the evenings as you’ll want to sit outside and watch the astoundingly clear and starry skies.
July is an excellent time to travel to avoid the heat and the experience best wildlife sightings. The green that covered parts of the desert is now gone and the traditional orange desert has returned with scarce vegetation. With little to no rain, the wildlife must now congregate around the water sources that remain in order to stay healthy and hydrated. In wildlife parks such as Etosha National Park it is not uncommon to see a huge range of wildlife in large numbers drinking together at one water hole.
One of the most popular times to travel to Namibia and although you can expect peak season prices at this time, Namibia is still more affordable than destinations such as Botswana. Etosha, the AfriCat foundation and the Ongava Reserve are perfect for wildlife viewing at this time, with little water, and little vegetation.
August is the driest month of the year and temperatures are particularly cool. Be aware that nights in the desert can hit zero degrees, so you will need a jumper and warmer clothing for the nights under the clear skies.
August is one of the best times to head to Etosha National Park, the Ongava Reserve, and the AfriCat Foundation. There is little to drink for the animals, and a large bewildering mix of species can congregate all around one waterhole; giraffes awkwardly bend their tall bodies to drink next to small impala, whilst elephants may bathe just metres away from thirsty masses of striped zebra, and even ostriches can often be seen drinking with the rest.
There is less vegetation for animals to hide behind, and with the sweltering summer out of the way, less of a reason to hide. There will be higher numbers of people in and around the parks, but Namibia is not a busy destination, so aside from the popular areas like Etosha National Park, it will still seem relatively quiet especially if you stay in places like Serra Cafema. KUSKA Caste Carnival is in August and takes place in Swakopmund, with street parties, food stalls and children’s activities igniting the town.
Temperatures start to warm up in September but you can still expect little to no rain.
For those who want excellent wildlife and don’t mind the heat, September is a great time to travel. Wildlife is still congregating, often in large numbers in the wildlife parks of Etosha and the Ongava Reserve as there is very little water. The Caprivi Strip is popular at this time with southern and European bee-eaters as they come to breed, perfect for bird watchers.
Etosha is often busy at the start of the month due to the holidays ending in Europe, but towards the end will be a bit quieter. Areas such as Windhoek, Swakopmund and Luderitz are dry and getting hot. The skies are still wonderfully clear and cloudless and at night the stars shine bright in the sky. For keen star gazers, September means you get the clear skies without as cold evenings.
October marks the last month of Namibia’s winter, the weather gets warmer and the precipitation is increasing a little. Skies are generally still clear making it perfect for star-gazing and wildlife is still abundant. Nights are slightly warmer now, but we still recommend warm clothing for evenings in the desert. Everywhere is accessible, so you can embark on epic Namibia journeys; from Windhoek and Swakopmund, to flying safaris down the Skeleton Coast, and all the way up to the Caprivi Strip.
October at the Caprivi Strip is a great place for birders, European and southern bee-eaters are still in breeding season. Whales are present off the Namibian coast making September a great time to do a dolphin cruise.
Vegetation is scarce and will have now lost its vibrancy. With little water around, animals are still gathering at the water holes in large concentrations; prides of lions can often be seen drinking together, thirsty ostriches can be seen next to washing elephants, and zebras can often be seen drinking in a line of black and white along the water’s edge. Be aware that due to the increasing temperatures in October and the lack of water, more dust is evident on your game drives.
November is quite an unpredictable month. As we reach the end of the dry winter, hot and dry days can prevail, often feeling humid and sticky with skies threatening to rain. Witnessing the first rain of the season is a totally unforgettable and dramatic event! For those who fancy some weather variation, and don’t mind whether they have clear skies, clouds, thunderstorms, or hot sunny days, November is for you.
November is an exciting and unpredictable time to travel to Namibia. The wildlife can still be excellent at this time of year in the Ongava Reserve, Etosha National Park and the AfriCat Foundation. Animals may still be gathering at the water sources as vegetation will still be rather scarce and dull, giving the animals nowhere to hide or seek shelter so they can be quite easy to spot.
Stargazing may not be as impressive as the winter as often there will be clouds. Travelling in November carries certain risks, with unpredictable weather and wildlife; however it can be a really exciting time to travel, with different colours and ominous clouds often giving photos an eerie, dramatic twist! It is also a great time to see whales off the Namibian coast.
December kicks off the summer in Namibia and temperatures are still on the increase with some humidity. There is no drizzle in Namibia; when the rain does come, it is usually localised, heavy and often accompanied by dramatic thunder. Typically, mornings will have clear blue cloudless skies, then as the afternoon draws in so do the clouds. Rain often follows clearing the skies again for the early evening.
December can be a great month for seeing wildlife in Etosha National Park with excellent bird watching throughout the parks. The dramatic dunes at Sossusvlei are as amazing in December as they are at any other time of the year. For those who don’t mind heat and some thunderstorms, December is a great time to go to Namibia.
With more water comes more vegetation, and game now moves into the bush, making it trickier to spot in the national parks. Embark on a self-drive, flying safari on the Skeleton Coast, and visit Namibia’s fabulous, activity packed cities at this time. Malaria risks are higher in Caprivi Strip as this is the wettest region in Namibia.
