December weather & where to go

December kicks off the summer in Namibia, and temperatures are still on the increase. It can be a great month for seeing wildlife in Etosha National Park, and travelling in the summer rewards with excellent bird watching throughout the parks.

Typically in December, 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. This means you’ll get some super clear nights, which are great for watching the stars, but other evenings may be cloudy. The dramatic dunes at Sossusvlei are as amazing in December as they are at any other time of the year. There is no drizzle in Namibia. When the rain does come, it is usually localised and heavy, often accompanied by dramatic thunder. For those who don’t mind heat and some thunderstorms, December is a great time to go to Namibia. What a way to spend Christmas!

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Temperatures are high in December, leading to some humidity. At night, it can still get cold, especially in the desert regions, however not as cold as the winter months from May to October.

With more water come more vegetation, and game now moves into the bush, making it trickier to spot in the national parks. But you can still get excellent sightings, so we do recommend wildlife parks at this time, including Etosha National Park, Ongava Reserve and the AfriCat Foundation.

You can still embark on a self-drive, flying safari on the Skeleton Coast, and visit Namibia’s fabulous, activity packed cities at this time. We would mention that malaria risks are higher in Caprivi Strip, this is the wettest region in Namibia – we actually think it is best avoided in January and February.