Best time to visit Namibia

Last updated August 23rd, 2023.

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What is the best time to visit Namibia? You’ll need to know if you’re to experience the country at its best.

There is an irony in the fact that one of Africa’s newest nations contains one of its oldest cultures. The Khoisan (once derogatively called bushmen) have inhabited the harsh wildernesses of Namibia for around 30,000 years.

But that’s a mere blink in the eye to the sands of the Skeleton Coast and dunes of Sossusvlei. While arid, Namibia is also home to one of the world’s greatest national parks – Etosha.

What’s more, its cities are in many ways as dramatic in appearance as its open landscapes.

Overview of the best time to visit Namibia

In some respects, there’s no bad time to visit Namibia. It lies firmly in the southern hemisphere and receives an average of 300 days of sunshine a year.

Largely covered by arid landscapes, it’s generally drier and hotter in the south parts of the country. The north has a subtropical climate. The country’s long coastline is bathed in a blanket of cold fog much of the year. Even away from the coast, night-time temperatures regularly plunge below zero degrees Celsius.

Namibia’s dry season

Namibia’s dry season coincides with its winter months. Being in the southern hemisphere, this means the seasons are flipped. Namibia’s winter therefore lasts from June until the end of October.

June and July see the lowest temperatures of the year, with peaks in the low twenties Celsius (72 F). Nights see lows averaging around 10°C (50 F). Early morning game drives can be chilly as a result.

The latter half of this season is traditionally considered the best time to visit Namibia. September is particularly popular. At this time of year vegetation is sparse and the country’s famed wildlife is clustering around what waterholes remain.

It does mean you’ll be paying top prices, however. You’ll also need to book up months in advance – Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei and Swakopmund all fill up fast.

Namibia’s wet season

Namibia’s wet season roughly equates with the country’s summer. The rains generally begin at the very end of November or the start of December. They continue until the beginning of April.

During the peak of these months between three and four inches (75-100 mm) of rain can fall. Showers normally take place in the late afternoon, leaving mornings clear and dry. Coastal regions are spared most of the rain, putting up with thick fogs instead.

During the wet season, temperatures can readily hit 30-35°C (86-95 F). Thermometers can rise significantly higher in desert regions. Temperatures can feel even higher because of the increased humidity of this time of year.

The upside is that normally sparse landscapes show a gentle covering of green, and birding is at its best. It’s arguable if this is the best time to visit Namibia for wildlife, however. On the one hand animals are more spread out, but on the other, it’s calving season.

It should also be noted that the gravel roads which form a large proportion of routes in and out of national parks can become entirely impassable after heavy rain.

Namibia’s shoulder periods

Bookending either side of the wet season is a shoulder period of around a month. They offer the potential of being the best time to visit Namibia. Visitor numbers and prices are lower, but the full effects of the winter rains are not generally apparent.

These months of May and November might receive some rain. Sometimes showers will also be heavy. But humidity is lower than the traditional best time to visit Namibia in September.

Best time to visit Namibia

September is generally considered the best time to visit Namibia. But as a year-round destination, there is no bad time to visit the country as long as you’re well-prepared.