What is the best time to travel to Namibia?
The ideal periods for travelling to Namibia are generally from April to May and September to November. However, the perfect time to explore the country depends on which part of Namibia you plan to visit. Let's break it down by region, looking deeper into the climate variations and temperatures.
1. The best time to visit Northern Namibia
Only in the north around the Okavango River, which flows into the
Okavango Delta, does it rain more often than in the rest of the country. The best time to visit this area is July and August, when it is dry. For the rest of
Namibia, however, rainclouds are a rare sight, so you can leave your wellies at home. However, around the Okavango River, it can rain frequently from November to March, and the roads can suffer as a result. You can also encounter a lot of wildlife here, including hippos, elephants, and many bird species. This landscape is varied, with a tropical rainforest climate, which is why it also has a rainy season. There are lagoons, small islands, and pieces of jungle.
2. The best time to visit Southern Namibia
In southern Namibia, it’s generally always hot. The sun relentlessly shines through the 160 km-long Fish River Canyon. And that canyon? Well, it’s the second largest in the world – the only one that beats it is its American counterpart. A cute little canyon? Think again! It stretches 160 km long, 27 km wide, and in some places drops more than 500 metres into the depths. But here’s the trick: the best time to explore this massive canyon is during the South African winter. That’s when you can hike through it with expert guidance. The climate? Think dry and hot. At night, temperatures can drop quite a bit. Real desert vibes...
3. The best time to visit the coast of Namibia – Swakopmund
Swakopmund; you’ve gotta be here. In the empty and sparsely populated Namibia, this is the place to be. Nightclubs, stylish beach bars, and dark casinos were established here by the German colonists, and you can also find kaffee und kuchen everywhere. It hardly ever rains here, and the temperature remains a delightful 22°C throughout the year. This makes Swakopmund one of the driest places on earth. In the evening, the temperature barely drops, thanks to the warm air blowing from the Southern Atlantic all year round. It’s an excellent base after your trip through the Namibian desert. Many other African tourists come here; a refuge for people from even warmer places.
4.The best time to visit central Namibia – Windhoek
In the centre of Namibia lies the capital,
Windhoek. A friendly, large provincial town with cosy bars and colonial hotels where you can enjoy a good meal. This region is characterised by many cattle ranches, grasslands, and savannas. If you can even call it ‘many’; in this vast land, people sometimes
drive up to 175 km to the nearest mall, in Windhoek’s case.
The weather here is warm and dry, which is surprising given the desert landscape. The best time to visit is during our autumn, from October to mid-December, with temperatures ranging between 25 and 30 degrees. March and April are also great months to visit; it's the perfect gateway between the north and south or east and west. In Windhoek, the two main roads of the country intersect, and there is an international airport.
