Climate in Namibia

Namibia is located in southern Africa and has a subtropical continental climate . Characteristics of this climate are a long dry season and a short rainy season. The rainy season is from the end of December to April . The dry season takes place from May to December. Basically the following applies to the climate in Namibia : It is hot and dry. However, there are big differences in the different regions of the country. There are climatic differences on the Atlantic coast, in the desert regions as well as on the Caprivi Strip and in the central highlands. The central highlands occupy the largest area of ​​Namibia. The capital Windhoek is also located here (also Windhoek). The highlands fall within the area of ​​summer rain. That means: Between November and April there is more frequent heavy rain. The same applies to the extreme south. It falls in the area of ​​winter rain.

Here it only rains in June and July, if at all. It looks different on the west coast with the Namib Desert. Precipitation rarely falls, there is a strong but warm wind and there are large temperature differences between day and night in the winter months. The coldest months are July and August. During the day the temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius. It is not uncommon for them to drop to freezing point at night. The hottest months are in the rainy season and thus in the Namibian summer. December and January usually have temperatures well over 30 degrees Celsius. Again different weather conditions prevail on the Atlantic coast. Here the cold Benguela current has an impact on the climate. In summer it is pleasantly cool, the winter months are comparatively fresh. The temperatures of the Atlantic rarely climb above 15 degrees Celsius. The following applies to the coast: the weather here is pleasant and dry all year round. The tropical climate on the Caprivi Strip causes high humidity and frequent rainfall during the rainy season. The inland highlands are particularly noticeable in terms of climate. Due to the altitude, frost can occur here at night. There has even been snowfall. But that is the exception.

Climate table Namibia (Windhoek)

Jan Feb March Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature in ° C 30 29 27 26 23 20 21 23 27 28 30 31
Min. Temperature in ° C 17 16 15 13 9 7 6 9 12 15 16 17
Hours of sunshine per day 9 9 8 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Rainy days per month 8 9 8 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 5

Before you plan your Namibia trip , be aware: The African country in the south of the continent is not a destination for a classic beach holiday! According to fashionissupreme, the Atlantic is extremely cool all year round and only for the tough. Rather, it is about getting to know the country, the people and the animals. The best time to travel to Namibia is the dry season in the Namibian winter . It prevails from the end of April , May , June , July, August to the end of September. Due to the pleasant temperatures and the low number of rainy days, you can look forward to perfect weather conditions. You should also pack warm clothes, as the temperatures cool down a lot during the nights. If you want to observe the wild animals in the Etosha National Park or another protected area, the chances are optimal during the mentioned travel time. For a trip to Namibia during these months you should start planning well in advance. Many take advantage of the excellent weather for a vacation. Cheaper prices and fewer tourists await you during the rainy season in the Namibian summer months. While the chances of seeing the animals in the national parks are not ideal and the chance of rain is higher, the weather is still perfect for a vacation.

Best travel time for wildlife viewing and safaris in Namibia