When to go to Namibia
Many feel the best time to visit Namibia is between July and October. This is the dry season, bringing the least amount of rainfall. The warm red dunes contrast beautifully with the nearly always bright blue skies. It’s ideal for those primarily coming to see wildlife, particularly in Etosha National Park with animals coming to drink from the waterholes. Animals start to disperse again in November or December when enough rain has fallen, allowing them to survive away from permanent water sources.
April to June
April is when Namibia emerges from the rainy season. Skies are often clear while the foliage is still thick and grasses are long, making for challenging game viewing. As there is likely to be water in Etosha National Park, the animals are typically still spread out but the greenery does make it a great time for photographers. Plus, there isn’t as much dust in the air, making for a more pleasant experience. May is the start of winter and it’s one of the best months to visit Namibia. This is when the safari season begins as conditions are ideal for game drives with humidity low and little to no rainfall. The wildlife starts gathering around the water holes now with rivers and other water sources drying out. By June, it’s quite pleasant during the day but temperatures can drop dramatically at night with desert areas even experiencing below-freezing conditions.
July to October
July marks the peak part of the safari season. It’s the most popular time to go to Namibia with the weather cooler and the landscapes dry which means the long grasses and dense foliage won’t get in the way of viewing wildlife. This is the best time for big game watching with large concentrations of animals congregating around water holes. It’s not unusual to see large numbers of wildlife like wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, zebra, and gazelles all drinking together. Of course, this also makes it the busiest and most expensive time to visit. Be sure to book accommodation well in advance if you come during this period, especially in July and August. August is when the spring wildflowers burst into bloom creating beautiful scenes with color splashed across landscapes in places like Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier. The days start to warm in September, but game viewing is still excellent through October.
November to March
While November is a bit of a transition month, it’s likely to be very hot although humidity typically remains low. Clouds begin to build in the afternoon bringing a chance of rain. The most difficult time for wildlife watching is between December and March, unless you’re primarily interested in the birds which arrive around late September and stay through March or early April. In the desert regions where wildlife viewing is typically secondary to exploring the country’s landscapes, it’s possible to see animals year-round. If you mainly want to enjoy the scenery you can go to Namibia anytime but keep in mind that travel conditions from December through March can be challenging or sometimes impossible with air transfers disrupted and road surfaces damaged by heavy rains and flooding. This is also the hottest time of the year with temperatures that can exceed 104°F (40°C).
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