Best Time To Go To Namibia
About Namibia
Namibia Location: West Coast of Southern Africa
Namibia is the soul of Africa, characterised by vast open spaces, breathtaking scenery & great contrasts – Ocean, dunes, mountains, deserts & vast wilderness landscapes.
Are you ready for the safari experience of a lifetime? Look no further than Namibia! It’s vast, it’s interesting, it’s extraordinary & exhilarating (not to mention magnificent, magical & mysterious) – PLUS, to top it off, there’s absolutely nowhere else on earth like it!
While Namibia may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think about going on the ultimate African safari getaway or wilderness adventure – with popular & globally-renowned safari destination ‘heavy-hitters’ like Botswana, South Africa & Kenya (to mention merely a few) all battling it out to secure that highly coveted top spot – we’re here to tell you exactly why Namibia is one of the GREATEST NOT-TO-BE-MISSED destinations for safaris & why it should be on EVERY wildlife, wilderness & nature lover’s African safari bucket list! Trust us, Namibia will exceed all your expectations & captivate your heart & soul at the same time!
Untouched, untamed & utterly magnificent, Namibia offers a journey of thrilling discovery & wonder. Located on the southwestern edge of Africa, this land of contrasts is where the harsh beauty of the desert meets the bounty of the Atlantic Ocean. Imagine an endless sea of copper sand dunes, punctuated by bright green blooms of life. Picture an otherworldly desert where the skeletons of abandoned ships sink into the sand. This may sound like a film set, but it’s nothing out of the norm in Namibia – It is home to the world’s oldest desert, second-largest canyon, one of the biggest ship gravesites & some of the tallest sand dunes on the planet after all! Few places on earth offer such a sheer variety of landscapes – in fact, Namibia’s vast diversity of landscapes & scenery may well be some of the most dramatic you will ever see.
THAT’S NOT ALL! Not even close – this Southern African country, lying between the Kalahari & the Atlantic Ocean, has SO MUCH MORE up its sleeve!
Bursting with incredible natural wonders, remarkable historic sites, endless sights & attractions, must-visit National Parks, an extraordinary & unique abundance of wildlife & birdlife, exciting safari experiences & thrilling adventures + SO MUCH MORE, it’s safe to say that Namibia is a treasure trove of discoveries waiting to be explored!
A Namibian safari holiday is ideal for nature & wildlife enthusiasts as well as first-time & avid safari goers. Besides offering an incredible diversity of landscapes, destinations, National Parks & nature reserves to explore, its easy-to-access destinations makes it easy to embark on self-drive safari adventures as well as guided safari experiences. Plus, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as experiencing an authentic & action-packed African safari adventure in this sandy oasis.
Namibia Overview
Peak Season
June – October
Low Season
December – March
Best time to go
April – November | *Great Year-Round Destination*
Dry Season
April – November
Wet Season
December – March
Best Weather
April – June | Moderate temperatures + little to no rainfall + lush green landscapes | *April – November (Winter & Spring months)*
Famous for
The Namib Desert: The world’s oldest desert
Ethosa National Park: One of the world’s greatest conservation areas
Sossusvlei: Home to the world’s highest dunes
Fish River Canyon: The world’s second largest canyon
Skeleton Coast
Worst Weather
December – March | Peak Wet Season in Namibia | Highest rainfall levels | Extremely hot & humid
Why Visit Namibia
Striking Natural Landscapes | Iconic Natural Wonders | Incredible Attractions | Captivating Historical Sites & Archaeological Finds
Big Game Viewing & Unique Wildlife | One-of-a-Kind Game Viewing Opportunities
Namibia is Crowd-Free | Best Destinations in Africa to Escape the Crowds & Explore & Experience Everything it has to offer
Extraordinary Safari Adventures & Wildlife Experiences
Vast Cultural & Historical Richness | Vibrant Communities | Fascinating Local Tribes | Diverse Indigenous Cultures & Traditions
When To Go To Namibia
YOU’RE IN LUCK! With its famously clear skies & abundant sunshine, incredibly diverse landscapes, vast wilderness, ecosystems & wildlife, Namibia is the ultimate year-round African safari destination for adventure travellers, avid safari-goers & head-over-heels nature & wildlife enthusiasts from around the world. The weather is almost always good – the ever-present sunshine is even highlighted on the national flag – and most areas of the country are accessible year-round.
HOWEVER, while Namibia undoubtedly offers wildly exciting & beyond spectacular safari experiences year-round – the timing of your visit / trip can significantly enhance your Namibian African safari adventure. BUT DON’T FEAR– understanding the country’s seasons & climate will help you plan the perfect safari experience – completely tailored to you, your interests, where you want to visit / which destinations in Namibia you are most eager to travel to & which sights, attractions, landmarks, adventures & experiences you’re looking to tick off your Namibian safari bucket list! …When it comes to Namibia, the possibilities are truly endless!
Although it is a glorious year-round African safari destination, Namibia has two distinct seasons, the dry season (winter) and the wet season (summer), with each season (as well as each of Namibia’s distinct & diverse destinations & landscapes) offering travellers & safari-goers a uniquely different experience all together.
Namibia’s two distinct seasons are:
Dry Season (Winter): April – November
Wet Season (Summer): December – March
Dry Season in Namibia
Prime time for wildlife sightings as game viewing is at its peak
Wildlife are easier to spot (especially in Etosha National Park) as wildlife gather around water sources, waterholes & rivers
Clear skies & sunny days with mild-moderate day-time temperatures & minimal rain
Optimal visibility for wildlife sightings as the surrounding vegetation thins out
Even though most tourists visit during the Dry season, the parks still don’t feel crowded (except for Etosha National Park)
Clear skies & sunny days with minimal rain
Fewer mosquitos due to the low rainfall | Risk of malaria is at its lowest
Wet Season in Namibia
Lush greenery & beautiful surrounding scenery
Namibia & all of its surrounding National Parks & Reserves (specifically Etosha National Park) are filled with new-born wildlife
Bird watching is at its best as migratory birds are present
Prime time for predator activity & sightings due to the abundance of new-born wildlife
Rains are mostly short showers in the afternoon and rarely have a negative impact on your trip
Despite wildlife being better & easier to spot in the dry season, Namibia’s wet season boasts equally remarkable wildlife sightings & encounters
Namibia’s wet season coincides with its low season, this means rate drops / lower rates all around | Less crowded parks for optimal crowd-free wildlife and birdlife sightings
Incredible photography opportunities due to the beautiful, lush surrounding scenery and landscapes
Wildlife & Birdlife in Namibia
When it comes to wildlife, Namibia certainly doesn’t disappoint!
Wildlife in Etosha National Park
Did you know that Namibia is home to 40% of Africa’s free-roaming cheetah population? Or that between 100 000 and 210 000 Cape fur seals reside at Cape Cross? And that’s merely scratching the surface of what this premier African wildlife destination has to offer. The renowned Etosha National Park, one of Namibia’s top national parks, not only offers wildlife lovers excellent game-viewing opportunities, but is famous for its animal-packed waterholes & abundant predator sightings. With more than 40 waterholes at Etosha National Park, patient & insistent safari goers will be well rewarded for their persistence with easy & down-right exhilarating up-close wildlife sightings & encounters, as well as thrilling predator-prey interactions.
The Park’s flat landscapes & scattered watering holes makes Etosha National Park one of the best places in both Africa & the world to experience bucket-list worthy game viewing. Enormous elephants, shy leopards, majestic cheetahs (Namibia is home to 40% of Africa’s free-roaming cheetah population) and gangly giraffes are merely some of the wildlife species you can look forward to seeing in this remarkable Namibian National Park. It is also home to a bounteous population of critically endangered black rhinos; with Namibia’s rhino conservation programme being one of the most successful in the world.
Another one of Etosha National Park’s major highlights and attractions is the Etosha Pan – a large shimmering white expanse of clay and salt that spreads across 5,000sq km in the arid desert landscape of northern Namibia. In addition to the iconic Etosha Pan being the largest salt pan in Africa, it is easily the reserve’s most dramatic feature. There are several watering holes scattered around the salt pan, which in turn attracts a tremendous concentration of incredible wildlife species.
Watering hole
**WE LOVE: There’s nothing like the sight of 1 million magenta flamingoes all gathered in one place. As the only known mass breeding ground for flamingoes, Etosha is the sole locating where you can witness this remarkable spectacle.
Magenta Flamingoes at Etosha National Park
Namibia is Great for first-time safari-goers
Often referred to as ‘Africa for Beginners’, Namibia is one of the best places to go on your first African safari. While Namibia may not be your typical safari destination, there is so much more to this southern African country than people would expect. Famous for its majestic dessert landscape, gigantic sand dunes, and dramatic scenery, Namibia is unlike anything you’ve seen or experienced before.
Besides the sand dunes that dominate the 55-million-year-old Namib Desert, Namibia is home to an incredible diversity of landscapes and destinations. Besides these diverse destinations, safari-goers will also have the opportunity to enjoy some of the most exceptional game lodges and safari destinations tucked away in the most remote regions, offering intrepid travellers with havens of serenity and comfort.
Top Safari Experiences In Namibia
Where to go in Namibia
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park
Considered by many safari aficionados as one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves & most extraordinary safari destinations, the 22 000km2 (8494 square mile) wilderness of Etosha National Park is undoubtedly the top location for a quintessential Namibia safari. When it comes to wildlife, Etosha National Park doesn’t disappoint! Etosha is home to an enticing blend of classic African animals together with desert species – including 114 species of mammals, four of the Big Five & the world’s largest concentration of black rhinos. A safari in Etosha during the dry months of April to October means you’ll be treated to some of the BEST wildlife viewing experiences on the continent!
The renowned Etosha National Park not only offers avid wildlife lovers excellent game-viewing opportunities, but is famous for its animal-packed waterholes & abundant predator sightings. With more than 40 waterholes at Etosha National Park, patient & insistent safari goers will be well rewarded for their persistence with easy & down-right exhilarating up-close wildlife sightings & encounters, as well as thrilling predator-prey interactions.
The Park’s flat landscapes & scattered watering holes makes Etosha National Park one of the BEST places in both Africa & the world to experience bucket-list worthy game viewing. Enormous elephants, shy leopards, majestic cheetahs (Namibia is home to 40% of Africa’s free-roaming cheetah population), lions basking in the sun & a glorious abundance of plain game are merely some of the wildlife species you can look forward to seeing on an exciting & action-packed safari adventure. Etosha National Park is home to a bounteous population of critically endangered black rhinos; with Namibia’s rhino conservation programme being one of the most successful in the world.
Another one of Etosha National Park’s major highlights & attractions is the Etosha Pan – a large shimmering white expanse of clay & salt that spreads across 5,000sq km in the arid desert landscape of northern Namibia. In addition to the iconic Etosha Pan being the largest salt pan in Africa, it is easily the reserve’s most dramatic feature. There are several watering holes scattered around the salt pan, which in turn attracts a vast & diverse population of wildlife.
Why Go To Etosha National Park
- Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s greatest National Parks.
- Etosha is one of the best places in Southern Africa to see cheetah & black rhino.
- Expect Incredible game viewing between May and October (Namibia’s Dry Season).
- Excellent accommodation in adjacent private reserves.
- Easy & safe for self-driving.
- As the only known mass breeding ground for flamingoes, Etosha is the sole location where you can witness this remarkable spectacle. There’s nothing like the sight of 1 million magenta flamingoes all gathered in one place.
- The best experiences in Etosha are all about spotting wildlife at waterholes during the dry winter months on a thrilling Namibian safari. A number of them are spread throughout the park near accessible roads, so all you have to do is park, kick back with a flask of coffee & wait for the animals to arrive.
