The Namibian flag proudly displays a beautiful symbol of the sun that accurately reflects what the country is renowned for: continual sunshine and stunning bright, blue skies. Namibia is regarded as one of the sunniest countries on the planet with an average of 300 days of sunshine! Clear skies and hours of sunshine paint the landscapes in beautiful colours especially at dusk and dawn.

Due to the arid nature of the country and the desert-like environment it means that the overall humidity is low and the climate is generally classified as being hot and dry.

With Namibia being located in the Southern hemisphere the country’s warmer and cooler seasons are at the opposite times to that of Europe and Northern America. The spring and summer months are from September to February. The autumn and winter months are from March to August.

When is the best time to visit Namibia?

Overall Namibia has a relatively enjoyable climate. If you are planning to visit Namibia, we recommend that visitors consider travelling and exploring the country during the months from March to October.

Autumn and Spring is the most pleasant time with moderate temperatures and loads of sunshine!

Autumn falls within the months of March, April and May. Spring falls within the months of September, October and November. During the autumn and spring seasons daytime temperatures are pleasantly mild with highs averaging 28^oC.

Winter and Summer are known for extreme temperature differences

Winter falls with the months of June, July and August while the summer falls within the months of December, January and February. During the winter months, daytime temperatures drop slightly averaging 22^oC. The Namibian desert environment and open savannah plains can get surprisingly chilly at night with nighttime temperatures easily dropping to below 0^oC during the winter months. The summer months can get scorchingly hot during the day with temperatures easily reaching 38^oC or higher in the shade. Summer nights are moderately warm - perfect for late night caps, sleeping outside and star gazing!

RAINY SEASON

Water is a scarce commodity in Namibia and overall rainfall figures are low. Namibia receives its annual rainfall during the spring and summer months from November to February. Due to the low precipitation - and often prevailing droughts - visitors are requested to use water wisely and sparingly.

The Caprivi Strip and Kavango area towards the northeastern part of the country has the highest precipitation with rainfall figures averaging between 600 - 800 mm per year. Due to the humid nature of the region, this part of Namibia is evergreen and swamps and rivers dot the landscape. The humid northern region of Namibia is also home to malaria-carrying mosquitoes and visitors are advised to take special precautions and all necessary measures when visiting the region.

Windhoek and the surrounding highlands receive no rainfall during the months from May to August. Annual rainfall averages only 370 mm per year.

The Namib and Kalahari deserts received little to no annual rainfall. The Namib desert’s fauna and flora mainly relies on the Atlantic ocean fog bank that slowly drifts inland and bring much needed precipitation for wildlife and plants alike. The low precipitation levels have forced fauna and flora species to evolve and adapt to live in this extremely harsh environment that further highlights the unique nature of Namibia.

EVERY DROPS COUNT!

For us at All Round Namibia, the country is at its most beautiful during the rainy months. During a good rainy season the desert-like plains erupt with colour as flowers and plants come to life after lying dormant during the harsh, dry seasons - sometimes for years on end. Every drop of water counts in a country where humans and animals are at times brought to its knees during especially dry spells that can often extend for years on end. Bulging blue-grey clouds on the horizon brings along the excitement and expectation of much needed rain as living creatures and plants wait patiently for the first drops. Rain in Namibia omits a great smell and it is probably the only country on the African continent that visitors will remember the smell of the rains on the beautiful African soils.