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Part of the attraction of Namibia is that it's good to go at any time of the year.
The country has over 300 days of sunshine per year and rainfall is relatively limited - please remember that Namibia is a huge country and therefore due to altitude, distance and time of the year the temperatures and weather can vary tremendously. This is to give you a guideline of what you may encounter. As with all weather conditions worldwide this is what to "usually" expect but can fluctuate a little.
Winter - From May to October and also the "dry" season. Day time temperature around 15-25c (depending on where you are) though night can get down to below freezing particularly in the desert regions or at higher altitude. The far south occasionally gets winter rain. Coldest month normally July and by September days are lengthening and warming up considerably.
As there is generally no rain from April it means game congregates around waterholes in the park from July-October and numbers of animals can reach several hundred. Atmosphere is very dry. Busiest months for tourists are August-October and pre-bookings are essential particularly in the main destinations such as the dunes, Swakopmund and Etosha.
Summer - From November to April. Temperatures rise considerably and can reach 35-40c in some regions so those that suffer from the heat may not appreciate this. The rains also start to build often starting with a bright sunny day and cloud developing during the day with a storm or shower in the afternoon. As the season progresses the rains can last longer - on occasion they can last 2-3 days but this isn't common and the storms are incredible to watch. In fact, sometimes there will be no rain for a week or so though its fair to say that the north/east of the country does get more rain than other areas. It may not rain for several days and then storm heavily. Taking this into account if you are driving it can mean flash floods and difficult road conditions. Rains tend to ease by mid March and finish at some point in April.
The countryside bursts into life with flowers and grasses erupting so is incredibly pretty and game viewing is different. It's often when the young are born (which in turn bring out the predators) but there are no congregations around waterholes as the animals are no longer dependent on the water. Game is spread across the park and all the animals seem more relaxed.
Remember Christmas, Easter and holiday times are often busier as both Europeans and locals take breaks and pre bookings are essential. |