A warm season with relatively low rainfall
The hot season is commonly referred to as December to April, but this climate is more subtle than our European summer. Temperatures range from 16°C to 34°C on average, but in desert areas they can reach 40°C to 45°C (and even 70°C at ground level in some parts of the Namib Desert!). Nights, however, remain relatively cool, making them a pleasant place to sleep, especially after a day of scorching temperatures. January, February and March correspond to the rainy season, but this is never very heavy (between 300 and 600 mm on average per year), with February generally being the wettest month. Climate change is unfortunately a reality in Namibia, with numerous disruptions in recent years, such as in January 2021, when torrential rains hit the country over several days, causing major flooding. The country was transformed into a vast green territory like never before. As a rule, rainfall is much heavier in the subtropical north. In the desert regions, rainfall varies on average from 30 to 120 mm per year. Rainfall is generally concentrated at the end of the day in the center and north of the country, and is extremely rare in the Sesriem region and along the Namibian coast (in Swakopmund, rainfall averages less than 40 mm per year). During this season, many Namibians and South Africans migrate (on vacation) to the ocean, to the seaside resorts of Swakopmund and Henties Bay, where the climate is cooler. Indeed, as we'll see later, these seaside towns and the entire Atlantic coast enjoy a pleasant microclimate all year round.
Travelling in Namibia during this warm, humid period has the advantage of longer days, and the few clouds at the end of the day offer the best photographic opportunities for sunsets. Finally, if you're lucky enough to see a few rains in the desert, you may have the privilege of discovering the desert in bloom and watching the Namib basins fill with water, forming unique natural oases (Sossusvlei). In Damaraland, wildlife is abundant in the rainy season, as the scarcity of water in the highlands drives animals down to the grassy plains in search of water and food. The Caprivi strip should be avoided, however, as roads are often flooded or closed. This is also the only region where malaria is still active, especially during the rainy season.
A cold and dry season
It's the austral winter, from May to September, with averages ranging from 4°C to 25°C, but temperatures sometimes drop as low as -10°C at night on the southern highlands and in the Kalahari Desert. The sky remains azure and the daytime temperature is very pleasant for hiking. The rain stops, nature is resplendent and the plants regain their color. Although the sun remains warm at this latitude, it quickly becomes very cold at dawn and dusk, and sometimes during the day, a fresh wind can blow quite strongly. Travellers should therefore take sufficiently warm clothing (anorak, scarf and gloves...) for cold winter evenings (especially when camping) and early morning game drives. Days are short and it's usually dark by 5pm.
However, this is the ideal season to visit Etosha Park, where the rare waterholes attract thirsty wildlife. Temperatures rise again in the Caprivi strip, where the end of the rains means you can discover this region of lush vegetation. Northern Kunene (Kaokoland) is also worth seeing during this season.
A hot and dry season
This season, which runs from September to December, is ideal for visiting Namibia. In some years, the interior of the country enjoys rare rains in October or November, but these are only sporadic thunderstorms, and these months are generally dry and the best for wildlife viewing in the game parks, with animals congregating around waterholes. September is ideal for backcountry campers, as the nights are not as cold as in winter and the daytime temperatures are just right for walking.
The Atlantic coast enjoys a special climate all year round. This is due to the winds, which considerably modify the climate, whatever the season. A thick fog often forms on the coast, due to the meeting of cold air created by the Benguela Current in the Atlantic Ocean with warm desert air. It can therefore be cool, even cold in spring if the wind is blowing, in Lüderitz, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and along the Skeleton Coast as far as Sesriem in winter. However, winter is also favourable for easterly winds. When it blows along the coast, it sweeps away the fog and cold influences of the ocean. In Swakopmund, for example, temperatures can suddenly rise by 15°C in the middle of winter, in just a few hours. The easterly wind can blow for days or weeks at a time, providing a welcoming, fog-free coastline where you can swap your K-Way for a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
Forget the sandy beaches, here the ocean is frigid and hostile. The more adventurous among you can try their luck, but be sure to ask before venturing in, as there are many jellyfish.
The fog and "Germanic" atmosphere of Swakopmund and Lüderitz, with their architecture, cuisine (oysters and goulash) and ethnic German population, are sometimes reminiscent of the beaches of northern Europe. It's a refreshing and welcome stopover after or before the Sossusvlei dunes during the austral summer, when it can easily reach 40°C.
