Namibia

Best Time to Travel & Climate

Namibia's climatic variations correspond roughly to its geographical subdivisions. In the arid central Namib Desert, summer daytime temperatures may climb to over 40°C, but can fall to below freezing during the night.

Rainfall is heaviest in the northeast, which enjoys a subtropical climate, and reaches over 600mm annually along the Okavango River. The northern and interior regions experience 'little rains' between October and December, while the main stormy period occurs from January to April.

With an unpredictable annual rainfall and very high evaporation rate, Namibia is largely an arid country, and the Namib Desert is one of the driest areas in the world. Except in the south-western corner of the country, a winter-rainfall area, more than half of the precipitation is recorded between October and March, and usually occurs as violent thunderstorms during mid-afternoon or early evening.

Daytime temperatures in summer are usually very high in the extreme north and south of the country. The central highlands are usually a bit cooler, while winter days are mild and temperatures are low.