
When To Visit Namibia
The weather in Namibia is generally good year-round with some destinations offering as much as 300 days per year of sunshine. Summer days in the desert regions are sweltering and winter nights can drop below zero degrees Celsius.
But the question remains; when is the best time to visit Namibia to which we can only answer 'how long is a piece of string?'. The answer, in short, depends on you; your budget, your expectations, your interests and what you want to experience.
- High Season: July to October
- Low Season: December to April
- Mid Season: November, May and June
Summer In Namibia
Summer months are regarded as the low season in terms of costs, but with the temperature that in the high 30's and low 40°C marks this period can make for an uncomfortable safari (depending on how you and your fellow travellers react to heat). Namibia is also a summer rainfall region with the northern and eastern regions getting mostly afternoon thunderstorms, rainfall can and does quite often play havoc with roads conditions making driving times that bit longer.
For us, the bonus of a Namibia safari in the summer months is that most of the attractions and destinations are quieter in terms of visitor numbers, most of us at Uyaphi.com do not mind the heat and are somewhat used to 35+ degrees Celsius.
Winter In Namibia
Winter in Namibia is high season in terms of costs, lower daytime temperatures and close to freezing evenings make this period a lot more user-friendly for travellers from the Northern Hemisphere. Winter is also the dry season in Namibia and with that better wildlife viewing can be had in the northern, eastern and Caprivi Strip regions due to wildlife making use of the waterholes within National Parks and Reserves.
Note; with winter being the high season, all attractions are busy with people coming and going at a constant rate, but on saying that only Sossusvlei has ever felt too busy for us (they say 500 vehicles a day pass through the gate).
Best Season For Wildlife
Winter is best for wildlife in Etosha National Park with wildlife making use of the waterholes throughout the day. Summer is not bad though, but after good rains, wildlife does become scarce.
Best Season For Birdlife
Summer is without question best for the birders out there, especially in the northern areas and the Caprivi Strip with all the summer migrants, birding in summer is rather good.
The Best Time To Visit Namibia?
Namibia as a general rule is a year-round destination for visitors to the country, but on saying that, the best time to safari in Namibia (most popular and most expensive) are the winter months as temperatures are mild and the wildlife sightings are all close to watering holes.
Summer is simply just too hot for most people, especially folk from the northern hemisphere, coming from a winter in Europe and stepping out of the plane to be met by +40° degree Celsius temperatures is off-putting to most. But on saying that we have travelled in Namibia in the summer months and the place was empty and although hot, nothing an air-conditioned vehicle and lodge room could not sort out. The wildlife in Etosha in summer for us was rather disappointing though (hence winter is better for wildlife).
Windhoek Temperature Chart

Windhoek Average Rainfall Chart

Etosha Temperature Chart

Etosha Average Rainfall Chart

Solitaire Temperature Chart

Solitaire Average Rainfall Chart

Swakopmund Temperature Chart

Swakopmund Average Rainfall Chart

The Road To Sossusvlei
Once one navigates the main Sesriem entrance gates and enters the national park a pleasant surprise awaits, a tarred road (yes, a tarred road) that extends all the way through to the main parking area near Sossusvlei.
Cape Town To The Kunene River
In November and December of last year (2019), we loaded our Jeep and headed north out of Cape Town, destination Namibia and the Kunene River, her border with Angola.
A couple of thousand kilometres later, we returned, this time, more in love with country than ever.
Windhoek Oktoberfest 2021
On the 25th and 26th of October, the Sports Klub Windhoek will host the 55th edition of the Oktoberfest. Over 5000 people are expected to attend (compared to 1000 in 2010).
Adding a certain local flavour will be the Namibian band Famaz Attak, and there will be long-established activities and games like archery and tree trunk sawing.
Top 5 restaurants in Windhoek
Continuing our series of dining in Africa, we look at Windhoek. More and more visitors are becoming aware of the unique attractions that this country as a safari destination has to offer.
Nowhere is too far to travel in this small (and clean) city of 330,000 but be warned when you go out to eat, vegetarianism is not common!
Best Places To Go In Namibia
The Uyaphi team has compiled a list of the "Best Places to go" which most safari itineraries would include. A different destination from most African safari destinations.
Instead of lush green forests or open savannas, the primary attraction being vast, open deserts interspersed with canyons, mountain ranges, and oasis.
Living With The Himba
In May 2012, we arranged for Uyaphi.Com client Ken Vine from Devon in England to stay with the traditional Himba people in two remote villages in the middle of Kaokoland.
He lived, slept, ate, conversed and photographed these Himba villagers.