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When to go · Namibia

Namibia in January

Mixed month. Hot, first big storms; South African holidaymakers till mid-month.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
Medium
Namibia
Prices
Medium
Namibia

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Namibia

Hot, first big storms; South African holidaymakers till mid-month.

Is another month better than January?

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in January

  • Central highlands · Windhoek, Waterberghot

    At 1,650 m: summer thunderstorms (Jan–Mar), cold clear winter nights near freezing.

  • Namib Desert · Sossusvlei, Sesriem, NamibRandhot

    Summer days above 40 °C (104 °F) in the dunes; winter days warm, nights cold. Rain is rare.

  • Skeleton and central coast · Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Cape Crossbest weather

    Cool fog most mornings all year; east-wind sandstorms can blow in winter.

  • Damaraland and Kunene · Twyfelfontein, Palmwag, Opuwohot

    Hot and dry; summer rain floods the ephemeral rivers.

  • Etosha · Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutonirainy

    Game gathers at waterholes June–October; rains bring green grass, dispersed animals and birdlife.

  • Zambezi region (Caprivi) · Katima Mulilo, Bwabwata, Mudumurainy

    Tropical, wetter and with the highest malaria risk; rivers and floodplains.

  • Caprivi: Zambezi Region · Caprivi panhandlerainy

    Dry season May–September is best for game and road access; October–April is hot and wet, with the flood peak later in the season.

  • Erongo: Coast (Swakopmund, Walvis Bay) · Atlantic stripfine

    Cold sea fog and wind most mornings; 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) days, colder than inland. Rain is rare.

  • Erongo: Inland (Spitzkoppe, Erongo Mountains, Uis) · Granite and desert plateauhot

    Summer days over 35 °C (95 °F); winter nights near freezing. Rainy season roughly November to April — gravel roads deteriorate after rain, so check conditions before any inland leg in those months.

  • Four-O region: Central north (Tsumeb, Ondangwa) · Four-O interiorrainy

    Rainy season roughly November to March; the dry months May–September give the best gravel-road conditions and the best Etosha game viewing. October is hot before the rains.

  • Hardap: Hardap interior · B1 corridor and Kalahari edgehot

    Desert and semi-desert: hot days, cold nights in winter (May–Aug). Rain, when it comes, falls Dec–Mar and can make gravel roads slick.

  • ǁKaras: Southern Namib coast (Lüderitz, Oranjemund) · Atlantic stripbest weather

    Cold sea fog and wind most of the year; pack a jacket even in summer.

  • ǁKaras: Inland (Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Koës) · Nama Karoo and Kalahari edgehot

    Summer days push past 35 °C (95 °F); winter nights near freezing. The wildflower bloom follows June–July rain and shows in early August.

  • Kavango: Kavango river corridor · Rundu, Divundu, Nkurenkuru and the Okavango bankrainy

    Rain falls mainly December to March, when D-roads turn to mud and the river rises. May to September is dry, cooler and the reliable window. October and November are hot before the rains; expect 35 °C (95 °F)+ afternoons.

  • Khomas: Windhoek and the Khomas highland · Central plateau, 1,600–1,800 mrainy

    Rain falls mainly December–March, often as short afternoon storms. May–August days are mild but nights drop near or below freezing. October–November is hot and dry before the rains.

  • Kunene: Kaokoland and the Kunene River · Opuwo, Epupa, Ruacanahot

    Hottest Oct–Mar (often 35 °C (95 °F)+); the May–Sep dry season is the workable window. Rain Nov–Apr can close gravel roads.

  • Kunene: Damaraland belt · Khorixas, Palmwag, Twyfelfonteinhot

    Cooler nights at altitude; April–October for the rock-art sites and desert elephants.

  • Omaheke: Omaheke sandveld · Eastern Namibia, Gobabis and the Botswana borderrainy

    Summer (Nov–Mar) is hot with afternoon thunderstorms; the rainy season can make sand and D-roads difficult. May–Sep is dry and cooler, with cold nights in Jun–Jul.

  • Otjozondjupa: Central plateau (Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Grootfontein) · B1/B8 corridor, about 1,300–1,600 mrainy

    Rainy season roughly November–March, heaviest Jan–Feb; afternoon thunderstorms can make gravel and D-roads slippery. Winter (Jun–Aug) nights drop near freezing on the plateau; days stay mild.

  • Windhoek30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Aus25 °C (77 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days
  • Brandberg28 °C (82 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days
  • Epupa Falls30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Gobabis30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Grootfontein30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days
  • Katima Mulilo30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days
  • Keetmanshoop35 °C (95 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days
  • Khorixas30 °C (86 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Lüderitz24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days
  • Maltahöhe35 °C (95 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days
  • Mariental35 °C (95 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days
  • Noordoewer40 °C (104 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • Okahandja28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days
  • Opuwo30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days
  • Oranjemund30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days
  • Oshakati32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Otjiwarongo28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Outjo28 °C (82 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days
  • Rehoboth28 °C (82 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days
  • Rundu30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Skeleton Coast National Park25 °C (77 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Sossusvlei36 °C (97 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days
  • Swakopmund22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days
  • Tsumeb30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tsumkwe30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days
  • Walvis Bay15.2 °C (59 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 1 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • New Year's Day

    1 Jan

    Coast and campsites full.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Namibia
Medium
Prices · Namibia
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Namibia, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Jan: Mixed

    May: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Jan: Medium

    May: Medium

  • Prices

    Jan: Medium

    May: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Jan: 1

    May: 5

January: Hot, first big storms; South African holidaymakers till mid-month.

May: Start of the dry season: pleasant days, cool nights, green still around.

Namibia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in January

Rated best or good this month

  • Skeleton and central coast

    Best weather of the year (Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Cape Cross)

  • Lüderitz

    Best months: All year; avoid the strongest winds Dec–Feb

  • Swakopmund

    Best months: All year; May–Sep for cooler days, Oct–Apr for warm beach weather

  • Tsumkwe

    Best months: Aug–Oct (best wildlife viewing) and Jan–Apr (wet season scenery)