When to go · Namibia
Namibia in July
Great month. European summer peak; Sossusvlei and Etosha book out months ahead.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Namibia
- Prices
- High
- Namibia
Verdict
European summer peak; Sossusvlei and Etosha book out months ahead.
Is another month better than July?
No other month rates higher than July for Namibia in this guide.
Weather in July
- Central highlands · Windhoek, Waterbergbest weather
At 1,650 m: summer thunderstorms (Jan–Mar), cold clear winter nights near freezing.
- Namib Desert · Sossusvlei, Sesriem, NamibRandbest weather
Summer days above 40 °C (104 °F) in the dunes; winter days warm, nights cold. Rain is rare.Summer days above 104 °F (40 °C) in the dunes; winter days warm, nights cold. Rain is rare.
- Skeleton and central coast · Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Cape Crosscool
Cool fog most mornings all year; east-wind sandstorms can blow in winter.
- Damaraland and Kunene · Twyfelfontein, Palmwag, Opuwobest weather
Hot and dry; summer rain floods the ephemeral rivers.
- Etosha · Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutonibest weather
Game gathers at waterholes June–October; rains bring green grass, dispersed animals and birdlife.
- Zambezi region (Caprivi) · Katima Mulilo, Bwabwata, Mudumubest weather
Tropical, wetter and with the highest malaria risk; rivers and floodplains.
- Caprivi: Zambezi Region · Caprivi panhandlebest weather
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 stripcool
Cold sea fog and wind most mornings; 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) days, colder than inland. Rain is rare.Cold sea fog and wind most mornings; 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) days, colder than inland. Rain is rare.
- Erongo: Inland (Spitzkoppe, Erongo Mountains, Uis) · Granite and desert plateaufine
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.Summer days over 95 °F (35 °C); 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 interiorbest weather
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 edgefine
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 stripcool
Cold sea fog and wind most of the year; pack a jacket even in summer.
- ǁKaras: Inland (Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Koës) · Nama Karoo and Kalahari edgecool
Summer days push past 35 °C (95 °F); winter nights near freezing. The wildflower bloom follows June–July rain and shows in early August.Summer days push past 95 °F (35 °C); 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 bankbest weather
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.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 95 °F (35 °C)+ afternoons.
- Khomas: Windhoek and the Khomas highland · Central plateau, 1,600–1,800 mdry
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, Ruacanabest weather
Hottest Oct–Mar (often 35 °C (95 °F)+); the May–Sep dry season is the workable window. Rain Nov–Apr can close gravel roads.Hottest Oct–Mar (often 95 °F (35 °C)+); the May–Sep dry season is the workable window. Rain Nov–Apr can close gravel roads.
- Kunene: Damaraland belt · Khorixas, Palmwag, Twyfelfonteinbest weather
Cooler nights at altitude; April–October for the rock-art sites and desert elephants.
- Omaheke: Omaheke sandveld · Eastern Namibia, Gobabis and the Botswana borderbest weather
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 mfine
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.
- Windhoek20 °C (68 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 0 rain days
- Aus35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
- Brandberg22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 0 rain days
- Epupa Falls22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 1 rain days
- Gobabis22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 0 rain days
- Grootfontein22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 1 rain days
- Katima Mulilo31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
- Keetmanshoop23 °C (73 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 0 rain days
- Khorixas29 °C (84 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
- Lüderitz17 °C (63 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
- Maltahöhe22 °C (72 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 0 rain days
- Mariental22 °C (72 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 0 rain days
- Noordoewer24 °C (75 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 0 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 0 rain days
- Okahandja21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
- Opuwo26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Oranjemund33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 1 rain days
- Oshakati26 °C (79 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 0 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 0 rain days
- Otjiwarongo22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 1 rain days
- Outjo22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 0 rain days
- Rehoboth21 °C (70 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 1 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 1 rain days
- Rundu22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
- Skeleton Coast National Park31 °C (88 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
- Sossusvlei24 °C (75 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 0 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 0 rain days
- Swakopmund20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 0 rain days
- Tsumeb19 °C (66 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 3 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 3 rain days
- Tsumkwe22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 1 rain days
- Walvis Bay10.3 °C (51 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 0 rain days51 °F (10.3 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 0 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Namibia
- High
- Prices · Namibia
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Namibia, side by side.
Verdict
Jul: Great
May: Great
Crowds
Jul: High
May: Medium
Prices
Jul: High
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Jul: 0
May: 5
July: European summer peak; Sossusvlei and Etosha book out months ahead.
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
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in July
Rated best or good this month
Central highlands
Best weather of the year (Windhoek, Waterberg)
Namib Desert
Best weather of the year (Sossusvlei, Sesriem, NamibRand)
Damaraland and Kunene
Best weather of the year (Twyfelfontein, Palmwag, Opuwo)
Etosha
Best weather of the year (Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni)
Zambezi region (Caprivi)
Best weather of the year (Katima Mulilo, Bwabwata, Mudumu)
Dry, cold early mornings.
Best months: Apr–Oct
Best months: May–Sep
Best months: Apr–Oct
Best months: Apr–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: Apr–Sep (dry, cooler)