Namibia in May

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

No other month rates higher than May for Namibia in this guide.

• 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 Crossfine

  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, Namutonifine

  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 stripfine

  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 plateaubest weather

  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 edgebest weather

  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 stripfine

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

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

  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 mfine

  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 mbest weather

  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.

• Windhoek23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Aus32 °C (90 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
• Brandberg23 °C (73 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 0 rain days
• Epupa Falls24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Gobabis24 °C (75 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Grootfontein24 °C (75 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Katima Mulilo35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
• Keetmanshoop26 °C (79 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Khorixas31 °C (88 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
• Lüderitz20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
• Maltahöhe25 °C (77 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 1 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 1 rain days
• Mariental25 °C (77 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 1 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 1 rain days
• Noordoewer28 °C (82 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
• Okahandja24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
• Opuwo31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Oranjemund33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 1 rain days
• Oshakati28 °C (82 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
• Otjiwarongo23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Outjo23 °C (73 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 1 rain days
• Rehoboth24 °C (75 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
• Rundu24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 5 rain days
• Skeleton Coast National Park29 °C (84 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Sossusvlei27 °C (81 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Swakopmund21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Tsumeb22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
• Tsumkwe24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Walvis Bay12.1 °C (54 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 1 rain days54 °F (12.1 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 1 rain days

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.

• Workers' Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• Cassinga Day

  4 May

  Remembers the 1978 massacre of Namibian refugees in Angola.

• Ascension Day

  May (moves yearly)

  Public holiday.

• Africa Day

  25 May

  Public holiday.

• Workers’ Day and Cassinga Day

  1 and 4 May · Windhoek

  Public holidays; many shops close.

Crowds · Namibia

Medium

Prices · Namibia

Medium

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

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)

• Zambezi region (Caprivi)

  Best weather of the year (Katima Mulilo, Bwabwata, Mudumu)

• Windhoek

  Dry and mild.

• Brandberg

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Epupa Falls

  Best months: May–Sep

• Gobabis

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Grootfontein

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Katima Mulilo

  Best months: May–Oct

• Keetmanshoop

  Best months: Apr–Sep (dry, cooler)

• Maltahöhe

  Best months: Apr–Oct (dry season, roads in best condition)