When to go · Namibia
Namibia in November
Mixed month. Very hot inland; first storms in the north.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Namibia
- Prices
- Medium
- Namibia
Verdict
Very hot inland; first storms in the north.
Is another month better than November?
November is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in November
- 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.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 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, Namutonihot
Game gathers at waterholes June–October; rains bring green grass, dispersed animals and birdlife.
- Zambezi region (Caprivi) · Katima Mulilo, Bwabwata, Mudumuhot
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 stripbest weather
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 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.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 interiorfine
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 edgefine
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 bankfine
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, 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.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, Twyfelfonteinhot
Cooler nights at altitude; April–October for the rock-art sites and desert elephants.
- Omaheke: Omaheke sandveld · Eastern Namibia, Gobabis and the Botswana borderfine
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.
- Windhoek30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 4 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 4 rain days
- Aus27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
- Brandberg27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
- Epupa Falls28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
- Gobabis31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 5 rain days
- Grootfontein29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 9 rain days
- Katima Mulilo28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 9 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 9 rain days
- Keetmanshoop34 °C (93 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
- Khorixas31 °C (88 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
- Lüderitz23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
- Maltahöhe34 °C (93 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Mariental34 °C (93 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Noordoewer37 °C (99 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 2 rain days
- Okahandja26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
- Opuwo30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Oranjemund31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
- Oshakati33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 8 rain days
- Otjiwarongo26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
- Outjo27 °C (81 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Rehoboth27 °C (81 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 7 rain days
- Rundu29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 9 rain days
- Skeleton Coast National Park27 °C (81 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Sossusvlei35 °C (95 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Swakopmund21 °C (70 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 1 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 1 rain days
- Tsumeb27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
- Tsumkwe28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
- Walvis Bay12.9 °C (55 °F) / 0.7 °C (33 °F), 0 rain days55 °F (12.9 °C) / 33 °F (0.7 °C), 0 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Namibia
- Low
- Prices · Namibia
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Namibia, side by side.
Verdict
Nov: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Nov: Low
May: Medium
Prices
Nov: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Nov: 0
May: 5
November: Very hot inland; first storms in the north.
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
Where to go in November
Rated best or good this month
Skeleton and central coast
Best weather of the year (Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Cape Cross)
Best months: All year; May–Sep for cooler days, Oct–Apr for warm beach weather
Best months: Sep–Nov