Namibia in October

Hot and dusty; best waterhole viewing before the rains.

October is rated good. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatStart of the dry season: pleasant days, cool nights, green still around.
• JuneGreatCold desert nights (near 0 °C); Etosha waterholes busy.
• JulyGreatEuropean summer peak; Sossusvlei and Etosha book out months ahead.
• AugustGreatDry, clear and busy; east-wind days on the coast.

• Central highlands · Windhoek, Waterbergbest weather

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

• Namib Desert · Sossusvlei, Sesriem, NamibRandfine

  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, Opuwohot

  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, Mudumuhot

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

• Caprivi: Zambezi Region · Caprivi panhandlefine

  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 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 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 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 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, Twyfelfonteinfine

  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 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.

• Windhoek29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Aus30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 1 rain days
• Brandberg27 °C (81 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
• Epupa Falls27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 3 rain days
• Gobabis30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 rain days
• Grootfontein27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Katima Mulilo29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Keetmanshoop32 °C (90 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
• Khorixas31 °C (88 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• Lüderitz22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
• Maltahöhe32 °C (90 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
• Mariental32 °C (90 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
• Noordoewer34 °C (93 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
• Okahandja25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
• Opuwo29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Oranjemund32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• Oshakati33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 4 rain days
• Otjiwarongo25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
• Outjo25 °C (77 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Rehoboth26 °C (79 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 4 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 4 rain days
• Rundu28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 7 rain days
• Skeleton Coast National Park29 °C (84 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 4 rain days
• Sossusvlei33 °C (91 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Swakopmund19 °C (66 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 0 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 0 rain days
• Tsumeb25 °C (77 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
• Tsumkwe26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
• Walvis Bay11.5 °C (53 °F) / 0.1 °C (32 °F), 0 rain days53 °F (11.5 °C) / 32 °F (0.1 °C), 0 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.

• Windhoek Oktoberfest (check dates)

  Sep–Oct · Windhoek

  Beer-hall events; hotels and taxis busy.

Crowds · Namibia

Medium

Prices · Namibia

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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Rated best or good this month

• Central highlands

  Best weather of the year (Windhoek, Waterberg)

• Etosha

  Best weather of the year (Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni)

• Windhoek

  Hot afternoons, dry.

• Brandberg

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Gobabis

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Grootfontein

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Katima Mulilo

  Best months: May–Oct

• Maltahöhe

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

• Mariental

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Noordoewer

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Okahandja

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Oranjemund

  Best months: Apr–Oct