Self-drive wildlife safaris in Namibia

Best time to go

May through to September tends to be our favourite time to travel to Namibia, although all months offer an incredible experience.

Namibia’s central area is classified as an arid to semi-arid region; arid becoming semi-arid when rainfall exceeds evaporation.   The climate is ‘sub-tropical’ desert, characterised by a wide range in temperature between day and night, and between summer and winter.

The Namibian ‘winter’ is from May to September and during these months the skies are clear and there is little rainfall.  As the season progresses, daytime temperatures start to drop from an average of 25˚C in April and May to 15˚C during the day, and nights are cold.  Between June and August there may be overnight frost in the desert and high areas so take some layers on evening and night game drives. The drier months of June through to October are the best months to see wildlife, particularly in Etosha National Park, as the wildlife use waterholes – which have good access and are easy to watch – more frequently.

The Namibian ‘summer’ is between October and April.  Daytime temperatures are high, sometimes reaching over 40˚C in the desert.  There is little humidity between October and the end of the year so high temperatures feel pleasant. From late December through to the end of March there tends to be localised afternoon rain showers which do bring humidity.  Wildlife is less reliant on the waterholes at this time of year and so less easy to spot, especially as the vegetation also tends to be more green and leafy.