Namibia is a country of space and silence: red dunes that rise 300 metres, a salt pan you can see from orbit, a coast of fog and shipwrecks, and some of the darkest skies on earth. It is one of the least crowded countries in Africa, and one of the easiest to travel, with good roads, small lodges and very few people.
The headline places are Sossusvlei and its great dunes, Etosha and its waterholes, the desert-adapted elephants of Damaraland, and the coast at Swakopmund. Behind them lie the Fish River Canyon, the ghost town of Kolmanskop, the Kunene and the Himba, and the green rivers of the Zambezi Region.
We shape each trip by road or by light aircraft, always with a small number of well-chosen lodges, and the long, quiet drives are part of the pleasure.
Namibia is a land of desert-adapted wildlife. Etosha has elephants, lions, giraffe and some of the best black rhino viewing in Africa, and Damaraland has elephants and rhinos that have learned to live in the desert. The coast has the Cape Cross seal colony, and the north-east has hippos, crocodiles and a rich birdlife.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Popular activities
Namibia is dry and sunny almost all year. The interior has hot days and cold winter nights, the coast is cool, foggy and windy, and the north-east is warm and humid in summer. Most of the rain falls between November and March.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 | 18 | 79 |
| Feb | 30 | 17 | 78 |
| Mar | 29 | 16 | 76 |
| Apr | 26 | 13 | 35 |
| May | 24 | 8 | 7 |
| Jun | 21 | 5 | 1 |
| Jul | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| Aug | 25 | 7 | 1 |
| Sep | 28 | 11 | 3 |
| Oct | 30 | 14 | 10 |
| Nov | 31 | 16 | 28 |
| Dec | 31 | 17 | 45 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
The dry season runs from May to October, with clear skies, warm days and cold nights, and animals concentrated at the waterholes.
The rains fall from November to April, mostly as brief, heavy storms, with the most rain from January to March. The landscapes turn green, and the north-east is humid.
May to October is the best time, with dry, clear days, cool nights, and animals gathering at the waterholes in Etosha. The summer from November to April is hot, with afternoon storms and green landscapes, and some of the south is too hot for hiking. The coast is cool all year.
Best time to visit May to Nov
Scenic AreaSossusvlei and the NamibThe world's tallest red dunes
National ParkEtosha National ParkWaterholes that draw everything in
RegionDamaralandDesert elephants and ancient rock art
National ParkSkeleton CoastFog, shipwrecks and roaring seal colonies
City & TownSwakopmundSeaside town between dunes and ocean
City & TownWindhoekNamibia's small, friendly capitalMost travellers arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport, about 45 minutes from Windhoek. Light aircraft link Windhoek with Etosha, Damaraland, Sossusvlei and the Kunene, and scheduled flights serve Walvis Bay and Luderitz. We combine road and air to keep your days for the landscape and the animals.
Since 1 April 2025, visitors from many countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Austria, need a visa to enter Namibia. It can be applied for online in advance as an e-visa, or at the port of entry on arrival, and costs about N$1,600 (roughly US$90) for adults, valid for the stay you request. Visitors from neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, and from some other countries, can still enter without one. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival and have at least three blank pages. Rules change, so please check the requirements for your passport before you book. Park and conservancy fees are charged per person per day and are included in our safaris. A yellow fever certificate may be needed if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever.
Please talk to your doctor about vaccinations. The south and the coast are malaria-free, and Etosha, the Kunene and the Zambezi Region have a risk in the wet season, so take advice on prophylaxis. Carry travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, and bring plenty of water and sun protection.
Our take
“Fly one leg”
Namibia is a country of distances, so we always suggest flying one or two legs and driving the rest. A flight over the dunes saves a long day on the road, and the drives you keep are the beautiful ones. Give Sossusvlei and Etosha at least two nights each, and keep a few days for the coast, Damaraland or the south if you can.
Safaris from
US$1,598 per person
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Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
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