Namibia Travel: Weather & Climate

With very sparse and erratic rainfall, an extremely high evaporation rate, and about 300 days of sunshine a year, Namibia is largely dry and hot.

The country receives nearly all of its rainfall during the summer months between October and March. This precipitation usually occurs in the form of spectacular thunderstorms in the late afternoon or early evening. Only the far southwestern corner of the country is a winter rainfall region.

The daytime temperatures in Namibia are usually very hot, peaking at over 40°C in the summer. The coastal areas are cooler than the rest of the country due to the cold Benguela current, which often causes dense fog over the area and inhibits rainfall. Many people holiday along the coast in Swakopmund and Luderitz as these areas offer some respite from the heat in the summer.

The central plateau, due to its higher altitude, experiences slightly lower temperatures.

As is typical of a desert to semi-desert region, hot daytime temperatures are often coupled with very chilly nights. In the winter, temperatures can be as high as 30°C in the interior, but plummet to below freezing at night.

Find out more about the climate of specific regions.

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