Namibia is not a difficult place to travel in, and whilst there is a remoteness and space which it is hard to find elsewhere, the 2 biggest headaches for most travellers will be the vast distances and unforgiving desert heat.
Much of Namibia is part of the great dry deserts of the Namib, which runs along the entire western coastline, and the Kalahari in the east.
Contrasting with these huge deserts is the sub tropical rainforest area of the far north-east around the Caprivi Strip, and the inland plateau of central Namibia is characterised by mountains and rocky outcrops.
Because of these wide geographic variations, the climatic conditions differ immensely as you travel through Namibia.
Windhoek
The central area around Windhoek is generally cooler, partly due to its elevation at just over 1,600m.
The rainy season is January to March, and is accompanied by violent thunderstorms and heavy downpours. Average Summer temperatures are around 30°C, but coupled with the high humidity levels Summer in the capital city can be almost unbearable.
The Winter months are more pleasant and comfortable.
Arid Desert Regions
Daytime temperatures in the Summer months can reach over 40°C, and drop rapidly to below freezing at night.
Most of the rain falls during these months, but being a desert the average annual rainfall is only about 50mm.
The best climate is found on the coast around the towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, where a cooling sea breeze eases the harshness of the desert sun. The downsides, however, are frequent morning coastal fogs.
The drier Winter months are more pleasant, with average daytime temperatures around 20°C.
Etosha National Park
Summer temperatures in the Park average just over 30°C, and January and March are also the wettest months, which although great for the green vegetation, can make game viewing more difficult.
The Winter months between May and August are much cooler and there is little or no rain.
The veld is drier, making for better viewing both in the bush and around the many waterholes, where the animals will more frequently gather to drink.
