Namib-Naukluft National Park

Best Time to Visit

24 Namib-Naukluft Safaris

Expert

By Anthony Ham

Anthony is the author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide.

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Excellent

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Namib-Naukluft is a premier travel destination in Namibia, mostly visited for its stunning desert scenery and less for its wildlife. Therefore, the park may be visited throughout the year, but the most comfortable time is during the cooler months from May to October. Outside of these months it can be very hot, limiting how much time you may want to spend outside.

Best Time May to September (Less hot)

High Season July to November (Sossusvlei area gets busy and high-season rates apply)

Low Season December to June (Low-season rates may apply)

Best Weather May to September (Cooler during the day)

Worst Weather November to February (Very hot at lower altitude areas, including Sossusvlei)

May to October –Dry Season – Winter

It is less hot in the middle of the day (except for October)
Best time for hiking in the Naukluft Mountains
Sossusvlei area gets quite busy at times
It is cold in the early morning
It is very dry and dusty and the sky can be hazy

Wildlife Photos

View Photos (7)

+5 Photos

November to April –Wet Season – Summer

The rain comes as a relief after a long dry period
Flowers brighten the desert scenery and the views tend to be clearer after rain
Excellent time for birding with migratory birds present
It tends to be oppressively hot
Occasional flash floods can restrict access to some areas
If visiting both Namib-Naukluft and Etosha; wildlife viewing in Etosha isn't as productive