Africa

Namibia

Namibia is a dry country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast, known for red dunes, the Etosha salt pan and the Skeleton Coast. Distances are long, so plan the trip one region at a time.

Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Namibia

Namibia is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast. Windhoek, its capital and largest city, is central and close to Hosea Kutako International Airport, so many trips start there. Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, and its name comes from the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. Gravel plains and dunes run along the coast, including the Skeleton Coast, while the Central Plateau rises inland.

Plan by region. The south has the dunes at Sossusvlei and Fish River Canyon, the coast has Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, and the north has Etosha Pan. The rock engravings at Twyfelfontein in the northwest are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2007. Winter, roughly June to August, is the dry season, and the main rains fall from February to April. Towns sit far apart in this thinly populated country, so each region needs its own stretch of driving time.

Five things to know before Namibia

Fill up at every fuel stop
Towns sit far apart in this thinly populated country, so fill up whenever you pass a station. Getting around
Check your rental contract for Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is reached from the Sesriem gate. Ask your rental company which roads its contract allows before you drive there. Sossusvlei
Pack a warm layer for cold nights
On the Central Plateau and in the Kalahari, daily temperatures can swing by up to 30 degrees C. Bring a fleece for cold nights and early starts.
Set up offline maps before you leave Windhoek
Download offline maps and your booking confirmations before you drive out of town. Phones and eSIM
Check Efundja conditions before going north
Each rainy season, Efundja floods parts of the north and can damage infrastructure. Check current conditions before you plan a trip there during the rains.

Namibia travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Windhoek

The capital, central and close to Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Read the guide Swakopmund

Coastal town where dense fog often forms, with sandboarding tours.

Read the guide Sossusvlei

Red dunes, reached from the Sesriem gate.

Read the guide Etosha National Park

Etosha Pan and the wildlife of the north.

Read the guide Getting around

Long distances and fuel planning, with highways and well-maintained roads.

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules by passport and how to check yours.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Namibia

See all attractions in Namibia

Historic site · WindhoekTurnhalle

Museum · WindhoekNational Museum of Namibia: Curation and Admin Building

brown and beige concrete building under blue sky during daytime

Church · WindhoekChristuskirche

Park · WindhoekZoo Park

Destinations in Namibia

CityWindhoekExplore

CitySwakopmundExplore

When to go

Rainy days

Best

JanuaryClear10 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Summer
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Main rains
MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Main rains
AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low14°Main rains
MayClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Before winter
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh21°Low7°Dry winter
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh21°Low7°Cold nights inland
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low9°Bergwind season
SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low13°Small rains
OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Small rains
NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low17°Small rains
DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Summer

Average daily high and low in Windhoek, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to NamibiaPut the places you like in Namibia on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Namibia

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 22°
Humidity: 19%
Wind: 33 km/h
Chance of rain: 35%

Windhoek

10:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today32°17°35%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 35%.
Tue33°16°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 33°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed35°18°12%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 35°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 12%.
Thu34°18°10%Thursday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 10%.
Fri35°18°0%Friday: Clear. High 35°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat33°15°0%Saturday: Clear. High 33°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun34°15°2%Sunday: Clear. High 34°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 07:15 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 16.69 NAD

Amount

Converted to

NAD · Namibian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Namibia

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

a group of women standing next to each other

JanuaryTimkatJan 19, 2027

Before you go to Namibia

eSIM for NamibiaSet up before you drive outRead the guide Travel insuranceCheck cover for remote drivingRead the guide Money in NamibiaPrices in Namibian dollarsRead the guide Where to stayLodges and reservesRead the guide

Rules for Namibia, checked

Entry rules differ by passport, so check Namibia's current requirements on the UK government advice page before you book.Read more

Customs can take a long time and cost money, and some officials ask for small unofficial payments.

Namibia FAQ

Do I need a visa for Namibia?

Entry rules depend on your passport. Check Namibia's current requirements on an official government page before you book.

How many days do I need in Namibia?

Plan by region, since driving between them takes long days. Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha each need their own stop, so a trip covering several regions takes more time than one region alone.

Can I drive in Namibia with my home license?

Rental companies set their own rules for foreign licenses, so ask the company before you book. Traffic drives on the left.

Is the tap water safe to drink in Namibia?

Sanitation is insufficient in many residential and rural areas, so be careful with drinking water and hygiene.

Is Namibia safe for gay travelers?

A 2024 High Court ruling found the ban on sex between men unconstitutional, but a law passed in October 2024 bans same-sex marriage, even if held abroad. Attitudes are often intolerant in rural areas. Cities are more neutral or supportive, with a few LGBT clubs and events.

When is the best time to visit Namibia?

June to August is the dry winter. Expect the hot, dry Bergwind, which blows from inland toward the coast and can turn into sandstorms.