A Photography Holiday in Namibia

January is midsummer in Namibia, when temperatures in most of the country are extremely hot, and some parts of Namibia receive heavy afternoon showers. The summer rains mean the foliage in Etosha National Park is at its greenest, making for beautiful photos and good birdwatching but wildlife spotting is more challenging than in the drier months. January is a good time to visit the Skeleton Coast as the weather is mild and sunny.

It’s not advisable to travel to the Zambezi Region during the rainy months, as the area receives the most rainfall in Namibia and roads may be flooded. There’s also a higher risk of malaria.

February is the wettest, hottest and most humid month in Namibia. It’s the low season, which means lower room rates and fewer other travellers. It’s tricky to spot wildlife in Etosha but it is birthing season, so if you’re very lucky you’ll get to see some newborn antelope calves.

The rains start to ease off in March in Namibia but it’s still hot and humid. It’s still a good month for birdwatching but finding wildlife in places such as Etosha remains difficult due to the lush vegetation.

April is a lovely time to visit Namibia especially if you’re a photographer: the weather is mild, the skies are clear and the landscapes are green. It’s still the low season so you can get good deals on room rates.

May is a good month for Namibia travel, with moderate temperatures, green vegetation and clear skies. If you want to do a serious hike, the Fish River Canyon hike opens for the winter season in the beginning of the month.

Desert temperatures drop off in June: while day times are pleasant, nights can be freezing. Without rain, the landscape has become much drier, and vegetation sparser, making this a good time for a visit to Etosha, where it’s just started to become easy to spot animals congregating around waterholes.

July is the driest month of the year, so it’s an excellent time to visit the game parks, especially Etosha, where it’s easy to see hundreds of animals vying for space around waterholes. Day time temperatures are mild and night time temperatures can drop well below freezing.

August is a popular time to travel to Namibia, so be sure to have your lodging booked far in advance. It’s an excellent time to see wildlife in the parks and it’s a good time to do outdoors activities in the desert as day time temperatures remain mild (although be prepared for freezing nights). In August you can see beautiful carpets of wild spring flowers covering the arid |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

September is an ideal time for visiting Namibia: day time temperatures are still pleasant, and nights are a bit warmer. It’s still dry, so game viewing is excellent. Early to mid-September is the last time you can hike the Fish River Canyon before it gets too hot, and it’s also the last month to catch the wild spring flowers in |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

October gets very hot and dusty in Namibia, though it’s still a good time to visit Etosha in terms of dry landscapes and easy wildlife spotting. This is the best month for spotting southern right, humpback and minke whales as they pass through the Atlantic Ocean near Walvis Bay.

Credit | Ben Mcrae

The first rains of summer generally start in November and the temperature drops a bit, although much of the country doesn’t receive much rainfall. This month is the end of the season for the migration of whales which you can spot from Walvis Bay. November is a good time to visit the Skeleton Coast National Park, as the weather is mild.

With the summer rains in December, Namibia’s arid landscapes turn to green, attracting migratory birds, making this an ideal time for birdwatchers. December is a busy time of year to travel in Namibia because of the Namibian and South African school holidays over the Christmas and New Year period so be sure to book in advance for lodging and campsites.