Africa

Namibia in December

Southern African holidaymakers flood the coast at Swakopmund and popular camps from mid December. Rains start greening the north.

TradeoffsHot, highs near 91F (33C), thunderstorms returning

Sossusvlei, Namibia — NamibiaPhoto: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Namibia. Southern African holidaymakers flood the coast at Swakopmund and popular camps from mid December. Rains start greening the north.

Weather: Hot, highs near 91F (33C), thunderstorms returning
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Namibia

December is hot, with highs near 91F (33C), and thunderstorms return to the north, starting to green the plains. From mid December, Southern African holidaymakers fill the coast at Swakopmund and the popular camps. Prices are moderate, but availability gets tight over the holidays. Game starts spreading out as the rains bring fresh water.

December suits families on holiday break who book early and travelers curious about the start of the green season. It is less ideal for classic waterhole safaris, which are best from June to October. Avoid the coast from mid December into early January if you want quiet.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Namibia this month.

The rains return

The first storms turn the north green and bring fresh life to the plains.

Holiday energy on the coast

Swakopmund is lively with holidaymakers, dune sports and seaside cafes, if you book ahead.

Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross

The remote coast with shipwrecks and a huge seal colony is cooler than the interior in the summer heat.

What to pack for December

A rain jacket for thunderstorms
Sun protection and light clothes
Insect repellent, and ask a travel clinic about malaria for the north
A fleece for the foggy coast

Our timing tip

Book coastal lodging and popular camps months ahead if you are traveling from mid December into early January.

Book Namibia for December.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Namibia
Opens a hotel search for Namibia in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Namibia
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Namibia
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Namibia for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Namibia

Full guide

Etosha National Park

Stay at least two nights, ideally split between the west (Okaukuejo) and east (Namutoni). The camp waterholes are floodlit at night; the rest camps are run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

Gates at Sesriem open at sunrise; lodges inside the park boundary get an earlier start to the dunes. Climb Big Daddy or Dune 45 before the heat and sand turn brutal.

Tickets and tours →

Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

Cool, foggy coastal towns with German-era architecture, dune adventure sports, and kayak trips among the Cape fur seals and flamingos of Walvis Bay lagoon.

Tickets and tours →

Damaraland and Twyfelfontein

Desert-adapted elephants in dry riverbeds and Twyfelfontein's UNESCO-listed rock engravings, some thousands of years old.

Tickets and tours →

Fish River Canyon

One of the largest canyons on Earth. The multi-day hike runs only from about late April or May to mid September because of summer heat and flash floods; the viewpoints are open year-round.

Tickets and tours →

The Skeleton Coast

Shipwrecks, fog, and a seal colony of tens of thousands at Cape Cross. Remote, raw, and best combined with Damaraland.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Book lodges inside or right at the edge of the parks (Sossusvlei and Etosha) first; they sell out months ahead for July and August and buy you the dawn gate advantage.
Go in June or September instead of July and August for the same dry-season wildlife with fewer European families on the roads.
Avoid the mid December to early January and Easter windows at the coast, when South African and Namibian holidaymakers fill Swakopmund.
At Etosha, drive out at gate opening and camp at a quiet waterhole rather than chasing sightings; the animals come to the water, and the crowds come to the famous pools.

Know before you go

The Fish River Canyon multi-day hike is open only from roughly late April or May to mid September; the rest of the year it is closed for extreme heat and flash-flood risk.
Park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset, and night driving outside the camps is not permitted in Etosha. Plan drives to reach camp before the gate closes.
In the rainy season, some gravel roads and river crossings in the north and in Damaraland can flood after storms. Check road conditions daily before long drives.
Business and town shops close early on Saturdays and are largely shut on Sundays outside Windhoek and Swakopmund, so stock up on fuel and groceries before weekends.

Namibia in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Namibia?

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Namibia. Southern African holidaymakers flood the coast at Swakopmund and popular camps from mid December. Rains start greening the north.

What is the weather like in Namibia in December?

Hot, highs near 91F (33C), thunderstorms returning.

Is Namibia crowded in December?

Crowds in Namibia are moderate in December; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.