Africa

Namibia in February

The quietest, cheapest month. Some gravel roads and river crossings flood after storms; Etosha is beautiful but game is harder to find.

TradeoffsHot and humid by desert standards, highs near 88F (31C), the wettest month in the north

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

The straight answer

February is a month of real tradeoffs in Namibia. The quietest, cheapest month. Some gravel roads and river crossings flood after storms; Etosha is beautiful but game is harder to find.

Weather: Hot and humid by desert standards, highs near 88F (31C), the wettest month in the north
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What February is like in Namibia

February is the quietest and cheapest month in Namibia. Highs are near 88F (31C), and it feels humid by desert standards. It is the wettest month in the north, and some gravel roads and river crossings can flood after storms. Etosha looks lush and beautiful, but game is harder to find because animals spread out to seasonal water.

February suits budget travelers, birders and experienced self-drivers who can adjust routes day to day. It is not ideal for a first safari or for families wanting reliable sightings. For that, plan June through September. If you do come, keep your itinerary loose and check road conditions every morning.

Make the most of February

What is especially good about Namibia this month.

Lowest prices of the year

Lodges are quiet and rates drop, so you can often upgrade your stays.

Green Etosha

The park looks completely different from the dry season, with fresh grass and big skies.

Young animals everywhere

The calving season continues, with wobbly young springbok and zebra on the plains.

What to pack for February

A rain jacket for heavy storms
A paper map as a backup for detours
Sun protection for hot, humid days
Insect repellent

Our timing tip

Check road and river crossing conditions each morning before long drives in the north or Damaraland, and allow extra time.

Book Namibia for February.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Namibia
Opens a hotel search for Namibia in February, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for February
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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 February. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in February

Green season and calving

Roughly January through March

Rains bring fresh grass, newborn springbok and zebra, and migrant birds. Game spreads out, so it is less predictable, but the landscapes are at their most dramatic.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Damaraland and Twyfelfontein

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

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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.

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The Skeleton Coast

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

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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 February, quick answers

Is February a good time to visit Namibia?

February is a month of real tradeoffs in Namibia. The quietest, cheapest month. Some gravel roads and river crossings flood after storms; Etosha is beautiful but game is harder to find.

What is the weather like in Namibia in February?

Hot and humid by desert standards, highs near 88F (31C), the wettest month in the north.

Is Namibia crowded in February?

February is one of the quieter months in Namibia; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Namibia in February?

Green season and calving (roughly january through march).