November is the start of Namibia's long, hot, wet summer. It's low season for travel, but that's great news if you don't mind hot weather: bird-watch in the Caprivi Strip, seek out migrating whales off Walvis Bay, and spot seals (and a lot of shipwrecks) along the Skeleton Coast. Read on to learn more about where to go and what to do in Namibia in November.

Weather

November is early summer in Namibia. Namibian summers are wet and very hot, and while the rains are still building in November and not as heavy or as frequent as they'll be later in the season, visitors should still expect some rain.

There's also quite a lot of regional climatic variation throughout Namibia. The coast tends to be cooler than inland areas year-round. Northern Namibia and the deserts are the hottest, with scorching high temperatures of around 99°F (37°C) in the Caprivi Strip and Etosha National Park, both in northern Namibia. Other parts of the country are cooler but still pretty hot: expect average daytime temperatures of around 86°F (30°C) in many places but about 71°F (22°C) on the Skeleton Coast.

Crowds & Costs

November is the start of the low season for travel to Namibia. Conditions aren't ideal for game-viewing safaris, which is why many potential visitors are interested in Namibia. You can enjoy other attractions and activities in November, though, so if you do make it to Namibia this month, you can benefit from fewer other tourists in the most popular places and lower prices.

Where to Go

Many travelers pass through the capital city of Windhoek when visiting Namibia, and it's worth spending time here this month. The weeklong Otjomuise Live Arts Festival runs in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Namibia. It brightens the city with music and dance performances, art installations in public spaces, and other citywide public presentations. A new festival launched in 2021, visitors can expect to see the festival grow in the following years.

One part of Namibia that's noticeably cooler throughout the year is the Skeleton Coast, making this a great place to escape the inland heat. Ships that have run adrift dot this long strip of remote, stark beach along the often foggy Atlantic coast. The southern parts of this Skeleton Coast National Park are accessible by 4WD tours; meanwhile, you must fly into the northern region as there's no road access. You can also enjoy great fishing from Henties Bay and spotting fur seals at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, both on the southern parts of the coast.

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What to Do

If you'd like to make the most of your time in southern Africa, combine your trip to Namibia with time in Botswana. Bird-watching enthusiasts, in particular, will enjoy a combined itinerary (as long as you don't mind the November heat). Namibia's northern Caprivi Strip is one of the best places in the country to see birds. Being close to Botswana's Okavango Delta, the Caprivi Strip is home to some Okavango species that aren't found elsewhere in Namibia. After spending some time in the Caprivi Strip, cross the border to continue the adventure.

Sticking to Namibia, coastal Swakopmund offers great wildlife-focused activities this month that isn't of the traditional game-viewing variety. In summer, thousands of flamingoes migrate to the Walvis Bay Wetlands (a protected Ramsar site) just south of Swakopmund and on the edge of the Namib Desert. As well as flamingoes, you can see pelicans and other birds. You can also spot southern right whales and humpback whales here. As November is the end of their migration season along this stretch of coast, keep your eye out to sea at Walvis Bay.

Events in November

Otjomuise Live Arts Festival, Windhoek. Launched in 2021, this weeklong festival in November features live music and dance performances, art installations, and other public presentations around the city.

Traveling to Namibia in November? Check out this great itinerary

Namibia & Botswana Safari Road Trip - 21 Days. Whether you're hoping to spot some hippos in the Okavango Delta, scope out seals at Cape Cross, or eye the elephants in Etosha National Park, you're sure to get some quality animal viewing on this three-week trip. The self-drive safari route takes you across a wide range of terrain in Namibia and Botswana.

More Helpful Information

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Best Time of Year to Visit Namibia
How Many Days to Spend in Namibia