October is the start of the hot, wet summer season in Namibia. It's the shoulder season for travel, but if you don't mind the heat, you can enjoy bird-watching in the beautiful Caprivi Strip as well as the wetlands near Swakopmund. And if you want to cool off with a cold beer, make a beeline to Windhoek in October for a traditional Oktoberfest party!

Weather

October is the start of the long, wet summer in Namibia. While temperatures and conditions may be quite springlike earlier in the month (dry, clear, and warm), the rain clouds and humidity will be building by the second half, and the temperatures will rise.

There's quite a lot of regional variation throughout Namibia. The coast tends to be cooler than inland areas year-round. Northern Namibia and the deserts are hottest: October is the hottest month of the year in the Caprivi Strip and Etosha National Park, both in northern Namibia, with average highs of around 99°F (37°C). Other parts of the country tend to be much cooler; 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

October is the shoulder season for travel to Namibia. Travelers who don't mind the heat are still drawn to the national parks and other natural areas for wildlife viewing and bird-watching before the rains start in earnest later in the month. As a large and somewhat underrated country, few places in Namibia get crowded even during peak season. However, in early October, many visitors will still be at popular spots such as the Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, and Sossusvlei. Expect to pay higher prices here.

Where to Go

Many travelers must pass through Windhoek when visiting Namibia, and it's worth hanging around the capital for a while in October. Once a German colony, Namibia produces (and appreciates) some good European-style beer, and Windhoek puts on a lively Oktoberfest. Eat traditional German-style food, listen to German music, and cool off from the summer heat with a Hansa Draught, Windhoek Export, or another of Namibia's favorite brews.

Head to the Skeleton Coast in October to avoid the worst of the summer heat. This strip of remote, stark beach on the northwestern coast is noticeably cooler than inland parts of Namibia. The beaches of Skeleton Coast National Park are dotted with the "skeletons" of shipwrecks that have run adrift along the often foggy Atlantic coast. The southern parts of the park are more accessible and can be reached on 4WD tours, though you have to fly into the northern regions as there's no road access. You can also enjoy great fishing in the southern areas.

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What to Do

As summer rains arrive and the vegetation grows in the national parks and game reserves, spotting wildlife becomes more difficult. However, October (and the whole summer) is an excellent time for bird-watching. If you don't mind braving the heat in the Caprivi Strip in October, this is one of the best places in the country to see birds. Being close to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Caprivi Strip is home to some Okavango species that can't be found elsewhere in Namibia. Keen bird-watchers might want to take a tour that includes Namibia and Botswana (see more below).

For more moderate temperatures, plan to spot birds near the coastal city of Swakopmund. In the summer, thousands of flamingoes migrate to the Walvis Bay Wetlands (a protected Ramsar site) just south of Swakopmund, on the edge of the Namib Desert. It's easy to go independently or join a guided tour. As well as flamingoes, you can see pelicans and many other birds.

Events in October

Windhoek Show, Windhoek. Namibia's largest agricultural and industrial fair takes place in early October and offers fairground entertainment, music, and food stalls.

Oktoberfest, Windhoek. A legacy of Namibia's German colonial days, Oktoberfest draws a predominantly German-heritage crowd to the capital in late October, who don lederhosen and dirndls and quaff steins of beer, accompanied by foot-stomping music.

Traveling to Namibia in October? Check out this great itinerary

Namibia & Botswana Safari Road Trip - 14 Days. In two weeks, you'll explore Namibia and Botswana's varied landscapes and the many creatures they contain. You'll travel up dunes, down into caves, and out into the salt pans as you watch for the region's many wildlife residents, including the birds of the Okavango Delta.

More Helpful Information

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