Watch the weather

There were exceptionally good rains in Namibia (and other parts of southern Africa) this past summer because of the La Niña weather cycle. When there’s a large-scale cooling of sea temperatures over the central parts of the Pacific Ocean, it creates La Niña (Spanish for “little girl”). La Niña is the opposite of the El Niño cycle, which occurs when sea temperatures warm up. Both cycles have an impact on weather conditions worldwide. So, if you see La Niña in the weather forecast, you know Namibia is going get soaked.

Usually, we see La Niña conditions every three to seven years, but in 2021 and 2022, the cycle brought heavy rains to southern Africa. If you want to chase the rain in Namibia next year, block out your calendar between January and March. The landscape changes, and when the water dries up, the green disappears again. Plan your trip for around two to three weeks after a good rainfall.

Add extra days to your itinerary, because the roads – yes, even the blacktops – are often damaged and low-water bridges may be impassable. They’re usually repaired quickly, but you may have a bit or take a long detour.

Finally: listen to what the locals advise, because they know the roads well. Call your overnight accommodation in advance, especially if you have to travel on a dirt road to get to it, to hear what the road conditions are. There are also several online forums and Facebook pages including “Reën in Namibië” – excellent sources of up-to-date information.