Things to Do in Namibia in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Namibia
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Green season landscapes at their absolute peak - the desert transforms after summer rains, with wildflowers carpeting normally barren plains and waterfalls actually flowing at places like Epupa Falls. This only happens late February through April, making March your sweet spot for photography.
- Wildlife concentrated around permanent water sources - as seasonal pans start drying, animals predictably gather at Etosha's waterholes, making game viewing surprisingly productive despite being technically off-peak season. You'll see the same animals with half the safari vehicles.
- Shoulder season pricing drops accommodation costs 30-40% compared to June-October peak season, particularly at lodges in Sossusvlei and Swakopmund. March bookings made 8-10 weeks ahead typically secure the best rates before Easter crowds arrive.
- Migrant bird species still present - March catches the tail end of the breeding season for hundreds of species that winter in southern Africa. Etosha alone hosts 340+ species during this period, compared to maybe 280 in dry season.
Considerations
- Afternoon heat in desert regions regularly hits 35-38°C (95-100°F) by 2pm, making activities like climbing Dune 45 or exploring Sesriem Canyon genuinely uncomfortable midday. You'll need to shift your schedule to early mornings and late afternoons.
- Occasional heavy rainfall can temporarily close gravel roads in remote areas - the C27 to Epupa Falls and sections around Kaokoland become impassable for 24-48 hours after storms. Self-drivers need flexibility in their itineraries and shouldn't attempt these routes without checking conditions.
- Coastal fog in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay can persist for 3-4 consecutive days in March, limiting visibility for activities like scenic flights over Sandwich Harbour or dolphin cruises. When the fog rolls in, temperatures drop to 15°C (59°F) and you'll genuinely need that fleece you packed.
Best Activities in March
Sossusvlei Dune Exploration
March offers the rare combination of post-rain vegetation creating color contrast against red dunes, with temperatures still manageable for the 1 km (0.6 mile) walk from parking to Dune 45 if you start at sunrise (around 6:30am). The clay pan at Deadvlei shows occasional surface water this month, creating mirror reflections you won't see in dry season. UV index of 8 means you'll burn in 15 minutes without protection, but the dramatic light at golden hour makes this worth building your entire itinerary around. Most visitors make the mistake of arriving at 9am when temperatures already hit 30°C (86°F) - you want to be photographing by 6:45am and heading back to your lodge by 10am.
Etosha National Park Game Drives
March sits in an interesting transition period where summer rains have created temporary pans across the park, but these are starting to dry, concentrating wildlife at permanent waterholes like Okaukuejo and Halali. You'll typically spot elephant, giraffe, springbok, and zebra within 90 minutes of entering the park, with predator sightings (lion, leopard, cheetah) happening maybe 40% of drives if you're patient at waterholes during early morning (6am-9am) and late afternoon (4pm-6:30pm). The 70% humidity makes midday game drives pretty miserable - even with air conditioning, sitting in a vehicle watching an empty waterhole at 35°C (95°F) isn't anyone's idea of fun. March also brings baby animals (springbok, zebra foals) which attract predators, improving your chances of seeing actual hunting behavior rather than just sleeping lions.
Swakopmund Adventure Activities
The coastal town serves as Namibia's adventure sports hub, and March weather is actually ideal for activities like sandboarding, quad biking in the dunes, and skydiving - temperatures hover around 22-25°C (72-77°F) compared to scorching inland heat. That said, coastal fog can shut down scenic flights and skydiving for 2-3 days at a stretch, so build buffer days into your itinerary. The fog also makes this perfect weather for the 3-4 hour guided township tours that give genuine insight into Namibia's post-independence social dynamics - something you'll skip if it's 35°C (95°F) and sunny. Catamaran cruises to spot dolphins, seals, and occasionally whales (though March is late for whale season) operate most days, departing around 8:30am and returning by 1pm before afternoon winds pick up.
Damaraland Rock Art and Desert Elephant Tracking
March rainfall brings the rare desert-adapted elephants out from seasonal river beds to feed on fresh vegetation, making tracking actually feasible with experienced guides who know their movement patterns. You're looking at 4-6 hour guided drives through Huab and Aba-Huab river valleys, covering maybe 80-100 km (50-62 miles) of rough terrain in 4x4 vehicles. Success rate for elephant sightings runs around 60-70% in March compared to maybe 40% in dry season when they're more dispersed. The ancient rock art sites at Twyfelfontein become more accessible as temperatures moderate slightly - you'll still be hiking in 30°C (86°F) heat, but it's tolerable for the 45-60 minute guided walks required to see the engravings. The red sandstone glows particularly beautifully in March's variable light conditions.
Skeleton Coast Scenic Flights
March offers clearer conditions than winter months for the 2-3 hour scenic flights over shipwrecks, seal colonies at Cape Cross, and the dramatic meeting point of desert and Atlantic. You'll fly over the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck (3 km/1.9 miles inland from the current coastline due to shifting sands) and massive seal colonies numbering 100,000+ animals. The flights typically depart from Swakopmund around 8-9am before coastal winds intensify. That said, March fog can cancel flights with maybe 24 hours notice, so this needs to be scheduled flexibly. The aerial perspective genuinely adds something you can't get from ground level - the scale of the desert meeting the ocean, the patterns of seasonal rivers that only flow a few weeks per year, the absolute remoteness of the northern Skeleton Coast.
Fish River Canyon Hiking and Viewpoint Visits
March sits right at the end of the window when the 85 km (53 mile) multi-day Fish River Canyon hike is officially closed due to heat and flash flood risk - the trail reopens mid-April. However, the viewpoint visits along the canyon rim are actually spectacular in March because occasional rainfall creates temporary waterfalls and the Aloe dichotoma trees bloom with yellow flowers. You're looking at short walks of 500 m to 1 km (0.3 to 0.6 miles) from parking areas to viewpoints at places like Hikers Viewpoint and Main Viewpoint, manageable in the 25-30°C (77-86°F) temperatures if you go early morning or late afternoon. The canyon depth of 550 m (1,804 ft) creates dramatic shadows and light play during golden hour that you won't get in flat midday light.
March Events & Festivals
Windhoek Karneval (WIKA)
This week-long carnival event happens late March/early April and reflects Namibia's German colonial heritage with parades, costume balls, and street parties primarily in Windhoek. It's genuinely popular with locals and offers insight into the country's complex cultural identity - part African, part German-influenced. The main parade through Independence Avenue typically happens on the final Saturday, with floats, costumes, and crowds of 10,000+ people. Hotels in Windhoek book up for this specific weekend, and prices jump 20-30%. If you're not interested in carnival atmosphere, avoid Windhoek during WIKA weekend.
Namibia Independence Day
March 21st marks independence from South Africa in 1990, celebrated nationwide with ceremonies, cultural performances, and a major event at Independence Stadium in Windhoek. Government offices and many businesses close for the day. If you're in Windhoek, the stadium ceremony offers a genuine look at national pride and post-independence identity, though it's a formal affair running 2-3 hours. Elsewhere in the country, you might not notice much beyond closed shops and banks.