Things to Do in Namibia in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Namibia
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Pre-rainy season pricing means accommodation costs drop 20-30% compared to peak winter months, and you can still book lodges in Etosha and Sossusvlei without the months-ahead planning required for July-August
- The landscape is transforming from winter browns to early greens as the first rains arrive, making photography dramatically different from week to week - particularly striking in Damaraland where the desert suddenly shows signs of life
- Wildlife viewing remains excellent because animals are still concentrated around permanent water sources, but you'll share Etosha's waterholes with maybe 5-10 vehicles instead of the 30-40 you'd find in July, and lodges are noticeably quieter
- November temperatures make coastal destinations like Swakopmund and Walvis Bay genuinely pleasant rather than the bone-chilling cold of June-August, with water temperatures around 14-16°C (57-61°F) actually swimmable for hardy souls, and the fog that blankets the coast in winter mostly cleared
Considerations
- Heat builds significantly through the month, with inland areas like Windhoek hitting 30-32°C (86-90°F) and places like the Caprivi Strip reaching 35-38°C (95-100°F) by late November, making midday game drives genuinely uncomfortable and limiting photography to early morning and late afternoon
- Rain arrives unpredictably from mid-November onward, typically as afternoon thunderstorms that can turn gravel roads into muddy challenges within 30 minutes - the C27 to Sossusvlei and roads in Damaraland become particularly tricky, and you might lose half a day waiting for conditions to improve
- Some lodges and camps in remote areas close for annual maintenance during November's shoulder season, particularly smaller owner-operated places in the Kunene region and southern Namibia, so your accommodation options are more limited than in peak months
Best Activities in November
Etosha National Park game drives
November sits in that sweet spot where wildlife is still concentrated around waterholes because the rains haven't fully arrived, but tourist numbers have dropped off dramatically. You'll have waterholes like Okaukuejo and Halali practically to yourself during midday hours. The heat makes animals lethargic, so they linger at water longer. Plan drives for 6-9am and 4-7pm when temperatures drop to 20-25°C (68-77°F) and animal activity peaks. The eastern side near Namutoni typically sees first rains, so focus on western and central areas for more predictable wildlife viewing. Elephant herds start gathering in larger groups as they sense the coming rains.
Sossusvlei dune climbing and Dead Vlei photography
The iconic red dunes are at their most dramatic in November as the low-angle morning light intensifies the orange-red colors, and you'll avoid the crowds that make Dune 45 feel like a highway in July. Critically, you need to enter the park at sunrise when gates open at 5:45am - by 10am temperatures at the dune base hit 38-42°C (100-108°F) and climbing becomes genuinely dangerous. The 5 km (3.1 miles) walk from the 2x4 parking area to Dead Vlei is manageable before 9am but brutal afterward. Late November might bring the first scattered rain showers, which create temporary pools in the clay pans and attract desert-adapted animals - photographically stunning but unpredictable.
Swakopmund coastal activities and sandboarding
November is actually one of the best months for Swakopmund because the brutal winter fog has cleared, temperatures sit at a comfortable 18-24°C (64-75°F), and the Atlantic wind drops slightly. The town transforms from a ghost-wrapped mystery into a proper beach destination. Sandboarding on the dunes just outside town works brilliantly in November heat - the sand is warm but not scorching. Quad biking, scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast, and township tours all operate in ideal conditions. The cold Benguela Current keeps water temperatures around 14-16°C (57-61°F), so swimming is still bracing, but kayaking with seals at Walvis Bay becomes genuinely pleasant rather than the teeth-chattering experience of winter months.
Damaraland desert elephant tracking and rock art sites
November brings the first green shoots to Damaraland's stark landscape, and the desert-adapted elephants start moving between seasonal water sources as they anticipate the rains. Tracking these elephants with experienced guides is one of Namibia's most profound wildlife experiences - you're walking in open desert, reading signs, genuinely searching rather than driving up to guaranteed sightings. The ancient rock art at Twyfelfontein becomes more accessible as temperatures moderate slightly from winter's chill, though you still want to visit before 10am when exposed rock faces radiate heat. Late November can bring the first thunderstorms, which are spectacular against the red rock formations but can make the D2612 and other gravel roads challenging.
Fish River Canyon hiking and viewpoint photography
The Fish River Canyon hiking trail officially opens in mid-April and closes in mid-September due to summer heat, so November is outside the trekking season - but the viewpoints along the canyon rim become accessible and genuinely spectacular. November's variable weather creates dramatic cloud formations and occasional storms that transform the canyon's appearance hour by hour. The 4-5 main viewpoints along the 20 km (12 miles) rim road are best photographed in early morning or late afternoon when side-lighting emphasizes the canyon's depth. Temperatures at the rim sit around 28-32°C (82-90°F) during the day, dropping to 15-18°C (59-64°F) at night, making camping at Hobas or the canyon campsite quite pleasant.
Windhoek craft markets and township cultural tours
Windhoek in November offers a more authentic experience than the quick fuel-and-provisions stop most tourists make. The Namibia Craft Centre and various weekend markets showcase genuine Namibian artistry - Herero dolls, San beadwork, carved wooden animals - without the tourist-trap markup you find at lodge gift shops. Township tours of Katutura reveal contemporary Namibian life and the complex legacy of apartheid-era forced removals. November's warm evenings make outdoor venues like Joe's Beerhouse actually pleasant to sit in, and the jacaranda trees that line Independence Avenue bloom in purple clouds. As the capital, Windhoek gives you context for understanding modern Namibia that pure wildlife safaris miss entirely.
November Events & Festivals
First rains celebrations in rural communities
November's first substantial rains trigger informal celebrations in rural areas, particularly in the northern regions and communal conservancies. These are not organized tourist events but genuine community moments when the first real rain after 6-7 dry months arrives. If you are staying at community-run lodges or campsites, you might witness the palpable relief and celebration as the landscape transforms. Children run outside, cattle are moved to new grazing areas, and there is a collective exhale. Worth experiencing if your timing aligns, though obviously unpredictable.