Climate guide for Walvis Bay, Namibia

Best Time to Visit
Walvis Bay

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01 · Namibia

About Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is Namibia's main port, built around a deepwater harbour with a lagoon that attracts flamingos and other wading birds. Boat trips from the waterfront meet seals and dolphins, and four-wheel-drive excursions run south to Sandwich Harbour. Dune 7 rises just outside town for sandboarding and views, and Swakopmund lies about half an hour up the coast. The climate stays dry and mild all year, though coastal fog is common in the winter months.

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Did you know?

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Travel Tips

01Best time & timing
Climate scores swing from 8.7/10 in July to 9.5/10 in November; the safest picks are November, January, February.
02Weather & what to pack
Expect around 17°C and 4 mm of rain in November, with roughly 30 bright days. Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
03Crowds & value
Peak-season pricing concentrates in November. For better value, April scores 9.4/10 at lower-season rates.

Things to do in Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay, Namibia. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Walvis Bay: the short answer

The best time to visit Walvis Bay is November, followed by January, February. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: November averages 17°C with 4 mm of rain and about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are July, June. If budget matters more than perfect weather, May is the strongest of the low-rate months at 9/10.

Across the year Walvis Bay swings from 15°C in August to 20°C in February, a 5-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 0 mm in June to 18 mm in February. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Walvis Bay is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 0.8 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: February (20°C). Coolest: August (15°C). Driest: June (0 mm). Wettest: February (18 mm).

Walvis Bay month by month

January ranks 2nd of 12 for Walvis Bay — one of the best windows

Best window · 9.4/10

January averages 20°C (67°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.

Expect 17 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.3 daylight hours.

A 9.4/10 puts this among the year's best months in Walvis Bay (2nd of 12); only November scores higher, at 9.5/10.

Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

February is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (3rd)

Best window · 9.4/10

February averages 20°C (67°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.

Expect 18 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.8 daylight hours.

A 9.4/10 puts this among the year's best months in Walvis Bay (3rd of 12); only November scores higher, at 9.5/10.

Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

March is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (8th)

Best window · 9.2/10

Temperatures hover around 18°C (65°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

With around 17 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.2 hours of daylight fill the rest.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Walvis Bay at 9.2/10 (8th of 12), just behind November at 9.5/10.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

April ranks 4th of 12 for Walvis Bay — one of the best windows

Best window · 9.4/10

April averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 6 mm for the month, with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.5 hours of daylight to work with.

A 9.4/10 puts this among the year's best months in Walvis Bay (4th of 12); only November scores higher, at 9.5/10.

Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

May is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (9th)

Best window · 9/10

Temperatures hover around 18°C (64°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

At just 1 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 17 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.9 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Walvis Bay at 9/10 (9th of 12), just behind November at 9.5/10.

Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

June in Walvis Bay — one of the year's strongest windows (11th)

Best window · 8.8/10

June averages 17°C (63°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 15 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.6 hours of daylight to work with.

A 8.8/10 puts this among the year's best months in Walvis Bay (11th of 12); only November scores higher, at 9.5/10.

Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

July is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (12th)

Best window · 8.7/10

July averages 15°C (60°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight to work with.

A 8.7/10 puts this among the year's best months in Walvis Bay (12th of 12); only November scores higher, at 9.5/10.

Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

August ranks 10th of 12 for Walvis Bay — one of the best windows

Best window · 9/10

Temperatures hover around 15°C (58°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

At just 0 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.2 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Walvis Bay at 9/10 (10th of 12), just behind November at 9.5/10.

Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

September is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (5th)

Best window · 9.4/10

Temperatures hover around 15°C (58°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

At just 0 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.9 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Walvis Bay at 9.4/10 (5th of 12), just behind November at 9.5/10.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

October is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (7th)

Best window · 9.3/10

October averages 15°C (60°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 3 mm for the month, with about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.5 hours of daylight to work with.

A 9.3/10 puts this among the year's best months in Walvis Bay (7th of 12); only November scores higher, at 9.5/10.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

November in Walvis Bay tops the year's climate scores

Best window · 9.5/10

November averages 17°C (63°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 4 mm for the month, with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.1 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Walvis Bay at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

December is one of the strongest months in Walvis Bay (6th)

Best window · 9.4/10

Temperatures hover around 18°C (64°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

At just 13 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.4 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Walvis Bay at 9.4/10 (6th of 12), just behind November at 9.5/10.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Walvis Bay, Namibia?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Walvis Bay are November, January, February, April, September, December. November is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.5/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
What is the weather like in Walvis Bay year-round?
Walvis Bay has a climate profile suited to nature and wildlife travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 15°C in August to 20°C in February, with Ideal Weather scores between 8.7 and 9.5 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Walvis Bay?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Walvis Bay are July (8.7/10), June (8.8/10), May (9.0/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
When is the rainy season in Walvis Bay?
February is the wettest month in Walvis Bay, averaging about 18 mm of rainfall. June is the driest, at roughly 0 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Walvis Bay?
January sees the most sun in Walvis Bay, with about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Walvis Bay a good destination for nature and wildlife travel?
Walvis Bay is well suited to nature and wildlife travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (November, January, February, April, September, December) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Walvis Bay calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Walvis Bay: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine - weighted for nature and wildlife travel.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

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Curated in Walvis Bay

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