Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.3 °C | 18.8 °C | 1 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| February | 23.4 °C | 18.7 °C | 1 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| March | 23.6 °C | 17.7 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| April | 23.7 °C | 16.6 °C | 1 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| May | 24.7 °C | 15.2 °C | 0 day | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| June | 23.9 °C | 14.7 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| July | 23.2 °C | 13.9 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| August | 20.5 °C | 13.5 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| September | 19.7 °C | 13.4 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| October | 20.5 °C | 14.5 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| November | 21.7 °C | 15.6 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| December | 22 °C | 16.7 °C | 0 day | Pleasant — a good time to go |
Nearby in January
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
Visa issued on arrival (1,600 Namibian dollars). Passport valid for at least 6 months. Visa on arrival or e-visa, 1,600 Namibian dollars (over 11s); at least 3 blank pages needed; check the dates on your entry stamp carefully.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 10 December 2025. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
No specific restrictions
Usual precautions apply.
Official advice updated 10 December 2025
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Polio (global)
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies, cholera and polio depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. Certificate required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
Malaria · Present. Areas: In the regions of Kavango (East and West), Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi Rare in other parts of the country No malaria transmission in Windhoek (the capital). Preventive medication recommended: Kavango (East and West), Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine All other areas with malaria transmission: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) — prescribed before departure.
Mosquitoes · dengue reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Swakopmund in January?
The sea averages 18.8°C in January — too cold for most swimmers.
How hot is Swakopmund in January?
Expect 23.3°C in the afternoon and 16.8°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Swakopmund in January?
Around 1 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 5% of days.