Summer
Dec → Feb31°
nights 15 to 17°
- 1 rainy days · 2 mm
When is the best time to visit Sossusvlei?
- Jan31°not recommended
- Feb31°not recommended
- Mar32°not recommended
- Apr32°fair
- May30°recommended
- Jun26°recommended
- Jul26°recommended
- Aug27°recommended
- Sep29°recommended
- Oct31°fair
- Nov31°not recommended
- Dec31°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Sossusvlei, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 16° | 3 mm | 1 d | |
| February | 31° | 17° | 2 mm | 1 d | |
| March | 32° | 17° | 1 mm | 0 d | |
| April | 32° | 17° | 1 mm | 0 d | |
| May | 30° | 16° | 1 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 12° | 2 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 11° | 1 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| August | 27° | 11° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| September | 29° | 12° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| October | 31° | 15° | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| November | 31° | 15° | 2 mm | 0 d | |
| December | 31° | 15° | 1 mm | 0 d |
The four seasons in Sossusvlei, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Deadvlei) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May30 to 32°
nights 16 to 17°
- 0 rainy days · 1 mm
Winter
Jun → Aug26 to 27°
nights 11 to 12°
- 0 rainy days · 1 mm
Spring
Sep → Nov29 to 31°
nights 12 to 15°
- 0 rainy days · 1 mm
Book early for May to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Sossusvlei, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In December there are 13h40 of daylight, in June 10h36, a difference of 3h03.
13h31Jan
12h58Feb
12h18Mar
11h32Apr
10h56May
10h36Jun
10h44Jul
11h16Aug
11h59Sep
12h43Oct
13h22Nov
13h40Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Deadvlei" (-24.76°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Sossusvlei, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: January, February, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended31°16° at night
- 3 mm · 1 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended31°17° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended32°17° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair32°17° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended30°16° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended26°12° at night
- 2 mm · 0 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended26°11° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended27°11° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended29°12° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair31°15° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended31°15° at night
- 2 mm · 0 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended31°15° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 31 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 1 day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 31 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Busy season, without the crush.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 0 days). Busy season, without the crush.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). High season: book early.
August. 27 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). High season: book early.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Busy season, without the crush.
October. 31 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 31 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 0 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 31 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Sossusvlei?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 26 to 30 °C, with almost no rainy days a month on average (2015-2024 records, Deadvlei).
Which month should you avoid in Sossusvlei?
It almost never rains (3 mm in the wettest month). The toughest month is March, with average highs of 32 °C, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Deadvlei).
What is the hottest month in Sossusvlei?
March, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Deadvlei).
What is the coldest month in Sossusvlei?
June, with 26 °C at best during the day and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Deadvlei).
What is the driest month in Sossusvlei?
August: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 3 mm in January, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Sossusvlei?
The gap between day and night reaches 17 °C in September: 29 °C in the afternoon, 12 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Sossusvlei?
June, July, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Deadvlei), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Sossusvlei guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Namibia: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Gavin Rain / Pexels · Dick Hoskins / Pexels · Manel Cusido / Pexels · Hub JACQU / Pexels · Frank Odenthal / Pexels