The best times to visit Fish River Canyon for ideal weather are

April 30th to October 7th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Fish River Canyon Travel Info

Weather in Fish River Canyon

Temperature

Average temperatures in Fish River Canyon vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain throughout the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 63rd percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Fish River Canyon, the hottest months are February, January, and then March. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late February and early March where highs are regularly around 106.5°F (41.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 76.8°F (24.9°C) at night.

Fish River Canyon Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Fish River Canyon Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Fish River Canyon Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Fish River Canyon Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Fish River Canyon Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 104.7 85.7 73.5
Feb 104.1 86.1 74.8
Mar 102.2 84.8 73.2
Apr 94.8 79.1 68
May 85.7 70.3 59.9
Jun 77.7 62.9 52.6
Jul 78.6 63.2 52.1
Aug 82.1 65.5 53.9
Sep 87.6 70.2 58.3
Oct 94.5 76.4 64.1
Nov 97.5 79.4 66.9
Dec 101.9 83.1 70.8

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 40.4 29.8 23.1
Feb 40.1 30.1 23.8
Mar 39 29.3 22.9
Apr 34.9 26.2 20
May 29.8 21.3 15.5
Jun 25.4 17.2 11.4
Jul 25.9 17.3 11.2
Aug 27.8 18.6 12.2
Sep 30.9 21.2 14.6
Oct 34.7 24.7 17.8
Nov 36.4 26.3 19.4
Dec 38.8 28.4 21.6

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Fish River Canyon are September, December, and then October. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid January. For example, on the week of January 15th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early March with an average of 0 days of significant precipitation the week of March 5th.

When can you find snow in Fish River Canyon? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Fish River Canyon.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Fish River Canyon (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 1% 0 0.1
Feb 3% 0 0.2
Mar 2% 0 0.3
Apr 3% 0 0.2
May 2% 0 0.1
Jun 1% 0 0.1
Jul 1% 0 0.1
Aug 2% 0 0.1
Sep 0% 0 0
Oct 0% 0 0
Nov 1% 0 0
Dec 0% 0 0

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 1 0 0.3
Feb 3 0 0.5
Mar 2 0 0.8
Apr 3 0 0.5
May 2 0 0.3
Jun 1 0 0.3
Jul 1 0 0.3
Aug 2 0 0.3
Sep 0 0 0
Oct 0 0 0
Nov 1 0 0
Dec 0 0 0

 

Humidity and Wind

Fish River Canyon has no months that would be considered humid, with some very dry months. The least humid month is November (17.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is June (31.5%).

Wind in Fish River Canyon is usually calm. The windiest month is November, followed by October and December. November’s average wind speed of around 5.6 knots (6.4 MPH or 10.3 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid December where average top sustained speeds reach 11.1 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Fish River Canyon.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 5.2 Light breeze 10.8 Gentle breeze
Feb 5.1 Light breeze 10.3 Gentle breeze
Mar 4.2 Light breeze 9.3 Gentle breeze
Apr 4.4 Light breeze 8.1 Gentle breeze
May 3.9 Barely noticeable 7.4 Gentle breeze
Jun 3.5 Barely noticeable 6.9 Light breeze
Jul 3.6 Barely noticeable 6.8 Gentle breeze
Aug 4.3 Light breeze 8.1 Gentle breeze
Sep 4.9 Light breeze 9 Gentle breeze
Oct 5.4 Light breeze 9.9 Gentle breeze
Nov 5.6 Light breeze 10.4 Gentle breeze
Dec 5.4 Light breeze 10.8 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 19.3%
Feb 20.1%
Mar 18.8%
Apr 19.3%
May 26.6%
Jun 31.5%
Jul 27.3%
Aug 24.5%
Sep 20.9%
Oct 18.9%
Nov 17.7%
Dec 19.4%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Fish River Canyon?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for Namibia; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 29, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Fish River Canyon, Namibia is September, followed by April and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Fish River Canyon in October. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 55 in October means 55% of the tourists vs. September.

 

 

Overall Fish River Canyon Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 105.9°F (41.1°C) and 79.3°F (26.3°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with roughly 1 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with about 0 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Fish River Canyon, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 101°F (38.3°C) and 87.1°F (30.6°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a trivial amount: approximately 0 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is somewhat warm this time of year in Fish River Canyon to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 106.5°F (41.4°C) and 99.8°F (37.7°C). On average, it rains or snows a very small amount: 0 to 1 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Namibia › Fish River Canyon, Namibia