Etosha · WinterMonth summary
Etosha weather in January
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
20°C – 32°C
🌧 Rainy days
36% of days
☀️ Sunshine
12.0h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.6/10
📅 📅 Best month
May (9.1/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Etosha in January?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore cultural sites and local food.
❌ No if: you need guaranteed sunshine for photos or outdoor activities.
Our take: Favourable conditions in January (7.6/10). May scores higher but the gap is small.
By trip type
Etosha in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Shoulder season — good value with reasonable accommodation prices Even in winter, Etosha enjoys 32°C. A real asset for escaping the European cold. Expect rain on 36% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if May (9.1/10) remains theoretically better.
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All months for Etosha
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 20°C | 32°C | 36% | 3.2 | 12.0h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 20°C | 31°C | 39% | 3.4 | 12.0h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 20°C | 30°C | 30% | 2.6 | 11.9h | 8.1/10 |
| ☀️ April | 18°C | 30°C | 10% | 0.7 | 11.5h | 8.7/10 |
| ☀️ May | 15°C | 29°C | 1% | 0.0 | 10.8h | 9.1/10 |
| ☀️ June | 12°C | 26°C | 0% | 0.0 | 10.5h | 9.0/10 |
| ☀️ July | 11°C | 26°C | 0% | 0.0 | 10.7h | 9.0/10 |
| ☀️ August | 14°C | 30°C | 0% | 0.0 | 11.4h | 8.9/10 |
| ☀️ September | 18°C | 34°C | 0% | 0.0 | 11.8h | 7.7/10 |
| 🥵 October | 21°C | 36°C | 3% | 0.1 | 12.0h | 6.9/10 |
| ☀️ November | 22°C | 35°C | 17% | 0.6 | 12.7h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 22°C | 34°C | 29% | 2.5 | 12.4h | 7.3/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Etosha averages 32°C, 36% rainy days and 12.0h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.6/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs May (best month)
The best month is May (score 9.1/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : -3°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -35%
- ☀️ Sunshine : -1.2h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Etosha in January
Is January a good time to visit Etosha?
January is an excellent time to visit Etosha (score 7.6/10). With 32°C, 12.0h of sunshine and 36% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Etosha in January?
With 32°C max and 12.0h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
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