Prior to visiting Namibia to fly a certain amount to preparation is necessary. In order to maximise your flying enjoyment and safety please contact the local Hanggliding and Paragliding Association. See link on this page.

Climate

Namibia has a sub-tropical desert climate. The flying is best in the hottest season, generally from December to March which coincides with the rainy season. Don't be put off - it is a desert after all. The further south or west you go, the drier it gets, with many southern regions of the Kalahari and the whole of the coastal Namib Desert receiving no rainfall at all some years. In this rainy season temperatures occasionally reach 40C.

From April to September, in the dry season, it is generally cool, pleasant, clear and dry. Temperatures average around 25C during the day, but nights are much colder. Frost is possible in the higher areas and the deserts. October and November are still within the dry season, but then the temperatures are higher, especially in the lower-lying and more northerly areas.

'Rainy Season' Dust Devil

Topography

Namibia falls bacially into three distinct topographical areas. Inland a 2,000m-high central plateau runs north to south down the spine of the country. This is hilly, verdant country where most of Namibias best farmland is concentrated.

To the west of this plateau, the land drops off a dramatic escarpment to the Namib Desert, which stretches for 1,600km beside the Atlantic Ocean. This narrow coastal strip of gravel flats, isolated mountains and sand-dunes is one of the worlds oldest and most interesting deserts.

On the eastern side of the plateau, the land gently descends to the great sand-sheet of the Kalahari Desert, which lies at about 1,000m and merges into Botswana. This is rolling country with vegetated sand-dunes.