SeasonMapSwakopmund weather in December
Namibia
December in Swakopmund: warm, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
#6 of 12 months in Swakopmund · #232 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 87/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Swakopmund in December
Other months in Swakopmund
Swakopmund's forum calls January lovely and sunny on the coast, noticeably cooler than inland Namibia thanks to the cold Benguela current offshore. Regulars note the main summer rains only really pick up toward the end of January, and that any rain tends to arrive as one short, brief burst rather than a sustained downpour — book accommodation early since this overlaps South Africa's peak school-holiday season.
Add your own note from Swakopmund's card on the map.
Swakopmund climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 25°C / 77°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 14°C / 58°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 26°C / 79°F | |
| Sea temperature | 17°C / 62°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 2 mm / 0.1 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 1 days | |
| Humidity | 72% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 14°C / 56°F | |
| Sunshine | 11.8 h/day | |
| Daylight | 13.5 h | |
| Wind | 23 km/h / 14 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 32 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Swakopmund in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyThe coast fills up, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Swakopmund's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherSwakopmund's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Swakopmund in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Seal pupping at Cape Cross
15 Nov – 31 Dec · usuallyWildlife seasonThe colony ninety minutes up the Skeleton Coast pups in November and December and swells to a couple of hundred thousand animals. You smell it from the car park before you see anything.
- Holiday
The coast fills up
10 Dec – 15 Jan · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyHalf of inland Namibia drives to the sea in December and Swakopmund is where it stops. Every flat is let, restaurants need booking, and the fog keeps the place cool while Windhoek bakes. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Swakopmund — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Swakopmund?
Swakopmund in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Swakopmund?
- December in Swakopmund: warm, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Swakopmund on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
- What is the weather like in Swakopmund in December?
- In December, Swakopmund averages a daily high of 25.2°C and a low of 14.4°C, with about 1.7 mm of rain over roughly 0.5 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Swakopmund in December?
- Swakopmund has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in December.
Other months in Swakopmund
Compare Swakopmund in December
Warmer or cooler than Swakopmund in December
Similar destinations in Southern Africa — December
Within 300 km: Sossusvlei's The inner gate opens an hour early around 1 Jan – 31 Dec.