Things to Do in Windhoek in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Windhoek
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (30°C)
High Temp
62°F (16°C)
Low Temp
1.6 inches (41 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December lands in the sweet spot between spring and summer. Mornings start cool enough for a sweater at 15°C (59°F) but afternoons climb to 31°C (88°F) with zero chance of the crushing heat you'll face in January.
- + Rainfall drops to barely a trace. Those 34 mm (1.3 inches) fall as brief, dramatic afternoon thunderstorms that locals call the first rains, clearing the air and painting the sky copper for the best sunset photos of the year.
- + Hotel rates are still at shoulder-season pricing before the Christmas increase, and you can walk into Joe's Beerhouse without the hour-long wait that starts December 20th.
- + The jacarandas along Independence Avenue are dropping their purple flowers like snow, creating Instagram gold under the jacaranda tunnel between Robert Mugabe and Sam Nujoma avenues.
Considerations
- − UV index hits 8. You'll burn in 15 minutes without proper protection, and that Namibian sun has a particular intensity that sunscreen labels don't account for.
- − December 16th is a public holiday (Day of Reconciliation) and everything shuts down, including most restaurants and shops, leaving you limited dining options.
- − The first proper thunderstorms can turn Windhoek's unpaved parking areas into muddy traps, and rental car companies will charge you for cleaning if you get stuck.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Windhoek in December is warm and humid. The scent of afternoon rain on hot earth fills its jacaranda-lined streets. Midday sun is intense. Residents retreat to cafe verandas where Windhoek Lager glasses clink steadily. This is a month of transition. The city's German colonial architecture, with clean lines and pastel hues, stands against a sky that shifts from blue to dramatic clouds in hours. Locals prepare for the holidays. By early December, Maerua Mall transforms into a Christmas market. The smell of pine needles mingles with smoky oryx sausage rolls grilling over coals. Mid-month brings Day of Reconciliation celebrations in Zoo Park. The beat of traditional dance and sizzle of kapana meat on open fires draw the entire community. Visiting Windhoek now means experiencing a city balancing administrative bustle with a festive pace. Evenings bring a cool breeze. Thunder rumbling in the distance promises a brief, cooling downpour.
5 Days Swakopmund and Sossusvlei | Guided Lodge
guided_experienceThis five-day guided journey from Windhoek goes into Namibia's contrasts. It moves from the towering, apricot-colored dunes of Sossusvlei to the cool, salty air of the Swakopmund coast. You will hear the ancient desert's silence at dawn. You will feel Atlantic mist on your skin. Comfortable lodges serve as oases after days spent exploring.
It delivers Namibia's well-known desert-and-sea duality in a compact, curated format. This maximizes experience over transit time.
Insider tip: Request a lodge room facing the dunes in Sossusvlei. Watch the shifting morning light paint the sand in deep oranges from your private veranda.
This month: December's brief, intense rain showers can temporarily transform the clay pans at Sossusvlei. They create rare, shallow reflective pools against the dunes with fortunate timing.
10 Day Discover Namibia Small Group Safari
otherOver ten days with a small group, this safari explores Namibia's vast narrative. It goes from the wildlife-rich waterholes of Etosha National Park to the skeletal trees of Deadvlei and the rugged coastline of the Skeleton Coast. You will taste dust on the wind during game drives. See the eerie glow of the salt pan at sunset. Smell the wild sage of the Damaraland plains.
It is a complete introduction to the country's grand landscapes and wildlife. It is designed for those who want to share the journey with like-minded travelers.
Insider tip: Pack a bandana. Cover your nose and mouth during game drives on the dry, dusty December roads leading into Etosha.
6 Day Private Guided Accommodated Namibian Loop
private_tourThis six-day private guided loop has a tailored pace through central Namibia. Your own vehicle and guide examine the history of Windhoek before journeying to the dramatic escarpment and onto the Namib Desert. Feel the polished cool of the Christuskirche marble in Windhoek. Later, feel the dry, oven-like heat radiating from the desert canyons.
The complete flexibility of a private tour allows for spontaneous stops. Visit roadside craft stalls or extend time at a viewpoint.
Insider tip: Use your guide's knowledge. Visit a Windhoek butcher shop in the morning to sample freshly grilled kapana, a local street food staple, before you depart.
Private 11-Day Tour Self-Drive for Beginners Safari in Namibia
guided_experienceDesigned for first-time self-drivers, this eleven-day tour provides a rugged vehicle, a detailed roadbook, and pre-booked accommodations. It grants the freedom to encounter Namibia on your own terms from the Waterberg Plateau to the quiver trees of the south. You will hear the crunch of your tires on gravel roads. Feel the steering wheel vibrate on corrugated tracks. See towering thunderstorms build over the flat horizon.
It delivers the profound independence of a Namibian road trip. It includes the important safety net of logistical support and vetted routes for beginners.
Insider tip: Carefully monitor afternoon weather in December. A sudden rainstorm can turn a dry riverbed into an impassable flash flood in minutes. Never attempt to cross running water.
10-Day Private Yoga Adventure in Namibia
otherThis ten-day private adventure combines daily yoga with explorations of the Namibian landscape. Sessions occur on a private deck overlooking the desert. Meditation happens amidst the rust-colored boulders of the Namibrand reserve. You will feel the stretch in your muscles after a morning hike. Taste the clean, crisp air of high-altitude spaces. Hear only your breath during silent meditation at sunset.
It is a journey focused on internal stillness and external grandeur. The vast, empty spaces of Namibia are the ultimate setting for mindfulness.
Insider tip: Request a yoga mat placement on the cool, shaded stone of your lodge patio for late-afternoon sessions. Avoid the direct December sun.
Where to Stay in Windhoek in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December to Christmas Eve
Windhoek Christmas Market
The Maerua Mall transforms into a German-style Christmas village with Namibian twists: oryx sausage rolls, Windhoek lager instead of glühwein, and Himba crafts alongside traditional ornaments. The smell of pine mingles with dust from the Kalahari that somehow always finds its way indoors.
December 16th
Day of Reconciliation Celebrations
December 16th brings the whole city to Zoo Park for traditional dances, storytelling, and the best kapana grilling competition of the year. Local communities set up food stalls that won't appear any other time, serving dishes like oshifima with ombidi that you can't find in restaurants.
Packing Checklist
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View Windhoek Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best time to photograph the Parliament Gardens jacarandas is 6:30am when the morning light hits the purple blooms. By 8am the sun is too harsh and the colors wash out.
Locals eat lunch at 11am sharp to avoid the 31°C (88°F) heat. Restaurants like The Stellenbosch Wine Bar stop serving their full menu after 2pm in December.
Petrol stations become social hubs on December 16th when everything else is closed. The Engen on Sam Nujoma becomes an impromptu braai spot.
Wait until after 3pm on Saturdays to hit the craft market. Vendors slash prices by 30-40% while they pack up, though you'll have to dig through what's left.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't book a room without air conditioning. December's 31°C (88°F) feels like a furnace when the dry heat teams up with 70% humidity, and you'll regret saving those few dollars.
Skip Katatura without a guide. The warren of streets and language barriers will stretch your intended 2-hour food tour into six hours of frustration.
Leave the shorts and flip-flops for the pool. Windhoek's restaurant scene runs dressier than you'd expect - The Tug will send you packing even in summer.
Always check December 16th closures before planning day trips. The Trans-Namib Museum, craft markets, and most restaurants lock their doors for the holiday.
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