ǁKaras · Namibia

Best Time to Hike Fish River Canyon Trail

The best time to hike Fish River Canyon is during the cooler months only, since the trail opens only in the cooler season and closes when the river runs high. Check Namibia Wildlife Resorts for exact dates, because the managing authority sets the window and can change it with notices.

Dry riverbed winding through a pale rock canyon under a crisp clear winter morning sky

Month-by-month climate for Fish River Canyon Trail

Month	Relative warmth	Rain	Daylight
Jan	Warmest	31 mm	13.6 h
Feb	Warmest	22 mm	12.9 h
Mar	Warmest	17 mm	12.2 h
Apr	Mild	11 mm	11.3 h
May	Cool	6 mm	10.6 h
Jun	Coldest	3 mm	10.3 h
Jul	Coldest	2 mm	10.4 h
Aug	Coldest	4 mm	11 h
Sep	Mild	10 mm	11.8 h
Oct	Warm	3 mm	12.7 h
Nov	Warm	4 mm	13.4 h
Dec	Warmest	10 mm	13.7 h

Modelled regional averages for 2010–2023 (rainfall) and calculated daylight hours; they describe the wider area, not a reading taken on the trail. “Relative warmth” compares each month with the warmest and coldest months of this place’s own year. It is not a temperature, and the high parts of a route are colder than the region around them.

The modelled averages show a clear split. June, July and August are the coldest months of this place's year, with very little rain: about 3 mm, 2 mm and 4 mm. January is the wettest at 31 mm, followed by February at 22 mm and March at 17 mm, and those are also the warmest months. Daylight swings from roughly 10.3 hours in June to 13.7 hours in December, so winter days leave less time to cover the distance. These are regional averages, not trail measurements.

Fish River Canyon Trail season by season

Cool, dry winter · May to August

These are the cool-to-coldest months of the year here, and rainfall is typically minimal, from about 6 mm in May down to 2 mm in July. That fits the official season guidance, which limits the trail to the cooler season. Daylight is at its shortest, around 10.3 to 11 hours, so plan each day's walking around the available light and pack a headlamp. High-river closures can still happen, as a July notice showed, so confirm the current status with Namibia Wildlife Resorts before committing.

Mild shoulder spring · September to October

September is relatively mild and October warms to warm for this place's year, while rainfall stays low at about 10 mm and 3 mm. Daylight lengthens from roughly 11.8 to 12.7 hours, which gives more margin on long canyon days. Whether the trail is open depends on the cooler-season window set by Namibia Wildlife Resorts, so treat the numbers as context and confirm dates with the managing authority before planning around them.

Hot, wetter summer · November to March

November is warm, and December through March are the warmest months here. Rainfall rises to its highest averages, about 31 mm in January, and daylight peaks near 13.7 hours. The official season guidance restricts the multi-day trail to the cooler months, so this stretch is generally not when the trail is available. Because you carry everything and there is no exit until the end, the managing authority's season limits matter more than any monthly average.

Late-autumn transition · April

April sits between seasons: relatively mild for this place's year, with about 11 mm of rain and roughly 11.3 hours of daylight. It is the month where the warm, wetter pattern gives way to the cooler, drier one. Whether the trail has opened depends on the dates Namibia Wildlife Resorts publishes for the cooler season, not on the averages alone. Check its notices before planning, since river levels and closures can change the picture.

Hiker in sweat-soaked shirt hopping between large boulders along a stony canyon floor in fierce heat

Official season guidance

Namibia Wildlife Resorts: Cooler months only — the trail is open only in the cooler season (check Namibia Wildlife Resorts for dates) and closes when the river is high

The multi-day Fish River Canyon Trail requires a permit, a minimum group size and a recent doctor’s medical certificate, and only opens in the cooler months. It can also be closed when the river is high: Namibia Wildlife Resorts notices closed it on 10 July 2026 and reopened it on 17 July 2026 with a slippery-crossing warning, so check NWR notices before you go. It is fully self-sufficient — you carry everything and there is no exit until the end, so be honestly fit and prepared.

Check current dates on nwr.com.na

What to pack for the season

Pack for a wide swing between conditions. Bring layers you can add and remove, sun protection for exposed canyon sections, and a headlamp because daylight is shortest in winter. Waterproofing matters for slippery river crossings. Since the trek is fully self-sufficient, season should shape how much you carry.

For layering, rain cover and weather planning, see hiking in rain, heat and cold.

Timing mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is treating one month's average as permission to go. The trail opens only in the cooler season, can close when the river is high, and a notice earlier closed it and reopened it with a slippery-crossing warning. Another is ignoring the permit and medical certificate lead time. Plan around the managing authority's dates, check Namibia Wildlife Resorts notices shortly before departure, and allow for shorter winter daylight.

Hands holding a folded paper map beside a shallow trickle of water on warm rock

Common questions

Is the Fish River Canyon Trail open all year?

No. The official season guidance says the trail is open only in the cooler season, and it closes when the river is high. Exact dates come from Namibia Wildlife Resorts, so confirm with the managing authority before you plan.

Which months are driest?

On the modelled averages, June, July and August are the driest, at roughly 3 mm, 2 mm and 4 mm, and they are also the coldest months of the year here. Still check current river conditions and notices, because closures depend on the river.

Does daylight change much during the season?

Yes. Daylight runs from about 10.3 hours in June to roughly 13.7 hours in December. Cooler-season days are noticeably shorter, so plan the day's walking carefully and carry a headlamp for early starts or late finishes.

Can the trail close even in the cooler months?

Yes. Namibia Wildlife Resorts has closed it when the river was high, including a July closure that reopened a week later with a slippery-crossing warning. Check notices shortly before departure and be ready to adjust your dates.

Sources

Namibia Wildlife Resorts — nwr.com.na: official season and permit guidance.
NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources): monthly temperature and rainfall averages, 2010–2023, from MERRA-2 reanalysis. Daylight hours are calculated from latitude.

Conditions, closures and permit rules change without notice — confirm current information with the managing authority before you go. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.