Namibia is the land of rolling sand dunes, mysteries and endless sunsets that seem to set the land alight. And while this is a land of deserts, it does get its healthy dose of annual rain.

Namibia is one of the sunniest countries in the world sporting an average of 300 sunny days a year.  They have an arid climate, meaning the potential evaporation is higher than the precipitation and that results in extremely low humidity.  In Namibia, the amount of precipitation increases as you go from the southwest to the northeast, increasing from an annual of 0 mm to 600mm.  Namibia also has an evergreen strip in the north east known as the Caprivi Strip, or Kavango.  In this area they have the highest amount of annual rainfall and as a result they also have higher humidity, while rivers and swamps dominate the landscape.

Most of the rivers in Namibia are ephemeral rivers which means they only flow after a good amount of rainfall.  After a heavy amount of rain in the catchment areas of these rivers, the rivers come crashing down in torrents.  This is a sight to behold as some of these rivers will not flow for several years.  When these rivers do flow many of them don’t even contain enough water to allow them to reach the sea. 

Unlike the rest of the world, Namibians rejoice gleefully when it rains. 

They are known to jump into the vehicles and drive around.  The more it rains the more they drive around, as they have to see the rivers flow and how full the dams are as this is a sight they want to see first- hand.  They live in a desert and so they want to see, feel and taste the rain and it’s not rare to see people walking out in the rain without a raincoat or umbrella.  A celebration is never cancelled because of the rain, instead it is more likely to add fuel to the celebration.

The most amazing sight to behold after a good shower of rain in Namibia is how flowers and plants that were seemingly dead come back to life.  Seeds that have stayed dormant in the ground suddenly awaken with life.  After the rain the flowers start to bloom and an array of insects seem to appear from nowhere.  Butterflies flutter from flower to flower, pollinating for the next season while caterpillars and beetles feast on the fresh green shoots. Grasshoppers and crickets munch away merrily on the plants from the ground level.  Frogs also make an appearance in the pools of water and rivers.  Grass that was seemingly dead in the dust appears to turn green overnight.  Namibia is washed clean and everything looks alive again. 

With the landscape now green and the trees sporting fresh green leaves, a variety of birds make use of the opportunity to raise some chicks.  Waterbirds that have not been seen all season appear at the water pools.  Instinctively after the rains most of Namibia’s wild life have their offspring.

Lastly, rain brings a delicacy to Namibia.  Spouting from the termite hills, is a super mushroom known to the locals as Omajovas.  These mushrooms can weigh up to a kilogram each and have their own unique flavour.  As with any mushrooms, they are best prepared in butter and salt.

Enjoy a one of a kind Namibia tour with Cross Over Africa and allow us to introduce you to Southern Africa’s most famous 4×4 destinations.