Late rains boost Namibia's rangelands

Namibia's rangelands experienced a notable recovery during the 2025/2026 season, with the latest State of Namibian Rangelands report noting improved vegetation growth across large parts of the country, continuing the positive trend observed in April. 

The report noted that areas in southern Namibia that had previously experienced poor conditions showed significant recovery.

A comparison of the cumulative vegetation index from October 2025 to May 2026 against the previous ten growing seasons shows that the current season ranks above average across most of Namibia.

The report highlighted that the strong vegetation growth resulting from late rains has substantially improved biomass production in many regions. However, this recovery also brings increased risks. 

The report noted that the accumulation of dry plant material could increase the risk of veld fires during the dry months ahead.

Land users are therefore encouraged to carefully assess grazing resources and adjust stocking rates and grazing strategies to match local conditions, particularly in areas that remain dry.

The western coastal belt and adjacent inland areas continue to face below-average vegetation conditions, while parts of the central-eastern regions, particularly in Omaheke and eastern Otjozondjupa, display uneven and patchy vegetation growth.

Looking ahead, climate forecasts indicate the development of an El Niño weather pattern, which could result in a drier and more variable 2026/2027 rainy season accompanied by higher temperatures.

Experts caution that while the current season has been favourable, producers should remain vigilant and adopt flexible management practices to prepare for possible dry conditions ahead.