Best Time To Visit Botswana

Travelling to Botswana from May to September (Dry Season and Winter) – Best time to visit Botswana’s most popular parks including Okavango Delta, Moremi, and Chobe

Year-round – Wildlife viewing is good, but can different depending on park

Best weather – April and May

Travelling for Botswana safari in January?

Botswana in January is the wettest month, with average daily temperatures ranging between 30°C/86°F and 35°C/95°F and hot days approaching 40°C/104°F. In January the rainfall is unpredictable with heavy downpours. Most travel experts will tell you that January is not the most popular time to visit Botswana, but prices will be a lot lower than in peak season. This is a great time to take advantage of any Okavango Delta safari specials on offer. It is also an excellent month for birding for both numbers and diversity of species.

Travelling for Botswana safari in February?

Botswana in February will be very muddy and humid this month as it records the heaviest rainfall of the year. If you’re planning on travelling to Botswana in February, you will arrive during the wettest month of the year. The heavy rains turn the landscape into a lush, green paradise especially in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. February is the start of breeding season in this reserve for the local antelope population, when you can view newborns taking their first steps. There is also a wide variety of birds in the area during February.

Travelling for Botswana safari in March?

While visiting Botswana in March, you will experience a steady drop in temperature as the rainfall continues throughout March. As for the hot days across the country it can still reach the mid 30°C/86°F. This month of the year is renowned as the best time to visit Botswana for landscape photography, because of the vibrant green terrain brought on the by the heavy summer rainfall. Unless you are interested in birds which are wonderful during this time, visiting Botswana from December to March remains the most challenging time of year for a safari.

Travelling for Botswana safari in April?

A safari to Botswana in April – May marks the shoulder season, and is an excellent time to visit. By April the heavy rainfall has almost completely stopped across the country, and you will experience cooler mornings and evenings with warm days and little-to-no rain. With the improving weather comes exciting game viewing opportunities too, all the way to October.

By mid-month the water levels in the Okavango Delta slowly begin to rise hitting full flow by the end of May. April is the beginning of the breeding season for various antelope is well underway, when the males start to size one another up with the aim of getting the attention of the females.

Travelling for Botswana safari in May?

Botswana in May is the start of the dry winter season, with Average daytime temperatures ranging from 25°C/77°F to 30°C/86°F, and it’s generally slightly warmer in the north and cooler in the south. May is considered one of the best all-round safari month for visiting Botswana and offers excellent game viewing, mild, dry weather and the campsites and safari parks are not too busy – as this is before peak season later in the year.

An ideal time to head to the Chobe River or Okavango Delta to spot an array of wildlife quenching their thirst. Encounter more wildlife sightings at their best in the Savuti region where buffalo and zebra can be found in large numbers while the elephant herds return to the Linyati Chobe River System in May.

Travelling for Botswana safari in June?

June and July are Botswana’s coldest months with temperatures known to drop below zero, they too offer some of the best safari sightings across Africa. As for late June, marks the beginning of peak season and July to September being the busiest times in the parks – the Okavango River is in full flood making for incredible mokoro and water-based excursions.

It’s recommended to book your spot in advance if you’re planning to a safari to Botswana at this very popular time of year. The climate is excellent in June for outdoor activities and places to visit in Botswana. Expect frequent sightings of elephant, buffalo and antelope. African wild dogs can also be spotted as they begin searching for suitable dens for their pups, with the morning game drives at times very chilly, so come prepared with some warm safari clothing’s.

Travelling for Botswana safari in July?

Botswana in July is characterized by warm days with cooler evenings, and travelers can expect winter temperatures dropping to the low 40 °C at night, so a windproof jacket, fleece and long pants are a must.

If you’re planning to go in July, you will arrive at the start of the peak season, the busiest months and there are plenty of things to do in Botswana. July is also a great time to travel with families as there are no mosquitos, so it’s a good time for family adventures.

July is the prime time to visit the famed Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park – keep an eye out for the abundance of wildlife as they gather in the thousands along the water channels at this time. Game viewing is excellent along the water channels of these destinations.

Travelling for Botswana safari in August?

Botswana in August is a very dry time across the country with the daytime temperatures rising rapidly, and hot days across the country regularly topping 30°C/86°F. August is a very popular safari month in Botswana although towards the end of the month there is a chance of brief rain showers in the south.

As the winter season progresses in Botswana, clear blue skies stretch above the massive landscape making the climate of Botswana perfect for a safari towards the end of winter.

The water levels in the Okavango Delta are at their highest and have now reached as far south as Maun, making game viewing experiences along the waterways is at its best. August marks the start of the catfish run in the northwest panhandle, the main water source for the Okavango.

Travelling for Botswana safari in September?

Botswana in September stays completely dry as the heat gradually builds, reaching its peak in October when the mercury can hit 40°C (104°F), it’s the end of the country’s parched winter but the center and south of Botswana may receive a few scattered showers.

In Botswana, September is one of the hottest and driest months of the year where food and water become dangerously scarce, as hundreds of elephants make their way to the Chobe and Linyanti Rivers to quench their thirst since they rely on this water source for survival and can consume up to 200 litres (53 gallons) of water in one day.

Finding and spotting game, especially the Big Five, can be somewhat easier for safari-goers in September as large numbers of animals crowd the only available food and water sources in the region.

Travelling for Botswana safari in October?

Travelling to Botswana in October is the hottest month, characterised by temperatures that can exceed 40°C/104°F in the country’s north whereas the south remains a bit cooler. Despite the heat, this is still a very popular month for Botswana tours, especially along the Chobe River which is famous for its thirsty herds of elephants along its banks Known for drinking up to 200 litres of water a day, after a long, hot day. If you can stand the heat of October in Botswana, wildlife is easy to spot, especially in the early mornings and evenings as the landscapes are clearer due to the grazed-down vegetation with clear skies that turn pale blue.

Travelling for Botswana safari in November?

When planning to visit Botswana in November, it’s best to keep in mind that November usually brings the start of the rainy season, and whilst game viewing can still be excellent with great visibility, certain animals will start to scatter as soon as enough rain starts falling.

At the same time later in the month, this is the start of the spring season for Botswana safaris, also a rather unpredictable month as depending on the timing of rains, it could be very wet or very dry. Once the rains do begin, the landscapes are filled with newborn new-born calves, while hungry predators target them.

Travelling for Botswana safari in December?

When planning to visit Botswana in December, the rainy days start increasing ending with an average rainfall of 70-80mm per month. One can expect some very hot days reaching up to 40°​. Temperatures rarely drop below 15°​ at night.

This is Botswana’s wettest months, thunderstorms return to Botswana with bursts of rain sustaining the landscapes, helping the vegetation to recover and grazing lands to return back to normal. For African wildlife photographers, the situation is different because they will love the moody skies and lush landscapes that comes with this season.

Not unless you are mainly interested in birds which are wonderful during this time, this is the most challenging time of year to visit Botswana, from December to March is the ‘green’ season – high temperatures and heavy showers, although it’s also the cheapest time to visit, there are fewer travelers than usual, and some lodges and camps shut up shop completely.