A guide to Botswana’s many seasons
The best time to visit Botswana differs according to the region. In general, the dry months from June to October are considered to be the best, as animals tend to rendezvous at the few waterholes and so are particularly easy to observe. During this time the temperatures increase continuously. It is around 77-95°F during the daytime from June to September. From October onward it can become very hot, with temperatures in excess of 100°F. The nights are cold, and the thermometer can fall below 50°F, especially in the deserts.
April and May are also a great time for Botswana safaris, however, you should expect scattered rain showers.
Best Time To Visit
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- Head for a unique safari in the largest saltpans in the world, the Makgadikgadi Pans in the Kalahari. Expect to see enormous herds of wildebeest, zebra and springbok – with the accompanying predators!
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- Visit the Central Kalahari Game Reserve – the largest game reserve and the largest sand basin in the world and get up close and personal with its many meerkats!
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- The Botswana National Museum in the lively capital of Gaborone brings the cultural heritage of Southern Africa alive and is well worth a visit during your tour of Botswana
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- This is one of the best times to head to Kgalagadi, the pioneer transfrontier park in Africa and witness a plethora of wildlife and birdlife!
- If you are in Gaborone around April, don’t forget to check out the Maitisong Performing Arts Festival, the biggest arts festival in Botswana
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- Spend time in the bustling town of Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta, soaking in the traditional village life
- The Shinde Concession, dotted with palm islands and popular for its wild dogs, is perfect for walking Africa safaris
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- Explore Chobe National Park, a haven for many animal species, a wide variety of birds, and the multitude of elephants that concentrate on the Chobe River during the dry season
- Experience the wildlife diversity for yourself with wonderful game drives and boat safaris
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- Embark on a mokoro or a traditional canoe ride and explore the rich birdlife in the narrow waterways of the magnificent Okavango Delta!
- You could always opt for a faster motorboat safari through the floodplains and lagoons during which you could encounter hippos, elephants and crocodiles!
- Head to Linyati and witness large herds of elephants and other wildlife at the rivers and waterholes
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- Head out an exciting game drive through the Duba Concession in The Okavango Delta with its 200,000 mammals and birds
- Relax in the hotels, guesthouses and campsites of Kasane or head for a boat cruise on the Chobe River
- When at Kasane, you could also opt for a fishing trip as well as a day trips to the Victoria Falls across the river in Zimbabwe or Zambia
- Plan a trip to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Serowe, where you will find Spitzmaul and Breitmaul Rhino species
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- This is a good time to head out on a walking safari, with an armed ranger, to get up close and personal with the wild animals in the Okavango Delta
- Spot elephants, zebras and big cats in the Tuli Wildlife Reserve with its diverse landscape of rocks, rushing forests and species-rich wetlands
- Discover the most remote parts of Botswana on an adventurous and authentic yet comfortable safari with mobile bush camps
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- Expect much to see in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana with its ‘The Old Mall’, the Pula Arch and the statue of Sir Seretse Khama – its first president
- Head to Gaborone Reserve, where the city dam is, and which is one of the few natural reserves inside a city!
- This is a good month to spend time in Okovango with slightly lower temperatures and capture stunning pictures of its birdlife
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- Head to Savuti and witness a lesser-known annual migration, when animals head here to enjoy good grazing opportunities in the fertile Savuti Marsh
- From the lively capital of Gaborone, head to the Mokolodi Wildlife Park. On extensive game drives, you can observe giraffes, cheetahs and many other animals
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- Head to Tsodilo with its plentiful stone rock paintings, which have earned it the sobriquet of “Le Louvre of the Desert”
- On a game drive in the Kalahari Desert, you can observe antelopes, wildebeest and springboks, endless expanses and a sense of absolute freedom!
Best time to visit Botswana by season
The best time to visit the Okavango Delta, Linyanti and Chobe:
Going on a wildlife safari in Chobe National Park, and enjoying mokoro (traditional canoe) rides in Okavango are among the most popular things to do in Botswana.
The Okavango Delta is flooded during the dry months from May to October, when the water has slowly but steadily paved its way.
From August to October, animal observations in Okavango Delta are particularly possible because the water reduces the land mass to numerous small islands, on which the animals gather.
During the rainy season in the Okavango Delta, which is also known as the Green Season, you can enjoy some great bird watching.
The best time to visit the Kalahari Salt Pans and Central Kalahari:
From December to April the desert comes to life! Fresh grass and small flowers suddenly sprout. Thousands of jumping and springboks, as well as wildebeest, are lured by new food sources, with hungry lions, cheetahs and jackals close on their heels.
Dec – March
Possibility of strong rains in Jan & Feb, some roads in remote areas and national parks may become impassable. High temperatures during the day.
April – May
End of the rainy season with occasional showers. Lovely weather with fewer clouds and moderate temperatures.
June – Aug
Chilly mornings and evenings – temperatures at night can drop below freezing point. Pleasantly warm temperatures during the day.
Sept – Nov
Temperatures begin to rise and get very hot in October. Clear skies.
What to Pack for Botswana
What you pack on your trip to Botswana depends on the season you are planning to visit:
Dec – March
Rain gear including waterproof jacket and shoes. Mosquito repellent is particularly important during this time of the year.
April – May
Light clothes for day time and a jacket for cooler evenings.
June – Aug
Layers of clothing including warm jacket / fleece or jumper, gloves, socks and a scarf.
Sept – Nov
Light cotton or linen clothing with natural colors
Light shoes and sandals
Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuit
Light jumper for cooler evenings
Long sleeved shirts and long trousers are useful for protection from the sun during the day and mosquitoes at night
Popular Trips to Botswana
Prepare for the safari vacation of a lifetime as you journey through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. From game drives in Southern Kruger to boat safaris in Chobe National Park and village visits around Okavango Delta, there’s an enthralling set of experiences in store for you. The icing on the cake? A trip to Victoria…
Traverse sprawling deserts, the world’s largest inland river delta and thundering waterfalls as you explore some of Southern Africa’s finest wildlife destinations. Savor the assorted urban charms of Johannesburg before heading to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Enjoy enthralling game drives and walking safaris with expert Bushmen guides to spot lions, leopards, elands and more….
Discover the magic of the Victoria Falls and unearth Botswana’s wildlife treasures on this ten-day tour. Get a bird’s-eye-view of The Smoke That Thunders as you soar up above Victoria Falls in a helicopter. Go on exciting game drives, boat cruises and bush walks in Zambezi National Park, before experiencing Botswana’s wonderful waterworlds. With mokoro…
This is the quintessential African safari vacation. The 15-day tour takes you across some of the continent’s best game reserves in Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia. Buckle up as you set out on the safari journey of your dreams, with stops at Arusha, Ngorongoro Plains, Northern Serengeti, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta and more. Bask in…
Journey into the wilderness and traverse a series of diverse landscapes – from swamps and marshes to grasslands and rivers – as you delve deeper into Botswana. Tread off the beaten track and discover the untouched beauty of Savuti and Linyanti. Forming a natural link between Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta, this remote region…
Would you like to go on a sunset cruise down the Chobe river? Or spend a day exploring the mighty Victoria Falls? Turn your dreams into reality with this customized tour of Zimbabwe and Botswana that packs in a whole gamut of experiences. Get up close with African elephants at an elephant sanctuary by the…
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Best Places To Visit
Okavango Delta
Chobe National Park
Savuti & Linyanti
Central Kalahari
Kalahari Salt Pans/Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Botswana Mobile Safari
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