Your Botswana Travel Guide

Are you planning a trip to Botswana and would like to know the best time to go?  Searching the internet can get confusing as there are so many resources. Before I travelled to Botswana, I felt the same way - I spent hours on Google, researching the weather and what to pack. Once I travelled to Botswana, it was a lot easier to summarise the travel months according to weather.

Also, from working in the travel industry I have come to know the questions that travellers ask and what is important to them. Budget is a key factor in visiting Botswana, as it is one of the most inclusive safari destinations in Southern Africa. The reason for this is because a lot of the camps in the Okavango Delta are not accessible by vehicle and most of the lodges must bring in their supplies by airplane.  

The big key influencer to plan a trip to Botswana is your flexibility with time and budget.

‍

January – The bush is alive with activity

January is the middle of the rainy season with spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. January is great if you are into birding or if you want to visit in peak breeding time, it is however not the best time for wildlife photography. From my personal experience sitting on a safari vehicle when it rains, means your camera is in your poncho most of the time. The animals seek shelter under the trees and the bush is thick and lush, which makes finding the animals a lot harder than in the dry season.

• Daily temperatures are warm, averaging 86 °F (30°C).  

• Night time averages are 64°F (20°C).

• Peak breeding time for many colourful migrant bird species.

• Excellent wildflowers and brilliant green foliage abound.

• Game viewing is average with active predators chasing the fast-developing young of their prey species.

• When the rain clears then the green backdrop can make for wonderful photography opportunities. It is however a gamble because the weather is unpredictable. It is rather suggested to travel after the rainy season to get those vibrant bush colours.

February – The Okavango Delta is active and alive

The rains continue, but mostly afternoon thunderstorms boasting dramatic skies and sounds. There can be both wet and dry spells during this month. By this time there is a lot of water and the animals tend not to walk too far from their natural water sources.

• Daily temperatures can reach up to 104 °F (40°C), but still averages around 86 °F (30°C).  

• Night time averages are 64°F (20°C).

• Colourful and noisy frogs are abundant.

• Butterflies, birds, frogs and small creatures are at their most active.

• The resident game species do not have far to go for water.

March – Savute zebra migration

The temperatures in March are still warm during the day and at night - the air is drier with less frequent rains.  Do you know abut the Zebra migration in Botswana? It is the second largest summer Zebra migration in Africa. It is quite a spectacle and it is suggested to combine the Savute with the Okavango Delta in March to be able to experience both these natural phenomenas.

• Daily temperatures can reach up to 104 °F (40°C), but still averages around 86 °F (30°C).  

• Night time averages are 64°F (20°C).

• Witness hundreds of Zebra and wildebeest moving through the Savute marshlands.

• Hear the calls of the last migratory birds before they move to the northern hemisphere.

• In Moremi the Marula trees are fruiting which attracts bull elephants who wander from tree to tree in search of their favourite meals.

April – The first signs of the changing season appears

In April you can expect cooler morning temperatures with high humidity – this can lead to morning mist over the water and is great for early morning photography. The trees have flowered and the fruit is ripening over with massive sausages hanging from the Sausage trees. Baboons are often with Impala to assist them with safety.  They have a warning call that alerts the impala if predators are near.

• Night time temperatures drop to below 64°F (20°C).

• Daytime temperatures continue to rise to 104 °F (40°C).

• In April, the rains are less frequent and the bush is green and lush.

‍

May – Flood waters from Angola start to reach the top of the Okavango Delta and begin their slow progress through the Delta

May is one of my personal favourite times to travel on safari in Southern Africa – the weather is pleasant (not too hot or cold), the bush still has some green vegetation for amazing photography and you can expect clear skies for most of the month. The buffalo and elephants begin to group in large herds and visit the permanent waterholes more often as the seasonal pans start to dry.

• The nights are cooler with temperatures averaging 59°F (15°C).  

• The daytime temperatures remain warm but have lost their edge with maximum temperatures seldom exceeding 95°F (35°C).

• Green colours start to fade into the earthy dry season colours.

• Predators begin to thrive again as their colouring blends in with their surroundings.

‍

June – Winter, an exciting time in Botswana

Even though the temperatures are cold, these months are the best time for a Botswana safari - the bush is thinned out and the animals are on the move towards permanent water sources. You can expect to see predator action close to watering holes and the open safari plains. The African Wild Dogs begin to actively search for their dens. Once they have denned these endangered animals are easy to view for the next 3-4 months.

• Temperatures have dropped to their coldest by the end of the month with night temperatures reaching as low as 41°F (5°C). It is cold during the morning and night drives.  

• Daytime temperatures reach up to a comfortable 77°F (25°C) and dusty dry conditions start to dominate the region.  

• June is the start of the peak season rates for safari travel in Botswana, and the high rates can be expected till the end of October.  

• Animals and predators are now concentrated around the permanent waterholes.

• Pans are drying up across the region.

‍

July – An abundance of animals congregate around permanent water sources

• The nights are still cold and the days are getting marginally warmer. This is the typical Botswana weather, sunny and dry.

• The flood arrives in the Okavango Delta from the Angolan highlands.

• Makoro and water activities are more abundant.

• Soft early morning/afternoon light provides excellent photo opportunities.

August – Excellent month to see a wide variety of wildlife, which makes for fantastic photo opportunities

August is an exciting time for safari, and one of the busiest tourist months.  Photography is extremely popular over this time. I recommended booking a private safari vehicle if you love photography. On a shared vehicle you can expect 6-9 passengers per vehicle. It is recommended to ask your travel agent for a vehicle with a photographic mount and a knowledgeable safari guide. I suggest booking a safari lodge on one of the Okavango Delta’s private concessions - you can then expect a more intimate safari experience.

• The weather is warming, even at night with daytime peaks averaging near 86°F (30°C) and the night averages rising to 50°F (10°C).

• Animal herds are getting larger.

• The nights are filled with elephant sounds.

• Birds such as herons and storks start to concentrate at the Godikwe heronry and begin nest-building.

• The floods have passed through the Delta and reach as far as Maun.

September – The climate is changing and Spring is here

The sun is shining, the skies are clear and the bush is extremely dry. The elephant and buffalo concentrations are still great. The predators are very busy as the season takes its toll. Carmine bee-eaters and other migrant birds return from winter grounds.

• Night time temperatures are rising rapidly and by months-end the averages are reaching 59°F (15°C).

• Daytime temperatures are averaging around 80°F (26°C).

• Water levels slowly start to drop in the Okavango Delta.

October – Temperatures soar and game viewing is exceptional

Morning game viewing activities begin very early and night drives depart later to avoid the heat of the day. The pervading dust makes all scenes dramatic. Predator chases erupt into clouds of dust as the eternal game of “eat or be eaten” plays out daily on the wide-open plains. The Godikwe heronry is in full activity with thousands of birds breeding and nesting.

• Day time temperatures rise regularly above 104°F (40°C).

• Nights are warm with averages at 70°F (20°C).

‍

November – Another excellent time for photographers

November boasts with colour, action and visibility.  I do however recommend travelling in the beginning of November, rather than the end due to the start of the rainy season in mid-November. The temperatures are at its hottest in Botswana, but the rates are extremely lower compared to the months June to October.  If you have a two-week gap in the beginning of November and do not mind the heat, then this will be the best time to go on a photographic safari. The animals are all congregated around permanent water sources and wishes an end to the dryness and dust.  As soon as the rains starts, the herds disperse to feed on new vegetation and to drink from seasonal pans.

• Day time temperatures rise regularly above 104°F (40°C).

• Nights are warm with averages at 70°F (20°C).

• Game viewing is excellent until the day of the first rains, normally around mid-November.

• The antelope birthing season begins once the first rains have come.

• Predators seek out the young and you may see plenty of predator action over this time.

• Trees burst into life and short grass begin to appear.

December – The pans are filling up and the bush is a brilliant green

The rains become more regular with iconic Africa thunderstorms. This is is a pleasant time to travel, as you can enjoy sitting under your covered deck, overlooking the bush with a thunderstorm on the horizon and large water drops falling on the roof.

• Day time temperatures rise regularly above 104°F (40°C).

• Nights are warm with averages at 70°F (20°C).

• The impala have completed giving birth so you will see a large number of young calves around.

• Grazers enjoy the luscious new green grass and predators are vigilant.

• The bush becomes denser and it is harder to see wildlife in the bush.  

• The animals tend to drink from water pans and do not seek permanent water sources.

• The migrant birds have returned.

Published Botswana Travel Guide and photography by Samantha Curgenven.

Fact reference: Belmond “Northern Botswana Map”

‍

‍