The Best Time to Visit Botswana does not need to be as complicated as everyone makes out! Firstly, it is a fantastic destination to visit at most times of the year, as long as you are briefed correctly by your safari operator on what to expect. In this section, we try to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of the different seasons and what you are likely to see.
Botswana is an expensive destination to visit and therefore you need to be sure that you are visiting it at your preferred time in order to maximise your return on your holiday investment. Please see below for further details on best times of year to visit:
Dry Season (May - November):
A great time to keep dry (!!) and also to see some great wildlife. The first period, June - August, is definitely the coldest with cold mornings and evenings (two jumpers and gloves!!) but still good game viewing; September through to November warms up a lot, with the land becoming more and more arid and also shrinking potential water sources for the wildlife. This increase in temperature means that vegetation is less dense and water is harder to find resulting in it being easier to track and spot game, especially around permanent water sources. This is obviously a popular time to visit and therefore visitors will be subject to peak season prices. October is the hottest month of the year especially in regions like Chobe; the Okavango Delta however is generally slightly more bearable due to the larger areas of water and vegetation thus hvaing a cooling effect. In November the weather starts to turn with more thundery showers and still days; game vieiwng can still be of a very high standard through the months of November and December.
Wet Season (December - March):
Weather can vary dramatically during these months with it being hot one minute and bucketing it down with rain the next! Game viewing can still be good although you generally do ot see such large herds of grazers as they have dispersed deeper into the parks and reserves. Saying this, the author recently visited in December and had a fantastic safari, seeing everything there was to see, including healthy prides of lions, leopard, cheetah brothers, packs of wild dogs hunting, elephants, all of the usual grazers and even...a pangolin! The wet season has its benefits in that it is less busy (so you often get private vehicles even if you have not paid for them!), the grazers are giving birth (so predators are not far away) and the vegetation is green so you see Africa and Botswana at its most beautiful. Another advantage is that you will benefit from shoulder season or low season rates which can make a huge difference in costs when visiting Botswana.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE MAMMALS OF BOTSWANA:
December - January: nesting crocodiles so they are often more visible and they protect their nests on sand banks or in the sides of river banks. Baby animals also start to appear so it is a great time for predators to do what they do best...prey on the weakest! December offers good shoulder season rates, is a beautiful time to travel and still has high quality wildlife viewing and therefore should definitely be considered when planning your safari to Botswana.
February - April: Having survived the wetter months, most of the grazers are in good condition as they have had plenty of greenery to eat over the last few months.
May - June: still quiet in regards to lodges being full etc. The large herds start returning to areas such as Chobe. A great time to profit from shoulder season rates when wildlife veiwing is good and getting better every day.
July - August: leopards are fairly regular at this time of year during the twilight hours as it is still cool enough. As you progress into the hotter month of October leopards wait until later at night to show themselves when it is cooler.
September - October: Huge herds of elephant and buffalo are now forming as water sources are scarce and they congregate around the few permanent water sources that are left. Herds reach into their hundreds which is quite a sight to see especially in the Chobe National Park area.
November: Usually still a great time for wildlife viewing as the rains have not quite arrived yet and the wildlife densities are extraordinarily high. Midday temperatures can be high as the rains have not arrived however this does vary year upon year. Another good time to travel to Botswana as travellers benefit from shoulder season rates.
Best Time to Visit Botswana for Birding:
Birding in Botswana is definitely at its best during the rainy season when vegetation is thicker and therefore bird species are more prolific. This is also when the migratory species are visiting Botswana and therefore the diversity of birdlife is huge. This is a fantstic time for breeding and therefore keen birders will benefit from nesting birds and brighter colours used to attract potential breeding partners. With 550 species in Botswana a keen birder can expect to record in the region of 200 species in a couple of days, especially in a bird rich region such as the Chobe River.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE BIRDLIFE OF BOTSWANA:
February - April: occasional nesting flamingos in Sua Pan, ostriches on the Pans of the Central Kalahari, breeding plumage is on display from species such as red bishops and yellow billed stalks.
April - June: young birds are around as they leave their nests.
March - July: Wattled Cranes take advantage of the floods in the Okavango Delta and snap up various drowning reptiles and insects.
August - October: storks, egrets and herons make the most of dwindling water sources as fish are left stranded...
September - November: migrant waders appear and carmine bea-eaters start to reside in riverbanks.