The best time to visit Botswana
Image: Natural Selection, Khwai Private Reserve, Okavango Delta Whether you’re dreaming of the Okavango Delta or Makgadikgadi Pans, here is everything you need to know about Botswana’s weather and when to travel.
Botswana boasts some of the most unforgettable landscapes on Earth, from shimmering deserts to lush wetlands. With enormous reserves that are densely populated with animals (and only a scattering of lodges), a safari here feels truly remote, wild and wonderfully exclusive. Travel activities are plentiful, but they are greatly impacted by seasonal rains and the level of key water sources. Understanding this will help you choose the best time to visit based on what you’re hoping to experience; whether that be gliding through flooded waterways, roaming ancient salt flats, birdwatching, or tracking spectacular wildlife migrations.
As passionate experts on Botswana travel, our team at Golilo has put together a detailed guide on when to visit. Botswana has many beautiful regions, but this article focuses on the two destinations that we recommend to our guests most often: the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans. If you’re eager to start planning your own trip, book a complimentary consultation with us and let’s discuss your dream Botswana adventure.
The Landscape
Okavango Delta
Botswana’s landscape is mostly arid and semi-arid, but tucked away in the north lies a magical oasis: the Okavango Delta. This vast and virtually untouched freshwater wetland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. The changing seasons make a dramatic difference to this fertile region, especially the water levels of the Delta: whether it is low or in flood is crucial to your experience.
Makgadikgadi Pans
The vast Makgadikgadi Pans in the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana are the other extreme of the natural wonders scale. These stark white salt flats are the remnants of an enormous lake that once covered an area larger than Switzerland. It's an endless, desolate landscape scattered with fossils and patrolled by curious meerkats. However, with the advent of the Green Season rains, the desert transforms into a vibrant paradise alive with migratory wildlife and waterbirds.
The Climate
Botswana’s climate can be divided into three seasons:
Peak Season: cool, dry winter (May to September)
Green Season: hot, rainy summer (November to March)
Shoulder Season: transitional months (April and October)
Image: Natural Selection, mokoro safari, Okavango DeltaPeak Season: Visiting Botswana from May to September
Botswana’s dry season is characterised by clear skies, little to no rain and low humidity. Afternoons are mild to warm, while nights and early mornings can be chilly—especially when you’re on an open safari vehicle.
Peak Season: Okavango Delta
The winter months are the most popular safari time in the Okavango Delta. Lodges fill up quickly so booking early is essential, and you can expect higher rates.
This period is often also referred to as the dry season—a bit of a misnomer, as this is when the Delta is at its fullest. Water levels are not determined by the annual rainfall in the area, but by seasonal flooding carried down the Okavango River after the rains in the Angola highlands, almost 2,000 km away. During this time the Delta swells to as much as three times its permanent size. The abundant water attracts animals from kilometres around, creating one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of wildlife.
The sparse winter vegetation offers fantastic safari opportunities, including great sightings of the Big Five. The high water also provides opportunities for motorboat safaris or serene excursions by mokoro—flat-bottomed canoes traditionally made from hollowed-out tree trunks—that allow you to experience the quiet beauty of the wetlands from an intimate, unique perspective.
Peak Season: Makgadikgadi Pans
Winter brings its own peculiar magic to the Makgadikgadi Pans. Makgadikgadi means ‘a land that goes on and on’—a fitting description of this vast, lunar-like expanse where the night sky glitters with galaxies. Here you can enjoy quad bike adventures, witness beautiful sunsets, explore the pans on foot with the expert guidance of the indigenous San people, sleep out on the pan, or search for rare desert animals on a night safari. Some of the elusive species you could be lucky enough to find are the aardvark, aardwolf, honey badger and porcupine. This is also an ideal time to encounter everybody’s favourites: the cheeky meerkats (they are around all year, but it’s often easier to see them in Peak Season). Although these photogenic little creatures aren’t tame and you’re not allowed to touch them, they are habituated to their human visitors and have no inhibitions about posing for a selfie with you or using you as a handy lookout post!
Peak Season overview
No rain and easier game viewing
Higher rates, early booking essential
Best chance for Delta water activities: boat and mokoro rides
Ideal time for meerkat encounters
Rare desert animal sightings
Salt pan visits
Stargazing and other desert activities
Image 1: Natural Selection, Makgadikgadi Pans sundowners. Image 2: Great Plains, Selinda Camp, Delta boat safari
Image: Natural Selection, Makgadikgadi Pans zebra migrationGreen Season: Visiting Botswana from November to March
This is high summer in Botswana, and December to February are hot, rainy months with daytime temperatures as high as 36–38 °C (97–100 °F). The days are reasonably humid with sudden afternoon summer showers, and the nights are warm and sultry.
Green Season: Okavango Delta
In the Okavango Delta, the Green Season unleashes vibrant green landscapes, rich birdlife, and a flurry of wildlife activity. The flood waters have receded, which might mean fewer boat safaris but on the other hand, some game drives are only possible when water levels are low enough. The Delta is home to over 400 bird species, and it is heaven for birdwatchers. The lush summer vegetation can make wildlife viewing more challenging, but the vibrant greenery creates a great backdrop for photographs. It is also the birthing time for many species, offering the possibility of some special sightings.
Green Season: Makgadikgadi Pans
In the Makgadikgadi, the stark, sun-scorched pans transform into lush grass plains with the arrival of the Green Season. This is when the basin welcomes home an array of waterbirds, including one of only two breeding populations of greater flamingos in Southern Africa. Their arrival at Soa Pan usually coincides with the first rains, and the burst of bright pink contrasted against the white salt pans and deep blue sky of the Makgadikgadi is an unforgettable highlight for birding enthusiasts.
This is also when you can experience one of Africa’s extraordinary, natural spectacles: the great zebra migration. While the wildebeest migration up north in the Serengeti generates more headlines, Botswana hosts the largest migration in Southern Africa, with some 25,000 zebras travelling up to 500 km between the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi National Park along the Boteti River. The zebras are often joined by wildebeest and closely followed by predators, making for exciting game viewing and fantastic photo opportunities.
Green Season overview:
Hot and rainy
Summer days mean more time in the pool between game drives
Lush vegetation makes for great photos, but more challenging animal spotting
Good birdwatching: migratory species return
Flamingo breeding time
Witness the great zebra migration in Makgadikgadi
Image 1: Natural Selection, flamingo migration. Image 2: Lion at Great Plains, Selinda Camp.Shoulder Season: Visiting Botswana in April and October
Travelling just outside of Peak Season can be a smart way for those wanting to experience the beauty of Botswana without premium rates and limited availability. The weather in April is generally still pleasant but with a higher chance of rain, while October can get very hot but is generally dry. The Delta’s water levels are also a little unpredictable during these transitional months which can limit the possibility of water activities, something worth considering if those are a must on your itinerary.
Start planning your dream Botswana holiday
Understanding a country’s climate and knowing what to expect can make all the difference to your safari holiday, especially in Botswana, where the landscapes and experiences change drastically with the seasons. At Golilo, we often recommend Peak Season or Shoulder Season to our guests, but ultimately, the best time to visit depends on the specific experience you’re after and your availability.
If you’re interested in exploring this wildlife paradise, get in touch and let’s curate your perfect Botswana adventure together.