BROWSE BOTSWANA SAFARIS
Botswana
The Best Time to Visit Botswana
Every time of year in Botswana comes with its own special characteristics, making for a wonderfully unique adventure and excellent game viewing no matter when you visit. Peak season is during the cooler and drier winter months, from April to early October, when wildlife of all stripes and spots congregate at fewer water sources. The summer months, from November to March, known as the green season for its heat and rainfall, are marked by lush landscapes, migratory birds, grazers calving, and predators in wait. Join us on one of our group itineraries in the winter, or our Private Journeys—with rates lower during the green season—year-round.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
   | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| Maun | | 90° 71° 3.8″ | 89° 70° 3.5″ | 89° 68° 2.2″ | 87° 63° 0.8″ | 83° 56° 0.1″ | 78° 50° 0.0″ | 78° 49° 0.0″ | 84° 55° 0.0″ | 91° 63° 0.1″ | 94° 69° 0.7″ | 93° 71° 1.6″ | 91° 70° 2.8″ |
| Victoria Falls | | 85° 69° 4.5″ | 85° 68° 4.3″ | 86° 66° 2.6″ | 85° 61° 0.9″ | 82° 54° 0.1″ | 78° 48° 0.1″ | 77° 48° 0.0″ | 83° 53° 0.0″ | 90° 61° 0.0″ | 93° 68° 0.5″ | 91° 70° 1.9″ | 87° 69° 3.9″ |
Monthly Guide to Visiting Botswana
January
The height of summer in Botswana can get hot, allowing for warm morning and night game drives, and humid, leading to afternoon thunderstorms that put on a spectacular show from the comfort of our luxurious safari camps. Join us on one of our Private Journeys at a discounted low-season rate for an epic adventure without the crowds.
February
As Botswana enters into peak rainy season, the Kalahari Desert teems with new growth and activity (Baby animals! Water lilies!), while the Okavango Delta shrinks, making for variable wildlife spotting but excellent bird-watching as hundreds of wattled cranes blanket the lush delta. If you’re looking to travel at a quieter and less-expensive time, join us on one of our exciting Private Journeys.
March
Dropping temperatures and fewer afternoon showers usher in a slow end to summer, as grasslands reach peak greenery, herds of grazers (and their predators) migrate from the Boteti River to the Kalahari, and elephants head to the Okavango Delta to feast on ripened fruit. Book a Private Journey at a marked-down rate to have this popular safari destination to yourself.
April
This time of seasonal transition makes for unique game-viewing opportunities, as wildlife begin to migrate according to the shifting landscape and male antelopes vie for female attention as their breeding season gets underway. Our Botswana Kalahari Safari: Zebra Migration is timed specifically for this month to catch the movement of grazers and their attendant predators across the verdant plains.
May
Seasoned safari-goers argue that May is the best time of year for game viewing—even better than the peak months of July and August. That’s because of the transition of water sources, from the sweeping plains to permanent supplies like the Chobe River and Okavango Delta, which usually reach full flow by this month. Little to no rainfall and cooler nights also allow for more pleasant sundowners and clear night skies. Join us on our Ultimate Namibia and Botswana or Botswana Wildlife Safari experiences, which kick off this month.
June
While the bush thins and water sources dry up, the Okavango Delta is in full flood, making for some of the best game-viewing conditions on the continent. This month kickstarts the best time for all types of safari—by foot, 4WD, riverboat, and canoe—which you can experience on one of our many adventures.
July
We enter the start of peak season, when the Okavango Delta reaches ideal water levels for congregating wildlife of every spot and stripe, as well as for traversing riverways by boat and canoe. Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve are also in full wildlife-spotting swing. Our mobile safari camp experience follows all the action while keeping us away from the crowds.
August
Just like July, this is an ideal time to explore much of the country. Clear skies, perfect weather, and excellent game viewing both on land and by water are the order for the day. While this is the busiest time of the year, our mobile safari camps are designed to keep you close to wildlife and far from the safari circuit.
September
One of the hottest and driest months of the year, September is when wildlife desperately seeks out scarce water and food supplies, this fight for survival ups the ante on game-viewing. This is the last month to embark on many of our group departures, including our Great Elephant Migration Safari which links the famed elephant strongholds of Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park with Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.
October
For many travelers, this month’s intense heat can be stifling. For others, October offers rewarding sightings due to the lack of vegetation and water sources. Not only does this mean long sightlines over vast expanses, but every level of the food chain gathers at the same watering holes.
November
Temperatures remain high, and rainfall can be unpredictable, varying significantly year over year. This spring shoulder season ushers in exciting changes, when migrant birds return and newborns arrive in spades—shadowed by predators.
December
Afternoon rains revive the parched landscape, where migrating birds, blooming trees, and newborns are a common sight, along with on-the-hunt cheetahs, lions, and leopards. The game viewing at Kalahari’s parks is especially dynamic this time of year.
Small Group Adventure
Botswana Wildlife Safari
Botswana, Zimbabwe
Level 2
11 Days
From $10,895
NEW TRIP
Small Group Adventure
Botswana Okavango Safari
Botswana
Level 2
10 Days
From $11,995
Small Group Adventure
Ultimate Namibia & Botswana
Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana
Level 2+
13 Days
From $13,895
Small Group Adventure
Great Elephant Migration Safari
Zimbabwe, Botswana
Level 2+
12 Days
From $9,895
NEW TRIP
Small Group Adventure
Botswana Kalahari Safari: Zebra Migration
Botswana
Level 2
10 Days
From $9,795
Private Journey
Botswana and Victoria Falls Private Safari
Zimbabwe, Botswana
Level 2
8 Days
From $9,595
Private Journey
South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana Private Safari
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana
Level 2
10 Days
From $8,995
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Talk to an Expert
Our Africa Specialists know every detail about our Botswana trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!