As Botswana lies in the southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. So when it is summer in the US or in Europe, it is winter in Botswana. Winter is also the dry season with chilly clear nights and warm days. The rainy season begins in late October or November and ends in March. The Northern areas receive up to 700m while the Kalahari Desert area averages as low as 225mm. The best time to visit Botswana is undoubtedly from April to mid November when the days are sunny and cool to warm but hot in October. Evening temperature drop sharply. During the summer months (October to April) temperatures can rise to over 40°C and usually drop to 25°C during the night.

APRIL

Fall starts in April and the rainy season has come to an end with maybe the occurrence of some scattered showers. The vegetation is lush and there is plenty of food for the animals. Herds of animals graze on green savannahs and move through the bushveld. The waterholes, lagoons and ponds are full with water and nature is revealing itself from it's most beautiful side.

MAY

Being the month before winter starts, you are greeted daily with a clear blue sky and moderate temperatures. The nights are getting cooler. This is an ideal time to travel as the temperatures are comfortable and most camps still have low season rates. We recommend to travel in May to people that would like to avoid the heat of the summer months or the cold of the winter. Good game viewing and availability at the lodges make May an attractive month to visit Botswana.

JUNE, JULY

During the winter months, the weather is good and dry. It does not rain and the days are sunny and pleasantly warm and the nights clear and cool with temperatures sinking sometimes below 10°C. For people who can not bear the heat, these are the best months to go on safari. Some of the trees and bushes loose their leaves and the grass is getting dry. Game is easy spotted and watched.

AUGUST

The winter is nearing it's end and the temperatures are rising again. The skies are cloudless and a lot of sunshine is guaranteed. The natural waterholes are dried up and the animals are moving to the permanent waterways and artificial waterholes. Game viewing is good and a nice time to go on safari.

SEPTEMBER

The beginning of Spring. Although there was no rain a lot of trees are blooming and the nature is waiting on the first rain. There is little shade available and during the day it can become hot. The temperatures during the nights are still comfortable. The animals are now concentrated around the little waterholes available where they can be viewed and easily photographed. The breeding season of the birds starts in the middle of the month.

OCTOBER

This is the hottest month in Botswana. The dry air makes the heat more bearable though. People that can not bear the heat should not travel to Botswana during October. Some scattered showers might occur and are welcome to cool off the day. Game viewing and bird watching is good. The vegetation is sprouting and starting to get greener again.

NOVEMBER

November is still very hot and there are more and more scattered showers and thundershowers. Big clusters of clouds are a sought after subject for photographers. The fresh grass is sprouting and the vegetation is green again. A lot of antelope species are calving and the mothers are relatively stationary with their little ones and are thus easily viewed.

DECEMBER

The weather is ever changing between sunny periods, thunder showers and cloudy days. Some areas are difficult to reach. The humidity is climbing and the vegetation is becoming lush tropical. Overland safaris can be affected negatively by the weather.

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH

The weather is unpredictable and it can rain for days. Sunny days are possible but the roads are mostly flooded, moody and are difficult to navigate - sometimes impossable. We do not recommend any overland safaris and if you can not wait until April then we recommend a fly-in safari to one of the camps / lodges.