Month-by-Month Guide for Exploring Botswana: Discovering Botswana from January to April Botswana during the lush season

In January, the weather brings surprises with sudden heavy downpours. While many travel experts might suggest that January is not the prime time to explore Botswana, you will find that the prices are significantly more affordable compared to the bustling peak season. This is an excellent opportunity to seize any exciting safari specials available. This month offers a fantastic opportunity for birdwatching, showcasing a remarkable variety of species and impressive numbers.

If you’re planning on travelling to Botswana in February, you will arrive during the most exhilarating month of the year. The torrential rains transform the scenery into a vibrant, verdant wonderland, particularly in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. February marks the beginning of an exciting time in this reserve, as the local antelope population welcomes their newborns, who can be seen taking their first steps. In February, the area comes alive with an exciting array of birds.

While exploring Botswana in March, you will encounter a refreshing drop in temperature and consistent rainfall. This time of year is celebrated as the ultimate opportunity to explore Botswana for landscape photography, thanks to the lush green scenery created by the abundant summer rains.

The period from April to May in Botswana offers a perfect opportunity for exploration. By April, the heavy rainfall has nearly ceased throughout the country, leaving the landscape lush and vibrant. As the month progresses, the waters of the Okavango Delta start to swell with life. April marks the onset of impala breeding season, a time when the males begin to assess each other in their quest for the females’ attention. The nights begin to cool in April, creating ideal conditions for enjoying the outdoors in the evening with a sundowner, perhaps even indulging in an armchair safari.

May marks the beginning of the crisp winter season. This month presents fantastic opportunities for game viewing, with pleasant, dry weather and campsites and safari parks that are pleasantly uncrowded – just ahead of the bustling peak season later in the year. In the Savuti region, wildlife sightings reach their peak, with large numbers of buffalo and zebra roaming freely, while the majestic elephant herds make their way back to the Linyati Chobe River System in May.

June offers an exciting opportunity to explore Botswana. Late June signals the start of the peak season, with July to October being the most bustling months in the parks. It’s wise to secure your place ahead of time if you’re gearing up for a safari during this bustling season. The climate in June is perfect for exploring the great outdoors and discovering the wonders of Botswana, though the nights can be quite chilly, with some regions in the Kalahari experiencing temperatures that dip below freezing after sunset. Morning game drives can be brisk, so be ready with some cozy safari attire.

If you are heading there in July, you will be arriving right at the beginning of the peak season, where a world of exciting activities awaits you in Botswana. July offers an ideal opportunity to explore the renowned Okavango Delta, along with the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park – during this period, wildlife in these regions is more abundant than in other areas of the country. Exploring the water channels of these destinations offers an exhilarating experience, with an abundance of large mammals to observe along the waterways.

August brings a dry spell across the country, but as the month draws to a close, there is a possibility of fleeting rain showers in the south. This month is incredibly vibrant in the game parks, as the climate of Botswana creates an ideal setting for thrilling safari experiences as winter draws to a close. The water levels in the Okavango Delta are soaring, creating an exhilarating experience for game viewing along the enchanting waterways. August heralds the beginning of the catfish run in the northwest panhandle, a vital water source for the Okavango.

In September, a magnificent procession of elephants journeys to the Chobe and Linyati Rivers, drawn by the vital water source that sustains them. These majestic creatures can drink as much as 200 litres (53 gallons) of water in a single day. As September rolls in, the warmth begins to envelop the days, and the sparse, sun-kissed vegetation creates an ideal backdrop for observing wildlife. The mornings bring a refreshing chill, making them the prime moments for encountering elusive predators.

Visiting Botswana in October promises an exhilarating experience with the peak temperatures of the year. Even with the warmth, this month remains a favorite for a Botswana safari, particularly by the Chobe River, renowned for its parched herds of elephants that gather along its shores. By October, the country would have experienced six months without rain, and the clear skies take on a soft, pale blue hue.

When planning a trip to Botswana in November, remember that this marks the beginning of the spring season. The heat continues to blanket the country, yet the sky is alive with the return of towering rain clouds and a vibrant array of migratory birds. Once the rains do begin, the landscapes come alive with newborn wildlife, playfully exploring as predators watch from a distance. December marks the beginning of summer, a time when the grazing land rejuvenates and lush greenery flourishes. Botswana’s three Kalahari parks truly come alive in early summer.