January fair
Visiting Botswana in January 2026/27
January in Botswana is right in the heart of the main rains and the Botswanan summer months so expect plenty of rainfall and high temperatures reaching 40 degrees at times. With this influx of localised rain comes plenty of grassed and, accordingly, new born.
Activities & Events
Some of the drier areas of the country become verdant such as the Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi salt pans which give a different view of the country.
Cheat Sheet
- + Heart of the wet season so very few travellers
- + The zebra “migration” herds are in the salt pans
- + Low season rates
- – Heavy rainfall can make travel tricky
Top Tips for January 2026/27
- + If you can avoid the rains it can be a rewarding time
February fair
Visiting Botswana in February 2026/27
Continuing on from January, February is still right in the main rains for Botswana and, as such, is generally avoided by most. This being said, with lush grasses in the Kalahari and the zebra herds in the salt pans, this can still be a good time for game viewing.
Activities & Events
Plenty of animal in the Kalahari and the zebra herds in the salt pans make for a different side to a Botswana safari.
Cheat Sheet
- + Very good game in the salt pans
- + Low season rates throughout
- – The humidity can be stifling in the month
- – There are low game numbers in the Okavango
Top Tips for February 2026/27
- + A good pick for those on a budget
March mixed
Visiting Botswana in March 2026/27
March brings a slight respite from the main rains with rainfall dropping off towards the end of the month. This is still seen as a low season month with water levels in the Okavango being at their lowest but there is still game for those that are happy to look.
Activities & Events
The Makgadikgadi salt pans still offer a unique and wild experience.
Cheat Sheet
- + The weather is starting to change towards the end of the month
- + The parks and camps are still at low occupancy
- + The zebra herds start to move northwards to the Chobe
- – Game can be hard to locate
Top Tips for March 2026/27
- + Still a good time to visit for those on a budget
April mixed
Visiting Botswana in April 2026/27
Traditionally the first month of the year when the flood waters start to filter into the “panhandle” of the delta and, by the end of the month, to some of the more northern concessions around the Okavango delta. With the weather drying up and low season rates still to be found, April is a good month to consider.
Activities & Events
As the localised rainwaters start to dry out, game viewing tends to focus back onto the delta and the slow gathering of animals around the fringes.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and relatively clear weather
- + Floodwaters start to arrive in the north of the delta
- – Temperatures start to cool again
- – Central and lower delta camps are still dry
Top Tips for April 2026/27
- + The back end of the month can be very good value
May mixed
Visiting Botswana in May 2026/27
May is the start of the main season in Botswana with dry days and cool evenings as the country moves into the winter season. Many of the camps now call this the main season so prices start to jump upwards but there are still bargains to be found.
Activities & Events
The Okavango delta starts to take centre stage once more with the flood waters filtering down from the north and creating what is one of nature’s most picturesque scenes.
Cheat Sheet
- + Clear, dry weather
- + Game numbers around the delta are very good
- + Chobe and Linyanti are now getting very good
- – Prices take a charp increase
Top Tips for May 2026/27
- + Opting for earlier in the month can give better availability
June great
Visiting Botswana in June 2026/27
The first of the “main” season months, June is now dry across the country requiring the necessary “pilgrimage” of animals to the waters of the Okavango in bigger and bigger numbers. This is one of Africa’s most spectacular sights with predators and prey numbers at their height.
Activities & Events
The waters of the Okavango Delta are now almost half way down the delta and, as such, it is now possible to “mokoro” and boat in the delta.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and warm days with cool nights and mornings
- + Superb game viewing across the country
- + At least 50% of the properties in the delta can offer water activities
- – Prices in Botswana are now up at their highest
Top Tips for June 2026/27
- + A loverly time to come as still fewer tourists
July best
Visiting Botswana in July 2026/27
July is now right in the main flood season in the Okavango and, with northern hemmisphere summer holidays, along with August, July is as busy as Botswana gets. With game all over the place, this is also as good as it gets which is the pay off!
Activities & Events
With full floodwaters across the delta, it is possible to walk, mokoro, boat and drive. What a treat!
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and warm days with cool nights and mornings
- + Superb game viewing everywhere in the country
- + A true paradise amongst the Kalahari sands
- – Prices in Botswana are sometimes to be seen to be believed!
Top Tips for July 2026/27
- + Look to combine a few areas of the country for the best experience
August amazing
Visiting Botswana in August 2026/27
With long dry days and increasingly warm evenings, August is still one of the best months to visit Botswana for a safari. The flood waters are now reaching the lower areas of the Okavango Delta and, as such, most of the camps are now able to offer water activities as well as driving.
Activities & Events
August tends to be one of the busiest months for families. With the bush dying back in the sustained heat, game viewing can be much easier in the month.
Cheat Sheet
- + Temperatures are warm and skies clear
- + The game viewing gets better and better
- – Many of the camps are in “super” high season prices
- – August is as busy as it gets for visitor numbers
Top Tips for August 2026/27
- + You will need to book up to a year or more in advance for some camps
September great
Visiting Botswana in September 2026/27
September sees the floodwaters of the Okavango start to recede with water levels starting to fall off and some properties struggling to offer mokoro activities. The weather is still very comfortable with the temperatures start to increase by the end of the month.
Activities & Events
Heading to the Okavango is in stark contrast to some of the drier areas of the country such as the Kalahari or the Makgadikgadi salt pans.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and gradually increasing temperatures
- + Abundant and easier to see game viewing
- + Fewer visitor numbers
- – The floods are starting to recede
Top Tips for September 2026/27
- + Early September can be a great time to travel
October still good
Visiting Botswana in October 2026/27
October brings to an end the long dry season in Botswana with the majority of the flood waters now reaching the southern river systems and temperatures building in time for the main rains to arrive. Parks such as Chobe feature vast elephant herds as they seek the solace of the river in the heat of the day.
Activities & Events
The southern delta and the Chobe watefront are the main places to aim for.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and hot days
- + Vast elephant herds aroudn the Chobe river front
- – The waters recede in the Okavango delta
- – The heat of the midday sun can be too much for some
Top Tips for October 2026/27
- + Look to travel in the front end of the month
November fair
Visiting Botswana in November 2026/27
As the main rains start to arrive, November is a month of change in Botswana where the country reverts back to being a green and lush place once again. The temperatures are still in the high 30s so this period isn’t for everyone but there is still very good game and lower rates.
Activities & Events
This is a great time for photographers as the migratory birds start to arrive and the rainclouds provide an atmospheric backdrop.
Cheat Sheet
- + Visitor numbers drop off
- + Beautiful scenery as the grasses return
- + Prices drop once more
- – Temperatures during the day can reach the low 40s
Top Tips for November 2026/27
- + Can be a good value time to travel
December fair
Visiting Botswana in December 2026/27
December in Botswana can be a bit of a mixed bag. This is now into the main rains and the summer heat, with daily temperatures up around the middle 30s, combines with spectacular thunderstorms. As with November, this can make for some superb photography.
Activities & Events
Game viewing becomes much more localised with areas such as the Gomoti plains coming into their own.
Cheat Sheet
- + Plenty of game as it disperses once more
- + Really good birding in particular
- – Temperatures start to jump up
Top Tips for December 2026/27
- + A good time for those on a budget
