Visiting in January 2026/27

January is one of the best months for heading to the Serengeti as the wildebeest migration herds are down in the southern grasslands of the park, around Lake Ndutu. This is the period in the year when the wildebeet mothers all calve together and so the herd is at its largest.

Weather

Weather is pretty stable with little rain.

Visiting 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.

Visiting   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.

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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!

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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.

Visiting 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.