The Best Time for a Botswana Safari
There’s no wrong season — only different kinds of magic. Here’s how to choose yours.
Dry / Peak (Jun–Oct)
Cool mornings, sparse vegetation, animals concentrated at water; the Delta flood peaks Jul–Aug. Best visibility, highest prices, book 12+ months ahead.
Green (Nov–Mar)
Warm, lush, dramatic storms; migratory birds, calving and predator action; up to 50% less. Superb value and photography.
Shoulder (Apr–May, Nov)
Comfortable weather, green landscapes, thinning crowds, ~20% off. The connoisseur's window.
Month by month
Green season in full swing — warm, lush, dramatic afternoon storms.
Green season continues; excellent birding as migrants remain.
Tail of the green season; storms ease, light is superb for photography.
Shoulder season begins — comfortable temperatures, landscapes still green, crowds thinning.
Cooling mornings, the Okavango flood begins arriving from Angola.
Peak season begins.
Peak flood, cool and dry, prime big-cat viewing.
Peak dry season; flood waters at their most extensive and photogenic.
Hot and dry; wildlife concentrates hard around remaining water sources.
The hottest month; last, most concentrated game viewing before the rains break.
Shoulder into green season — first rains, migratory birds arrive, newborns begin appearing.
Green season proper.