Botswana is one of Africa’s top safari destinations, offering exceptional game viewing, diverse landscapes, and unique wildlife encounters. While game viewing is excellent year-round, many experts consider the dry season from May to September the best time to visit Botswana for a safari. This period offers moderate temperatures, minimal rainfall, and concentrated wildlife around water sources, making it ideal for an Okavango Delta safari or exploring Chobe National Park and the Kalahari.
However, different seasons offer distinct advantages depending on your interests, whether it’s big game viewing, birdwatching, or the breathtaking green season scenery.
Best time to visit Botswana for game viewing
May to September – dry season and peak wildlife viewing
This period, also known as Botswana’s winter months, is widely regarded as the best time to visit Botswana for game viewing.
- Cooler temperatures make safari activities more comfortable.
- Virtually no rain, ensuring dry roads and excellent visibility.
- Wildlife gathers around permanent water sources, making sightings more predictable.
- Low malaria risk, as mosquito activity is minimal.
- Perfect for an Okavango Delta safari, as peak flooding allows for mokoro excursions and spectacular wildlife encounters.
Many consider June to August the prime time for a Botswana safari, especially in the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, and Chobe National Park.
October – transition between dry and green season
October is the hottest month in Botswana, with temperatures rising before the first rains. While it can be uncomfortably warm, it is an excellent time for game viewing, as animals remain concentrated near the last available water sources.
November to April – green season and birding paradise
The green season brings lush landscapes, dramatic skies, and fewer tourists, offering a unique safari experience. While wildlife disperses as water becomes more widely available, certain regions still offer exceptional game viewing.
- Chobe’s Savute region and Botswana’s Kalahari parks—including Nxai Pan, Makgadikgadi Pans, and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve—become prime safari locations due to zebra migrations.
- December is an excellent month, as many antelope give birth, attracting predators like lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs.
- January to April sees fewer visitors, meaning more exclusive safari experiences and great deals on Okavango Delta safaris.
Best time to visit Botswana for birdwatching
Botswana is a year-round birding destination, but the summer months (November to March) offer the highest bird diversity, with migratory species arriving in large numbers. If you are a birdwatcher, this is the best time to visit Botswana for its vibrant and diverse avian life.
Conclusion: when should you visit Botswana?
The best time to visit Botswana depends on what you want to experience:
- For peak game viewing: May to September
- For birdwatching and the green season: November to March
- For predator action and baby animals: December
- For fewer crowds and great deals: January to April
No matter when you visit, Botswana offers incredible wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and world-class safari experiences, from the Okavango Delta to Chobe and the Kalahari.