Plan your visit
Every season has its magic
Seasonal overview
Unlike some safari destinations, Botswana offers compelling reasons to visit in any month. The dry season delivers concentrated wildlife and exceptional game drives. The green season brings lush landscapes, incredible birding, and remarkably few other tourists. Understanding the rhythms of the Delta — and its unique counter-intuitive flooding pattern — helps you choose the experience that's right for you.
By month
In detail
As water recedes across the landscape, animals converge on the remaining sources — making sightings more reliable and more dramatic. Vegetation thins, tracks become clear, and skies are rarely cloudy. Days are warm (around 25°C), but mornings and evenings can be cold. This is when the Okavango flood arrives from Angola — water levels rise from June to August, creating the iconic scenes of wildlife wading through channels.
Summer rains transform the landscape into a vivid green world. Young animals are born, migratory birds arrive in extraordinary numbers, and the bush feels alive in a different way. Fewer tourists means more solitude and often lower prices. Some roads can become difficult to access, but the beauty of the landscape and the quality of birding and photography are unmatched. January and February are especially good for birders.
The Delta is flooding, the weather is dry and mild, and wildlife viewing reaches its annual peak. Predator activity is exceptional as prey concentrates around water. This is when Botswana is at its most iconic — elephants crossing floodplains, lions in riverine forest, lions on every other game drive. Book well in advance for these months.
The best of both worlds. Wildlife viewing is still exceptional as dry season continues, prices are lower than peak, and October's rising heat triggers increased predator activity. This is one of KT's favourite times to be in the bush — the animals are hungry, active, and the landscape has a dramatic, parched beauty before the first rains arrive.
Not sure when to go?
Tell us what matters most to you — we'll recommend the ideal time of year for your trip and group.