The best time to visit Botswana is during the winter months from the end of May to the end of September when the weather is not too hot.
Botswana’s winter is during our British summer, and the weather is hot during the day, but it isn't a stifling heat, and cold at night. The summer months (British winter) can be hot and humid and there is a chance of rain. Botswana has one rainy season which runs between mid-December and runs through to mid-March. However, in comparison to many other African countries, Botswana is never especially wet since it is mainly the Kalahari desert after all!
Value wise, the best months to visit are April, May, October and November when many of the lodges are priced quite competitively. Although peak season is from June to September and will always deliver a top experience.
Weather, and the effect on wildlife watching
The beginning of the year is Botswana's green season. At this time, the rains can fall heavily in short showers and, while the birding is at its best, it is not a good time of year to visit the country if you are looking for big game. There are a few exceptions to the rule, as the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi attract large herds due to the fresh grazing and Chobe always has high concentrations of game, but the usual big game areas (Okavango, Linyanti, Selinda etc) do not guarantee good viewing, although the game is all there, but the bush is thick. There is some superb value to be had at this time of year.
From the middle of April the Okavango comes into flood with rain water from Angola, turning the dry sands of the Kalahari into a lush inland delta where lily- scattered floodplains start attracting huge volumes of game. This is arguably the best time of year to travel due to how stunning the country looks and because rates do not go into high season until the middle of June.
The dry season, from July onwards is the best time of year to go for big game viewing. August, September and October are the peak months and are when the huge herds congregate around the water and greener areas, making viewing easy since the bush will have thinned out. November sees low season rates return, and increased heat that rises until the rains break from the middle of November onwards....creating the start of the green season....and the cycle starts again.
