The climate and the best time to travel

What is the best time to visit Botswana? It's any time, because you can visit Botswana all year round.

Every season has its own special charm in every region of Botswana. The subtropical, continental semi-desert climate ensures that temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees all year round. It is usually dry for nine months of the year.

Winter in Botswana lasts from May to August and promises very dry weather, blue skies and pleasant daytime temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees. At night, however, the temperature can drop to zero, but is usually between 10 and 15°C.

The hottest months of the year are September to November. During this time, the vegetation usually retracts completely, the dominant colors are yellow to brownish, the soil is completely dry in many regions, low dried vegetation and seemingly withered trees without leaves characterize the landscape. This time of year promises particularly good game viewing opportunities for safari tourists in the Okavango Delta and the other national parks in northern and central Botswana, as visibility is very good due to the withered vegetation and low grass. The animals congregate around the few remaining waterholes and can also be seen very well near the camps, as these are located close to the waterholes.

The Kalahari (Central Kalahari and Kalahari Transfrontier Park) shows its desert character especially at this time of year, the air shimmers, hot desert winds whirl up dust, the ground has dry cracks, the landscape appears inhospitable, forbidding and offers a real desert atmosphere.

The summer rainy season begins in December. This vegetation period, during which the landscape changes completely, lasts until March. During this time, Botswana is very scenic. Hot daytime temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees, thunderstorms and frequent short showers are typical of this time of year, known as the emerald season. The vegetation is lush in the Okavango Delta and along the Linyanti and Chobe National Parks, with tall grasses and flowering plants dominating the landscape. This is where the rainfall is heaviest and the water levels are highest in the northern Okavango, Chobe River, Zambezi, Kwando and Linyanti. In the Okavango Delta, the water usually reaches its peak at the end of July / beginning of August; it takes about 3 to 4 months before the flood waters of the Okavango reach the southern Delta. Many places in the delta can no longer be reached by road, but only by boat or small plane. During this time of lush vegetation, birdwatchers in particular get their money's worth. The landscape in the Kalahari is also transformed by the rain into an oasis of flowers. The pans fill with water and provide a habitat for numerous bird species. The spectacle of the flamingos is a unique experience at this time of year in the area of the pans near Nata. But the herd animals also embark on the largest migration in southern Africa. Here, around 75,000 zebras and wildebeest migrate to the Nxai Pan, where they give birth to their young, depending on the start of the rainy season. Their hunters gather in large numbers around the herds and can be observed in the vastness of the landscape against a fantastic backdrop.

January is the main breeding season for many of the colorful migratory bird species. The countryside is strewn with wildflowers, green foliage and green grass everywhere, a fantastic contrast in the wildlife photographs. The sounds of nature are constant and everywhere, day and night, many young animals can be observed, nature is full of new life everywhere. January is the middle of the so-called rainy season with spectacular afternoon thunderstorms and warm days (average 30° to 35°C) and nights (average over 20°C), statistically it rains 8 - 10 days a month, but usually only briefly. Game viewing opportunities are good. Predators hunt the rapidly developing young of their respective prey species. The month is very suitable for photography due to the many colors and dramatic cloud formations. The contrast between the predators' natural winter camouflage and the summer colors makes for great photo opportunities. The herbivores find it easier to spot and escape the predators. It is a time of abundance for them, while the predators have to travel further to find prey, as the grazers are spread over longer distances.

Many herbivores now feed on the ripe fruit of the fig trees, including the so-called "fruit bat" or flying fox. The water lilies are beginning to bloom and the reed frogs are also highly active. The Okavango Delta is fantastically green, nature is alive and noisy. This begins at the latest at dawn. Due to the rainfall, many plants go through an active growth phase. Butterflies, birds, frogs and all the rather small animals are highly active and offer the interested eye more than usual during the year. The rain continues to fall in mighty afternoon thunderstorms with a huge rumble of thunder and great cloud drama in the sky. Temperatures are similar to January, averaging over 30°C and over 20°C at night. February can have both very dry and very humid phases, even if humid in terms of the annual rainfall does not mean that it pours continuously. The large bullfrog (Limnodynastes interioris) reappears after months, sometimes years, of dormancy and plunges into nocturnal feeding frenzies. The wild species never have very far to go to the next watering hole, every puddle is filled and their young are now almost as big as the adults.

The mighty Okavango and Zambezi rivers in the Panhandle area are now at maximum flood levels and white water rafting is no longer offered in Victoria Falls due to the danger to life. The Victoria Falls are enormous, the masses of water that are now cascading over the edge are many times higher than in October or November. Now nobody doubts why they are one of the 7 wonders of the world, a rain cape is a must when visiting. Meanwhile, in southern Africa, the fruits of the marula tree are ripening. This does not escape the notice of the numerous large bull elephants, which now move from tree to tree in search of their favorite food. Elephants are therefore practically daily guests at some campsites. The impala rut begins. The slender males frolic around snorting to attract the attention of the females, fighting to be the dominant male and dominate the herd of females for a few days. The temperatures are still more than warm, but the air is getting drier and rainfall is not as frequent as in the previous month, we are still talking about 4 to 6 rainy days per month.

There are first signs of the change of season, we are slowly moving into fall: the night temperatures are now also dropping below 20°, even if it still reaches 35° during the day. As the mornings are cooler and the relative humidity is higher, you can sometimes see beautiful mist over the lagoons and rivers in the morning, which offers the chance of fantastic pictures. The impala mating season reaches its peak. The males also clash loudly at night, the snorting noises can be heard all night long. The trees have finished flowering and the fruits are beginning to ripen - particularly striking are the huge fruits of the liverwort tree, which we find in increasing numbers in the delta. Reptiles of all kinds use the remaining warm days to breed before the colder winter days take away their energy.

The floods from Angola are now reaching the upper part of the Okavango Delta and are slowly but inexorably beginning to penetrate the huge wetlands. Formerly dry areas are now flooded again The rains have stopped and the atmosphere is much less humid. Nights are now cooler - around 15° - but can also be in single figures. While daytime temperatures are still warm, they have lost their peaks and only exceptionally exceed 35°. A jacket is now worn on morning drives or night drives, and a hat can't hurt from time to time in the morning. Buffalo now congregate in huge herds (up to 1000 animals) and visit the larger bodies of water more frequently than before, while the seasonal lagoons are beginning to dry up. The visibility of matriarch-led elephant herds is also increasing again as they travel more frequently to larger water bodies. The greens are slowly fading and giving way to the sandy hues of the dry season. The natural camouflage of the predators now matches the coloring of the surrounding bushes. The migratory birds leave for their wintering grounds.

June is an exciting time. For many Europeans, this is the most pleasant time to travel, as the daytime temperatures are usually a maximum of 30 °C. The wild dogs start looking for a den for the annual rearing of the young, the pregnant female is heavily pregnant. Once a den has been chosen, the wild dogs will be easy to find for the next 3-4 months, as the den is then the starting point for all their hunts. The Mababe Concession and the Savuti area north of the Okavango Delta offer some of the best chances of seeing wild dogs in Southern Africa. Temperatures reach their lowest point towards the end of June, when it can be as cold as 5° at night. On game drives, the wind increases the feeling of cold, which is why windproof clothing is now recommended, as are hats and thin gloves. It remains dry and dusty. Many bush and tree species lose their leaves or are already completely bare. Non-perennial waterholes are now drying out. The game concentrates around the remaining permanent water supply. The predators follow suit.

The flood has arrived in the southern Delta (Moremi Game Reserve). All regions of the delta are feeling the flood, which has made its way more than 1000 km from Angola to here. The paradox is that the floods coincide with dust and drought at a time when it has not rained for a long time. Roads that were still there yesterday are suddenly flooded and impassable today, even though there is no rain. The leaves continue to fall from the trees, the grass becomes drier and shorter with each passing day. Yellow is the dominant color. The game is excellent to watch. The nights are still cold, but the days are warm and pleasant. The weather is typical for Botswana: clear and sunny. More and more animals gather near the watercourses and on the alluvial plains to graze. These days, the water spreads unexpectedly in places that were previously completely dry. With the mokoro, you can now reach places that would otherwise be almost unthinkable. Soft light in the morning and evening combined with the dust in the air creates fantastic photo opportunities, also known as the golden hour, which fascinates every photographer, amateur and professional alike.

The herds of animals are getting bigger and bigger and the limited space at the water leads to tensions between the elephants. Elephants dominate the waterholes and only prides of lions are allowed access. At night you can now constantly hear their sounds and noises. The bush looks bare in the mopane and teak vegetation and dust is everywhere. The first breezes are forming. But there is a lot going on and the observation opportunities at the remaining waterholes are very good. The floodwaters have reached the south-eastern end of the delta and thus Maun, flowing on towards Makgadikgadi National Park. The locals are speculating about whether it will break last year's records and how far it will flow into the semi-desert towards Makgadikgadi. The weather continues to be pleasant during the day, between 25 and 30 °C, and cool at night, usually between 10 and 15 °C. At the lagoons in the northern Okavango Delta - e.g. at the Godikwe Lagoon - thousands of herons, storks and other breeding birds are now arriving to start building their nests.

The climate has changed and there is absolutely nothing left of winter. The weather is moving towards spring, temperatures are rising again, reaching over 15°C at night. During the day it is now well over 30°C again. The sun is shining, the sky is clear, it is dry and hot. Surprisingly, the elephant and buffalo herds are still growing, while the latter in particular are welcome but not easy prey for the lions. The vivid red carmine spints have returned from their winter quarters and provide flying color accents along the water banks. Many other migratory bird species can now also be spotted again. The water is now slowly receding, with not much coming in from Angola, at least for the time being. Tiger fish, a predatory fish species, become active as the water temperature rises. Some trees, but also grasses, are showing signs of fresh growth. Many plant species will flower and produce fruit in the next 6 weeks - just in time for the expected new rains.

Welcome to what feels like the hottest month. But the game viewing is incomparably good and is ample compensation for the heat. Daytime temperatures are now regularly around 40°C and at night the average is usually over 20°C. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon is the motto. Both humans and animals do everything they can to escape the midday heat. Most animals are only active with the first morning light and from late afternoon onwards. Many species only graze at night. During the day, the animals hide in the shade of the few green trees and bushes. Everything is bare and the grasses are trampled down or eaten away. Night game drives now offer maximum experience value, as many predators shift their activities to the night hours. The omnipresent dust immerses many scenes in a dramatic atmosphere.

All the locals are waiting for the first cloudbursts and the approaching rainy season. Day and night temperatures remain high and game viewing improves until the day of the first rains, usually sometime in early or mid-November. The rain brings noticeable relief. The herds of animals slowly disperse and begin to drink from the seasonal waterholes in search of food. It is the time when the animals give birth. The tsessebes start, followed by the impala and red hartebeest. Predators such as cheetahs and wild dogs prey on the defenceless newborns and may kill several animals a day to satisfy their hunger. The intense conflict between predators and prey provides safari guests with excellent viewing opportunities, which are not yet disturbed by the slowly growing vegetation. The fresh grass is still short and reminiscent of mown lawns. The trees are also sprouting again. It is a good time for photographers, as colors, animal life and good visibility are at their best.

Antelope mothers help themselves to the abundant supply of protein-rich grasses. The lambs and calves are growing at an astonishing rate. The impala have finished lambing, now the wildebeest are starting, while the rains come more regularly and there are big thunderstorms every few days. The waterholes are filling up everywhere. The bush shines in bright shades of green. The grasses are shooting up. But while the grazers enjoy the fresh green, the predators lose their natural camouflage in their light brown coats. As a result, they are now spending much more time hunting where prey was easy to come by just two months ago. The migratory birds have all arrived and the best time for birdwatchers has begun. Temperatures have dropped slightly with the onset of rain, but hot days still occur and it remains warm and humid at night. Dramatic cloud formations in the sky and night-time thunderstorms are the magic of December and provide photographers with great subjects. Temperatures are usually around 35°C during the day and between 20 and 25°C at night.