The Best Time to Travel Debate
The peak time to travel to Botswana is the winter months of May through to September. This however, is not necessarily the "best time" to visit Botswana as there are areas that attract herds of game in the summer months when the grass is lush and there is plenty of water about.
It was always believed that the best time to visit Botswana was in the winter as the wildlife concentrates around the permanent water sources, but in recent years the realisation has occurred that the summer months when all the antelope give birth and the migrant birds have arrived can be considered the best time to travel to Botswana.
And the answer is...
Peak season in Botswana is between July and October, with October being the hottest month of the year. It is also the most expensive time of year as well as the busiest, making it the most difficult time in which to secure lodge accommodation or book a safari operator.
April to October is the dry season, the best game-viewing as animals concentrate around permanent waterholes and foliage is sparse.
November to March is the wet season. Several roads become a mud-bath, some lodges and camps are difficult to access and may close for a few months. These are also the hottest months of the years. High humidity prevails. The huge influx of birds makes this the best time for birding in Okavango and Moremi.
The Green Season is pretty wet, and stretches from December to May You have the advantage of reduced rates, although game viewing can be quite challenging since the bush is fairly thick and a few roads may be impossible to traverse.
The north-east might expect 600mm of rain with a variability of about 30%, whilst the drier south-west will receive, on average, only 200mm, with a variability of about 80%.
Rain tends to fall in short, sometimes violent thundershowers. Although rain may first fall in September, the greatest amounts fall in the months of December, January and February. It is important to note that, at any time of year, it does not normally rain on more than 2 consecutive days.
We often get asked about the best place to safari in Botswana
There is no "best place". Wilderness areas are diverse, ranging from desert to wetland, from vast salt-pans to mighty rivers – and different species occur in these areas.
With such varied landscapes dictating the safari experience and the different activities that can be enjoyed apart from game-viewing, it all comes down to your needs and requirements.
Your best solution for a Botswana safari is a combination of areas with activities that match your interests whether they are birding, quad-biking, fishing, elephant back safari, mobile 4x4 camping or lap-of-luxury living.
Speak to a Siyabona travel expert about your desired experience, and you will be guided to the safari package that matches your wish.
