The Climate of Botswana

Botswana's Seasons and Climate:

Botswana is a huge country, roughly the size of France, and extends through 9 degrees of latitude. This suggests considerable variation in climate. It is landlocked and very nearly in the centre of the southern African subcontinent, on an elevated plateau of approximately 1000 metres. These factors tend to cause low annual rainfall.

The seasons in Botswana are indistinct. Rains generally start in October or November and persist through to March or April. Within that period there may be long dry spells. In April, temperatures begin to fall and May is generally regarded as the first month of the dry, cool winter, characterised by clear sunny days and cold nights. Spring begins in August and temperatures rise rapidly during the hot, dry period of September, October and November until the rains again break.

Dry Season:

Botswana is dry from April to October, and this is the best time to see game as animals congregate around permanent water sources and the foliage is sparse. Only permanent rivers flow in this season and central areas of the parks dry out. There is always some water in the Okavango Delta, but by October the channels are narrow and the floodplains are mossy green but dry. With the oncoming threat of rain, the air becomes hot and October temperatures head into the high 30's°C (86°F).

Wet Season:

If it is going to rain it falls from November to March. These are summer months so it is hot and humid. Some roads become impassable due to the sticky mud, so difficult to reach lodges and camps may close for a few months. The rainy season attracts a huge influx of birds, such as Flamingoe that feed in the algae rich pans and raise their chicks. Many grazing animals also give birth at this time, as the landscape is lush and there is an abundance of food.
 
Although the rainy season is generally from October to April, there is great variation in the time of its arrival and departure, in the quantity of rain that falls and in its distribution. The amount of rainfall decreases from the north-east of the country to the south-west, and as it does so its variability increases.

Thus 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.