Best time to go to Botswana for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 13/11/2024When is the best time to go to Botswana?
There isn't really a better time to visit Botswana, as the country can be visited all year round thanks to its particularly mild climate. Botswana is located in Southern Africa and shares borders with South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The country is still very wild and is covered 70% by the Kalahari Desert. It goes without saying that lovers of wide open spaces and nature will be in paradise!
If, like most travelers, the goal of your stay is to go on a safari, it is preferable to visit Botswana during the dry season, between May and early October. It is during this time that animals gather by the thousands around water points and the vegetation is at its lowest. You will therefore have every chance to observe the country's iconic species, such as big cats, elephants, and giraffes. It is also the best time to explore the Okavango Delta: thanks to the rains that fell in Angola the previous summer, the delta experiences significant flooding and is teeming with life!
For the rest of the year, even though the frequency of showers is quite reasonable, animals are not very visible. They take shelter from the rain when it occurs, and the grasses are too tall to see them when they are moving. If you still wish to visit Botswana during this period, don't hesitate to go to the Kalahari Desert where the landscapes become green between November and March, or to Chobe National Park and the area around the Boteti River, known for birdwatching.
When to go to Botswana based on visitor numbers? It is between July and December that there are the most people, with a tourist peak in August and September. However, there is no reason to worry; you are unlikely to get caught in a traffic jam! Far from mass tourism, Botswana remains a confidential destination, and you will often feel alone in the world.
If your budget is quite tight, be aware that Botswana is a relatively expensive country. To limit costs, avoid the periods when plane tickets are the most expensive: April, July, August, and December. The best option to combine great weather, good visibility for safaris, and reasonable prices is to travel in May, June, October, or November.
If you plan to travel to Botswana with family, be aware that the vast majority of safaris are only accessible from the age of 6. Additionally, as driving times can be quite long, it is better to go with older children!
Annual weather in Botswana
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Botswana for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 72°F to 95°F | good weather* | |||
| February | 70°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| March | 68°F to 92°F | perfect weather* | |||
| April | 65°F to 88°F | perfect weather | |||
| May | 59°F to 86°F | perfect weather | |||
| June | 50°F to 83°F | good weather* | |||
| July | 50°F to 83°F | good weather* | |||
| August | 54°F to 90°F | perfect weather* | |||
| September | 65°F to 99°F | perfect weather | |||
| October | 72°F to 101°F | perfect weather* | |||
| November | 74°F to 97°F | good weather* | |||
| December | 76°F to 95°F | good weather* |
Best time to travel to Botswana by cities
Climate and Weather in Botswana
Located on the Tropic of Capricorn, in the heart of Southern Africa, the country is not influenced by the oceans and its seasons are reversed compared to Europe, as it is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. The climate of Botswana is of two types:
- A semi-arid hot and dry steppe climate is predominantly found, covering 89% of the territory, particularly in the capital, Gaborone.
- A hot and dry desert climate can be found near Tsabong, in a small part of the southwest bordering South Africa.
In general, the weather in Botswana is characterized by high temperatures, relatively low precipitation, and a fairly limited temperature range from month to month. The country does not really experience intermediate periods, such as spring or autumn, so the year is marked by two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.
Climate of Botswana during the dry season, from May to October
This is the best time to visit Botswana, as rainfall is very low, and almost non-existent between early June and late September, during the southern winter.
Temperatures are slightly lower than the rest of the year, but remain very pleasant throughout the season:
- In May, the climate is ideal. Highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows are around 15°C (59°F) .
- In June and July, the southern winter is in full swing. While it is about 28°C (83°F) around noon, the nights are cold, even freezing. Expect an average of around 10°C (50°F) , but it is not uncommon for it to freeze in the capital and in the Kalahari Desert. Another drawback of this period is that it gets dark very early, around 5 PM.
- In August, the mercury starts to rise: it is 12°C (54°F) at night and 32°C (90°F) during the day. However, strong west winds carrying sand and dust from the desert can blow hard.
- From September to early October, it gets increasingly hot: highs are around 37-38°C during the day and the thermometer fluctuates between 18 and 22°C (72°F) at night.
Climate of Botswana during the rainy season, from November to April
Talking about a “rainy season” in Botswana is a bit of an exaggeration. Indeed, the showers are short and infrequent, just a bit more significant than the rest of the year. It is between December and February that it rains the most, but the climate remains favorable throughout the country. If you really want to stay dry, avoid the north (in the Francistown region) and the east (the Limpopo Valley).
It is mainly the temperatures that change during this rainy season: it is between 31 and 36°C (97°F) during the day from November to January, with lows ranging between 22 and 24°C (76°F) . It is even likely that the thermometer occasionally approaches 40°C (104°F) . Starting in February, temperatures drop by a few degrees, making the atmosphere more pleasant.
Temperatures and rainfall in Botswana
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Botswana and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Tsabong and Ghanzi.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Botswana
Find out when Botswana has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Botswana
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May and November. The number of visitors to Botswana is high in: June, July, August, September, October and December.
- Very low season in Botswana: January, February, March and May.
- Low season in Botswana: April and November.
- High season in Botswana: June, July, September, October and December.
- Peak season in Botswana: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Botswana month by month
Average price for flights to Botswana
A return flight between London and Gaborone is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 1068 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 375 more for your airline ticket to Gaborone if you go in august.
Where to go in Botswana?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Gaborone | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 83°F | 77°F | 72°F | 70°F | 79°F | 88°F | 90°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Francistown | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 83°F | 79°F | 74°F | 74°F | 81°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Maun | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 79°F | 79°F | 86°F | 95°F | 101°F | 97°F | 92°F |
| Tsabong | 95°F | 94°F | 92°F | 85°F | 79°F | 72°F | 70°F | 77°F | 86°F | 90°F | 94°F | 95°F |
| Ghanzi | 90°F | 88°F | 88°F | 85°F | 81°F | 76°F | 76°F | 83°F | 92°F | 95°F | 94°F | 92°F |
| Kasane | 88°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F | 90°F | 99°F | 101°F | 97°F | 90°F |
| Molepolole | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 81°F | 76°F | 70°F | 70°F | 77°F | 86°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F |
| Orapa | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 86°F | 83°F | 77°F | 77°F | 85°F | 94°F | 97°F | 95°F | 92°F |
| Serowe | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 81°F | 77°F | 72°F | 72°F | 79°F | 86°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
About Botswana
What can I do in Botswana?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Botswana reliable?
Climate data for Botswana has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Botswana allows us to determine the average for each month in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Tsabong, Ghanzi, Kasane, Molepolole, Orapa and and 1 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.