Photo Credit: Julien Lagarde

In general, Botswana’s climate is classified as semi-arid, although seasonal and regional variations occur. It’s hot and dry across the country for the majority of the year with rains running through the summer months. During the wet season, heavy monsoon-style downpours are unpredictable, and very erratic. Summer weather runs from November to March, bringing soaring temperatures cooled by the annual rains. May through August is Botswana’s winter: extremely dry, sunny and cool to warm with never a drop of rain.

In winter, nighttime lows can sink below freezing, especially in the southwest region. April to early May and September through October are the shoulder seasons, tending towards the dry and with warmer nights and cooler days than in winter or summer. Immediately before the summer rains, the humidity hits up to 80 percent and the mercury soars to 100°F and higher. In winter, the humidity falls to between 20 and 30 percent and clear skies allow temperatures to drop dramatically at night.

Best Time to Visit Botswana

Most visitors arrive from April through to October as the weather is less harsh and the wildlife viewing is at its best around the lakes, natural waterholes and dams fed by underground water. However, for the experience of a lifetime, visit the Okavango Delta after the first rain to see the streams, rivers and lagoons in full flood, the land carpeted with flowers and the vast herds gathering around the fresh waters. Game lodge prices are seasonal, with June through October the high season, and December through March the least expensive.

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