Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Africa & the Middle East
Reload this Page >

Would you choose Botswana in May or Sept?

Search

Would you choose Botswana in May or Sept?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 29th, 2007, 11:42 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Would you choose Botswana in May or Sept?

After much internet research & reading of the informative posts on this forum I have decided on the following itinerary in Botswana/Vic falls:

3 nights Little Kwara
3 nights Lebala
3 nights Tongabezi

Although we knew the price would be shockingly expensive the quotes we have for Sept is more than we were hoping to pay. So the question is, if we save money & go in May what would we miss? All thoughts/experience of the differences between May & Sept much appriciated!
clanv is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2007, 01:33 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Clanv,

Lebala - perhaps, September better than May for the big herds of buffalo and elephant.

But, there were plenty of herds mid june this year. Infact, more elephants than end August of last year(so depends on how wet their summer was!)

Predators wise.....all down to the luck of the draw!!!

If you are looking at May's price advantage, then u should try to go as late in May as is possible......

Hari
HariS is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2007, 05:09 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As HariS says gameviewing is in the luck of the draw. However, you can try and load the dice in your favour by going at the end of the dry season when the game is more concentrated around the permanent water. That's the advantage of Sept and why it's more expensive.
TreeHugger is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2007, 08:55 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with HariS. I have often been to Bots - Okavango, Linyanti then Vic Falls in late May and for me it has always been fantastic. Sure the elephant won't be as prolific as in September however you are sure to still see many in the Linyanti. As far as cats go well I have always had great Lion sightings in the Linyanti - Cheetah and Leopard are a little more scarce.
Dubaboy is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2007, 05:22 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I won't say cheetah or Leopard are scarce.... as i mentioned, it completely depends on good luck!!! Lebala always has something or the other to offer, so the OP should still have a good trip....

Hari
HariS is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2007, 10:08 PM
  #6  
sniktawk
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
We have been to Leballa/Lagoon in June/July/ September and December.
On every occassion game viewing has been good! We are trying March next year. The best is nearly always September October when the pans in the woods have dried up. Last year there appears to have been little rain and the pans are allready mostly dry, so game viewing on our recent trip in July was very good ( Selinda Kwando Trip Report). I presume that this is for 2008,




 
Old Aug 9th, 2007, 01:11 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We went this year the first two weeks in June after 5 days in Cape Town. We got the tail end of the pricing advantage as Wilderness camps changed on June 15. WE had wonderful weather and I think wonderfuly game viewing. We saw hers of elephants, Cape Buffalo, lion prides, giraffes and all other animals. I cannot imagine anything better.

We alos had wonderful dry, no mosquitos,(very important to me), cold mornings and warm afternoons. Wore layers in the morning and by the morning tea break was down to a t-shirt and pants.
We also saved a great deal of money so were able to stay longer.
spiegelcjs is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2007, 05:03 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi your choice depends on what you want. May is better for birds and is cooler but also higher risk of wet/ rain. On the other hand September is more expensive but hotter and drier (a lot) and with greater concentrations of Game as a result, I'd personally opt for September. We went in June, please see our full trip report:

http://wilddogsandenglishmen.wordpress.com

WD
WildDogs is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
aestuo
Africa & the Middle East
9
Feb 13th, 2010 12:12 PM
ivee
Africa & the Middle East
22
Dec 1st, 2007 10:49 AM
ivee
Africa & the Middle East
6
Nov 9th, 2007 01:58 AM
dwc0201
Africa & the Middle East
29
Jul 18th, 2006 06:48 PM
KayeN
Africa & the Middle East
13
Feb 19th, 2006 12:08 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -