When to Go

When to Go

The best time to visit Botswana is in the autumn and winter months (April through September), though it's also the most expensive. In the delta during the winter months the water has come in from the Angolan highlands, and the floodplains, channels, lakes, and inland waterways are literally brimming with sparkling fresh water. Elsewhere, as it's the dry season, the grass and vegetation are sparse, and it's much easier to see game, which often have no choice but to drink at available water holes or rivers. But be warned: it can be bitterly cold, particularly early in the morning and at night. Dress in layers (including a thigh-length thick jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves), which you can discard or add to as the sun goes up or down.

During the Green Season (October through February), aptly named as it's when the bush is at its most lush and is populated with lots of baby animals, you'll find great economy deals offered by most of the lodges, but, and this is a big but, it's very hot—temperatures can reach up to 35°C (95°F). If you're a birder (Botswana has more than 400 species of birds), this is the best time to visit, because all the migratory birds have returned. Unless you're in a lodge with air-conditioning, can stand great heat, or are a keen bird-watcher stick with fall and winter.