The Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve are best visited between May and October with wildlife out and about in large numbers. This is Botswana’s dry season and the weather, especially in the first few months, is warm and dry – however early mornings and nights can get quite cold. Flooding in the Delta is surprisingly at its highest in the dry months, allowing you to take to the water and explore in traditional dugout canoes. As the mercury rises towards the end of the dry season you can expect excellent sightings, with wildlife clustering around the shrinking waterholes.
The wet (green) season between November and April is characterised by high temperatures, showers, sunshine and the occasional dramatic thunderstorm. Don’t be put off as this can still be a fantastic time to travel, especially as rain mostly arrives in the form of short afternoon showers. Not only is Botswana’s scenery fantastic during this period – lush and green from the rains – but you also have the opportunity to see newborn animals alongside many migratory birds. What’s more, there are fewer visitors around and you can take advantage of the lower rates.
Drier regions like the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Nxai Pan National Park offer great wildlife encounters during and just after wet season, when the fresh vegetation draws out a variety of different species. The unique wildlife of the Makgadikgadi Pans can be observed throughout the year, but the wet summer months are when the pans are full of pink flamingos.