When To Go

Best Time to go on Safari
Botswana has a healthy wildlife population.  Most big safari animals are easily seen with the exception of rhinos, which have recently been reintroduced.  The northern parks have permanent water sources and host greater concentrations of wildlife than the dry parks in the south. Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, and hyena are abundant.

The Dry Season, May to October, is the best time to enjoy wildlife viewing, as animals concentrate around waterholes and the weather is generally favorable. The Okavango Delta floods from June to October, providing the opportunity to watch wildlife in this unique ecosystem.

Dryer parks in the Kalahari area will offer better wildlife viewing during the wet season, November to April. Fresh grasses attract wildlife from the Northern parks during this time of year and during the rains large herds of zebra migrate to Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans.

The Okavango Delta and Moremi contain one of the largest population of the highly endangered African wild dog.  Wild dog packs roam over large territories and spotting them is hit or miss, except when they are denning.  Sitatunga,  red lechwe and puku can be found in the Okavango Delta, Moremi, and Chobe’s riverfront area.  These remarkable rare antelopes, adapted to semi-aquatic habitat, spend a lot of time in shallow water.

Best Time for Bird Watching
Birdlife in Botswana is good year-round, but at its best during the Wet Season, November to April. Migratory birds from Europe and Northern Africa are present at this time, and many resident bird species are nesting and in breeding plumage. Rains are typically short showers at this time (except for January and February) and rarely have a negative impact on your trip.