Summer
Dec → Feb30 to 33°
nights 20 to 21°
- 14 rainy days · 127 mm
- 11.1 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Botswana?
- Jan30°not recommended
- Feb31°not recommended
- Mar31°not recommended
- Apr30°fair
- May28°recommended
- Jun26°recommended
- Jul26°recommended
- Aug30°recommended
- Sep34°recommended
- Oct36°recommended
- Nov35°fair
- Dec33°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Botswana, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 20° | 10.9 h | 176 mm | 17 d | |
| February | 31° | 20° | 10.9 h | 92 mm | 12 d | |
| March | 31° | 20° | 10.5 h | 86 mm | 9 d | |
| April | 30° | 17° | 10.5 h | 7 mm | 1 d | |
| May | 28° | 13° | 10.8 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 10° | 10.7 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 10° | 10.8 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| August | 30° | 13° | 10.9 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| September | 34° | 17° | 11.2 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| October | 36° | 20° | 11.5 h | 3 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| November | 35° | 21° | 11.8 h | 31 mm | 5 d | |
| December | 33° | 21° | 11.4 h | 112 mm | 12 d |
The four seasons in Botswana, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Okavango Delta) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May28 to 31°
nights 13 to 20°
- 3 rainy days · 31 mm
- 10.6 h of sun
Winter
Jun → Aug26 to 30°
nights 10 to 13°
- 0 rainy days · 0 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
Spring
Sep → Nov34 to 36°
nights 17 to 21°
- 2 rainy days · 11 mm
- 11.5 h of sun
Book early for May to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Botswana, month by month
EventsZebra migration to the pansDecember to MarchOkavango Delta floodJune to AugustElephants gathering on the ChobeSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: May, June, July
- Towns & culture: February, March, April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Botswana, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- December to MarchZebra migration to the pans
From December to March, zebras head for the fresh grass of Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan after the first rains.
- June to AugustOkavango Delta flood big crowds
Between June and August, water from Angola swells the delta and opens up the channels for travel by mokoro.
- September to OctoberElephants gathering on the Chobe big crowds
At the end of the dry season, herds of elephants gather along the Chobe River in the late afternoon to drink.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended30°20° at night
- 176 mm · 17 d
- 10.9 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended31°20° at night
- 92 mm · 12 d
- 10.9 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended31°20° at night
- 86 mm · 9 d
- 10.5 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair30°17° at night
- 7 mm · 1 d
- 10.5 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended28°13° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.8 h
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended26°10° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.7 h
High season, book early
July
Recommended26°10° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.8 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended30°13° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.9 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended34°17° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 11.2 h
High season, book early
October
Recommended36°20° at night
- 3 mm · 0 d
- 11.5 h
High season, book early
November
Fair35°21° at night
- 31 mm · 5 d
- 11.8 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended33°21° at night
- 112 mm · 12 d
- 11.4 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 30 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. A very wet month, 176 mm of rain over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 31 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (92 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. 31 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 30 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 28 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. High season: book early.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. High season: book early.
October. Real heat: 36 °C at the warmest of the day, 20 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. High season: book early.
November. Real heat: 35 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Rain stays light: 31 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.8 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (112 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Botswana?
May to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 26 to 36 °C, with almost no rainy days a month on average (2015-2024 records, Okavango Delta).
Which month should you avoid in Botswana?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 176 mm over 17 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Okavango Delta).
What is the hottest month in Botswana?
October, with 36 °C on average in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Okavango Delta).
What is the coldest month in Botswana?
June, with 26 °C at best during the day and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Okavango Delta).
What is the driest month in Botswana?
May: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 176 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Botswana?
November, with 11.8 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Botswana?
The gap between day and night reaches 17 °C in August: 30 °C in the afternoon, 13 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Botswana?
May, June, July: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Okavango Delta), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Botswana guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Dick Hoskins / Pexels · Herve Meftah / Pexels · Manel Cusido / Pexels · Mark de Jong / Pexels · John Allan Kondwani Zabula / Pexels · Fernando Huelgas / Pexels