Summer
Dec → Feb31 to 33°
nights 20 to 21°
- 14 rainy days · 126 mm
When is the best time to visit the Okavango Delta?
- Jan31°not recommended
- Feb31°not recommended
- Mar31°not recommended
- Apr29°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 the Okavango Delta, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 20° | 166 mm | 16 d | |
| February | 31° | 20° | 101 mm | 13 d | |
| March | 31° | 20° | 86 mm | 10 d | |
| April | 29° | 17° | 28 mm | 3 d | |
| May | 28° | 13° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 10° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 9° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| August | 30° | 13° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| September | 34° | 17° | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| October | 36° | 20° | 3 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| November | 35° | 21° | 28 mm | 6 d | |
| December | 33° | 21° | 110 mm | 13 d |
The four seasons in the Okavango Delta, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Chief's Island) 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°
- 4 rainy days · 38 mm
Winter
Jun → Aug26 to 30°
nights 9 to 13°
- 0 rainy days · 0 mm
Spring
Sep → Nov34 to 36°
nights 17 to 21°
- 2 rainy days · 10 mm
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 the Okavango Delta, month by month
EventsAnnual floodMay to AugustGreen seasonNovember to MarchDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: April, May, June, July
- Towns & culture: March, April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Okavango Delta, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- May to AugustAnnual flood big crowds
Water that fell in Angola arrives months later and floods the delta in the heart of the dry season, concentrating mokoros and wildlife.
- November to MarchGreen season
The rains turn the plains green, antelopes give birth and migratory birds arrive, with cheaper lodges.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended31°20° at night
- 166 mm · 16 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended31°20° at night
- 101 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended31°20° at night
- 86 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair29°17° at night
- 28 mm · 3 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended28°13° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
High season, book early
June
Recommended26°10° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
High season, book early
July
Recommended26°9° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended30°13° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended34°17° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended36°20° at night
- 3 mm · 1 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair35°21° at night
- 28 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended33°21° at night
- 110 mm · 13 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 31 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. A very wet month, 166 mm of rain over 16 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 31 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (101 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. 31 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 29 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (28 mm over 3 days). 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). High season: book early.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). High season: book early.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). High season: book early.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). 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). Busy season, without the crush.
October. Real heat: 36 °C at the warmest of the day, 20 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 1 day). Busy season, without the crush.
November. Real heat: 35 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Rain stays light: 28 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (110 mm). 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 the Okavango Delta?
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, Chief's Island).
Which month should you avoid in the Okavango Delta?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 166 mm over 16 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Chief's Island).
What is the hottest month in the Okavango Delta?
October, with 36 °C on average in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Chief's Island).
What is the coldest month in the Okavango Delta?
June, with 26 °C at best during the day and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Chief's Island).
What is the driest month in the Okavango Delta?
May: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 166 mm in January, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in the Okavango Delta?
The gap between day and night reaches 17 °C in July: 26 °C in the afternoon, 9 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in the Okavango Delta?
April, May, June, July: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Chief's Island), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Okavango Delta guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Botswana: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Dick Hoskins / Pexels · Manel Cusido / Pexels · louloua asgaraly / Pexels · Gavin Rain / Pexels · Roger Brown / Pexels · Mike Lewis / Pexels