How to find the right season to travel on your Botswana Safari Vacation?

Botswana has a dry, semi-arid climate that is reasonably consistent. The northern two-thrids of the country lie within the tropics, but due to the land's altitude and its distance from the oceans, the climate is more temperate than tropical. The weather is influenced by prevailing high and low pressure cells that dominate the sub-continent and exert a major influence on the rain-bringing winds. The winther months, from May to August are dry and cloudless, withthe days generally warm and the nights cold. Day and night temperatures vary considerably, particularly in the less vegetaged desert regions. Day-time temperatures of 27'C (81 F) can drop to below freezing at night. With the arrival of a cold front, temperatures may plummet suddenly. These cold snaps, caused by Atlantic lows, usually last for a few days only. Should you be caught on a game drive in an open vehicle at such times, you may be left wondering what had happened to your safari in sunny Botswana! Early summer is usually hot with little relief from rain. Temperatures in September to November can soar to 40'C (104 F) during the day and cool off to 17'C (63 F) at night.

The rainy season in Botswana is normally between December and April, although early rains, from September onwards, are not unusual. Rain arrives suddenly in the form of short and intense thunderstorms that may be very localised. Torrential rain may fall in one place, while another, only a few kilometres away, will remain bone dry.

Droughts occur on an almost regular cyclical basis, with the southern part of Botswana being most susceptible to drought.

Dry Season from April to September

These months provide the best game viewing opportunities.

Wet season from October to March

Lush vegetation in the summer month are preferred by some travellers, however game is sometimes not spottes as easily as in the dry winter months.