If you’re looking for an authentic African safari experience, then Botswana should be right at the top of your travel wish list.
Boasting one of the lowest human population densities on the planet – if you’re looking to escape the bustling city life for the wild – then Botswana is the ideal travel destination.
If you’re planning or going on a Botswana tour or holiday – don’t waste your hard earned cash by going at the wrong time. Below, we’ll tell you:
To make the most of Botswana’s wildlife-rich game reserves, it’s best visited during the dry season/winter months of April to October.
Vegetation is at a minimum during these dry months, which makes spotting wildlife much easier, as they congregate around waterholes to get much-needed refreshment.
The skies are clear and rain is scarce during April and October. Mosquitoes are also at a minimum.
Make sure you pack in warm clothing as the mornings and evenings tend to get quite chilly.
Gaborone’s average temperature in °Centigrade
Gaborone’s average temperature in °Fahrenheit
One of the main reasons why people travel to Botswana is to experience the Big Five wildlife: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant.
The latter can be found in abundance in Botswana, especially along the banks of Chobe River – which supports up to 50,000 elephants during the dry season.
You can also spot the Big Five in the Moremi Game Reserve, which lies on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. Other animals you can expect to see here are giraffe, cheetah, impalas, jackal, Red lechwe, hippos as well as over 400 species of birds.
There’s no better way to navigate through the meandering waterways of the Okavango Delta other than using a mokoro – a traditional dug-out canoe which will keep you dry while exploring this wildlife-rich haven.
Expertly guided by a local – nothing else will get you closer to Botswana’s wildlife.
Covering an area of 3900 square kilometres, Botswana’s Makgadigadi Pans is one of the largest salt pans on the planet – the last remnant of the massive Lake Makgadigadi.
When it rains, the pans becomes a hub for all resident wildlife. It’s an important habitat for migrating animals such as wildebeest and one of Africa’s biggest zebra populations and the large predators that prey on them. The wet season also brings migratory birds such as ducks, geese and Great white pelicans.
Overland tour
14 days
On these two-week Namibia and Botswana Safari holidays, you’ll get to explore some of the most varied landscapes in Africa. Travelling from west to east, this tour starts in Swakopmund on the coast of Namibia and travels all the way to Victoria Falls on the border of Zimbabwe.
Overland tour
20 days
This comprehensive 20-day tour covers the well-worn route from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, crossing South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, and ending in Zimbabwe. It’s a truly grand African safari. This is an ‘accommodated’ tour, staying in hotels and lodges rather than camping.
The information below should not be a substitute for consultation with a travel doctor near you – always see one before travelling.
Here are some government organisations and other trusted travel resources to consult when travelling to Botswana
CAMPING OR ACCOMMODATED. This tour gives a great introduction to these beautiful and wildlife rich countries. We visit several national parks, meet local tribes, explore the Okavango Delta and finish at Victoria Falls.
Type
Days
Price
Overland
12
From
$2835
This 8-day overland tour gives a taste of Botswana's contrasting scenery & wildlife, from the Kalahari Desert to wet and wonderful Game Reserves in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. We finish at Victoria Falls.
Type
Days
Price
Overland
8
From
$2270
CAMPING OR ACCOMMODATED. This comprehensive 20-day tour covers the well worn route from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, crossing South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, and ending in Zimbabwe. It's a truly grand African safari.
Type
Days
Price
Overland
20
From
$3340
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