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      • Overland Safaris >
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    • Botswana Riding Safaris >
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      • Chobe Princess 2 and 3
      • Pangolin Voyager
      • Zambezi Queen
  • Accommodation options
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        • Camp Moremi
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        • Jumbo Junction
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        • Jao Camp
        • Tubu Tree Camp
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        • Duke's Camp
        • Vumbura Plains Camp
        • Little Vumbura
        • Mopiri Camp
        • Nxamaseri Island Lodge
      • North East Okavango Lodges >
        • Camp Okavango
        • Xugana Island Lodge
        • Shinde Camp
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        • Khwai River Lodge
        • Khwai Bush Camp
        • Nokanyana Camp
        • Mboma Island Camp
      • South West Okavango Lodges >
        • Abu Camp
        • Macatoo Camp
        • Pom Pom Camp
        • Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
        • Kanana Camp
        • Oddballs Camp
        • Oddballs Enclave
        • Delta Camp
      • South East Okavango Lodges >
        • Eagle Island Lodge
        • Gunns Camp
        • Moremi Crossing Camp
        • Sandibe Safari Lodge
        • Chitabe Camp
        • Chitabe Lediba
        • Khwai Leadwood
        • Saguni Safari Lodge
        • Khwai Guest House
        • Stanleys Camp
        • Baines Camp
        • Gomoti Plains Camp
        • Rra Dinare Camp
        • Mma Dinare Camp
        • Mankwe Tented Retreat
    • Chobe Lodges >
      • Northern Chobe Lodges >
        • Ngoma Safari Lodge
        • Muchenje Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Elephant Camp
        • Chobe Bakwena Lodge
        • Elephant Valley Lodge
        • Chobe Game Lodge
        • Kubu Lodge
        • Garden Lodge
        • Chobe Chilwero Lodge
        • Chobe Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Bush Lodge
        • Mowana Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Savanna Lodge
        • Wildtrack Safaris Lodge
        • Nogatsaa Pans Lodge
      • Savute Lodges >
        • Savute Elephant Lodge
        • Savute Safari Lodge
        • Camp Savuti
        • Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge
        • Savuti Camp
      • Linyanti Lodges >
        • Lagoon Lodge
        • Lebala Camp
        • Linyanti Bush Camp
        • Linyanti Ebony Camp
        • Linyanti Expeditions
        • Camp Linyanti
        • Selinda Camp
        • Kings Pool Camp
        • Zarafa Camp
    • Kalahari Lodges >
      • Central Kalahari Game Reserve Lodges >
        • Tau Pan Camp
        • Kalahari Plains Camp
        • Deception Valley Lodge
        • Dinaka Safari Lodge
        • Gham Dhao Lodge
        • Grassland Bushman Lodge
        • Edo's Camp
      • Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan Lodges >
        • Meno a Kwena
        • Leroo la Tau Lodge
        • Boteti River Camp
        • Jacks Camp
        • San Camp
        • Camp Kalahari
        • Planet Baobab
        • Nxai Pan Lodge
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Venture To Botswana

Climate

Botswana Climate

Southern Africa is surprisingly dry, with more desert and arid areas than you might imagine. The Kalahari alone takes up part of South Africa, Namibia (which also has the Namib Desert), nearly all of Botswana, and parts of Zambia. Allied to this is the ephemeral nature of many of the Rivers in Southern Africa, with a good number being seasonal, but when they do flow, it can be a torrent.

Generally speaking, summers in Botswana are hot, and rains fall in afternoon showers, whereas winters tend to be cold, but quite dry. You could argue that Botswana generally has only two seasons: summer (October to March) and winter (late May to September).

The in-between periods of April/early May and September/October still tend to be dry, but the days are somewhat cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.

Most of the rain falls between December and February, although there can still be long dry spells during this period. Rains can start as early as November and end in March (generally this period is known as the "Green Season").  This rainfall can be erratic, and surprisingly regional – with heavy downpours mere kilometres from areas where this is no rain at all.

Rainfall does not generally last for long periods, and such showers are often followed by good sunshine (which also means that much of the rain is lost to evaporation, and doesn’t have the chance to penetrate). Rains are generally in the afternoons and evenings.

The mean annual rainfall is variable – from a maximum of over 650mm in the extreme northeast area of the Chobe District to a minimum of less than 250mm in the extreme southwest part of Kgalagadi District.
During the winter months (June, July and August), nightly temperatures can drop below freezing, although the days are sunny, and surprisingly warm.

The Okavango Delta is classified as dry/ semi-arid with high temperatures and a definite winter dry season. Botswana's climate is technically tropical, but the country's overall elevation (an average of 950 metres above sea level), means that the weather is actually temperate. The Okavango's annual flood is during May-September (although there can be some variation). This flood is not due to rains in Botswana, but to rains in the Angolan Highlands which is the source of the Okavango River. It is this rain, as it travels the length of the River, which ultimately fills the Delta.

January and February - these tend to be wettest months, characterized by torrential downpours in the afternoon and sometimes continuous rainfall. Daytime temperatures are around 32°C/90°F.

March and April - rainfall decreases and temperatures start to drop. This continues through April, which has lovely, clear weather and few clouds. The nights tend to be cooler but the days are very temperate at 30°C/87°F.

May - relatively cool, typically 10°C/50°F in the morning; 28°C/80°F by the afternoon.

June, July and August - average morning temperature is 6°C/42°F. Night temperatures can drop below freezing, particularly in the dryer Kalahari areas. In general, afternoons are much more pleasant with temperatures around 25°C/78°F.

September and October - the heat gradually builds and it can get very hot in October (38°C/100°F), but the average temperature remains around 34°C/93°F in the afternoon.

November and December - clouds start to appear, bringing cooler temperatures and an occasional late afternoon shower. This pattern continues into December, with typical temperatures between 20°C/69°F in the morning and 33°C/91°F in the afternoon. The more extreme Kalahari areas can still have very hot days, and cold mornings.
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Website for Venture To Botswana by Campbell's African Safari Ventures (Pty) Ltd, T/A Venture To Africa
  • Home
  • Safari Planning
    • Safari ideas >
      • Luxury Safaris >
        • 12 Night Classic Botswana Safari
        • 13 Night Romantic Botswana Safari
        • 10 Night Ultimate Botswana
        • 10 Night Platinum Botswana
        • 8 Night Magical Botswana
        • 6 Night Luxury Delta and Victoria Falls
      • Highlight Safaris >
        • 13 Night Botswanas Best
        • 11 Night Authentic Botswana
        • 11 Night Botswana Adventure
        • 11 Night Explore Botswana
        • 11 Night Across Botswana
        • 10 Night Botswana Wildlife
      • Budget Safaris >
        • 12 Night Bountiful Botswana
        • 11 Night Splendid Vic Falls and Botswana
        • 10 Night Vic Falls and Botswana Contrasts
        • 10 Night Beautiful Botswana
        • 9 Night Remote Botswana
      • Short Safaris >
        • 5 Night Okavango and Vic Falls Sojourn
        • 5 Night Delta and Chobe River
        • 4 Night Okavango Escape
        • 4 Night Vic Falls and Chobe
        • 4 Night Delta and Moremi Break
        • 3 Night Just the Okavango
      • Overland Safaris >
        • Miracle Rivers
        • Northern Highlights
        • Lion Safari
        • Kalahari Safari
        • Fish Eagle Safari
        • Elephant Safari
        • Buffalo Safari
        • Leopard Safari
        • Botswana Explorer
  • Activities
    • Botswana Riding Safaris >
      • African Horseback Safaris
      • Limpopo Horse Safaris
      • David Foot Safaris
      • Okavango Horse Safaris
    • Botswana Birding
    • Chobe Houseboats >
      • Chobe Princess 1
      • Chobe Princess 2 and 3
      • Pangolin Voyager
      • Zambezi Queen
  • Accommodation options
    • Okavango Lodges >
      • Moremi Game Reserve Lodges >
        • Camp Moremi
        • Camp Xakanaxa
        • Okuti Camp
        • Chief's Camp
        • Mombo Camp
        • Xigera Camp
      • Khwai Private Reserve Lodges >
        • Sable Alley Lodge
        • Hyena Pan Camp
        • Skybeds
        • Little Sable
        • Tuludi Camp
      • North West Okavango Lodges >
        • Kadizora Camp
        • Mapula Lodge
        • Jumbo Junction
        • Kwetsani Camp
        • Duba Plains Camp
        • Duba Explorers Camp
        • Jao Camp
        • Tubu Tree Camp
        • Bushman Plains Camp
        • Duke's Camp
        • Vumbura Plains Camp
        • Little Vumbura
        • Mopiri Camp
        • Nxamaseri Island Lodge
      • North East Okavango Lodges >
        • Camp Okavango
        • Xugana Island Lodge
        • Shinde Camp
        • Splash Camp
        • Kwara Camp
        • Sango Safari Camp
        • Machaba Camp
        • Khwai River Lodge
        • Khwai Bush Camp
        • Nokanyana Camp
        • Mboma Island Camp
      • South West Okavango Lodges >
        • Abu Camp
        • Macatoo Camp
        • Pom Pom Camp
        • Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
        • Kanana Camp
        • Oddballs Camp
        • Oddballs Enclave
        • Delta Camp
      • South East Okavango Lodges >
        • Eagle Island Lodge
        • Gunns Camp
        • Moremi Crossing Camp
        • Sandibe Safari Lodge
        • Chitabe Camp
        • Chitabe Lediba
        • Khwai Leadwood
        • Saguni Safari Lodge
        • Khwai Guest House
        • Stanleys Camp
        • Baines Camp
        • Gomoti Plains Camp
        • Rra Dinare Camp
        • Mma Dinare Camp
        • Mankwe Tented Retreat
    • Chobe Lodges >
      • Northern Chobe Lodges >
        • Ngoma Safari Lodge
        • Muchenje Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Elephant Camp
        • Chobe Bakwena Lodge
        • Elephant Valley Lodge
        • Chobe Game Lodge
        • Kubu Lodge
        • Garden Lodge
        • Chobe Chilwero Lodge
        • Chobe Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Bush Lodge
        • Mowana Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Savanna Lodge
        • Wildtrack Safaris Lodge
        • Nogatsaa Pans Lodge
      • Savute Lodges >
        • Savute Elephant Lodge
        • Savute Safari Lodge
        • Camp Savuti
        • Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge
        • Savuti Camp
      • Linyanti Lodges >
        • Lagoon Lodge
        • Lebala Camp
        • Linyanti Bush Camp
        • Linyanti Ebony Camp
        • Linyanti Expeditions
        • Camp Linyanti
        • Selinda Camp
        • Kings Pool Camp
        • Zarafa Camp
    • Kalahari Lodges >
      • Central Kalahari Game Reserve Lodges >
        • Tau Pan Camp
        • Kalahari Plains Camp
        • Deception Valley Lodge
        • Dinaka Safari Lodge
        • Gham Dhao Lodge
        • Grassland Bushman Lodge
        • Edo's Camp
      • Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan Lodges >
        • Meno a Kwena
        • Leroo la Tau Lodge
        • Boteti River Camp
        • Jacks Camp
        • San Camp
        • Camp Kalahari
        • Planet Baobab
        • Nxai Pan Lodge
    • Booking Campsites
  • Botswana Specials
  • Blog
  • Free Quotes
  • Safari Testimonials
  • About Us