Botswana is the ultimate safari destination and one of the best wildlife-viewing countries in the world. If you're only taking one safari in your life and you can spare no expense, Botswana is where you want to go. Images of its landscape are dominated by the spectacular Okavango Delta, a 5,000 square-mile inland river delta, but the country's landscape is surprisingly varied. The dry Kalahari offers spectacular stargazing and fascinating cultural tours with San bushmen, while the Chobe National Park area boasts the world's largest elephant population.
Botswana is a year-round destination, but we suggest aligning your itinerary with the Delta flow if you are most interested in water-based activities such as mokoro dugout canoe safaris. A portion of the Delta does contain water year-round, while a much larger area is part of the semi-permanent delta and is dry half of the year. Flood season runs from June through August, while the low water season is from October to April.
Go for the Okavango Delta, world-class luxury camps, and the great elephant herds of the Chobe River.
Each dimension is rated 0–3: 0 = not offered / avoid, 1 = fair, 2 = good, 3 = excellent. For the monthly strip, a higher score means a better time to travel.
These are our own expert ratings, drawn from years of planning and operating safaris across Africa. They reflect first-hand experience and traveler feedback rather than measured statistics, and conditions vary year to year.
Source: Fauna Travel Safari Seasonality & Suitability Ratings, updated 2026-10-05 — https://faunatravel.com/destination/africa/botswana
Monthly averages at Okavango Delta · 2021–2025. Bars show rainfall; lines show average daily high and low.
Warmest around Oct (daily highs near 36°C / 97°F); coolest around Jun (25°C / 77°F); wettest in Jan (~192 mm); driest in Apr–Oct. Based on 2021–2025 averages at Okavango Delta.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°C / 84°F | 20°C / 68°F | 192 mm | 17 |
| Feb | 31°C / 88°F | 20°C / 68°F | 109 mm | 12 |
| Mar | 31°C / 88°F | 20°C / 68°F | 54 mm | 6 |
| Apr | 30°C / 86°F | 17°C / 63°F | 10 mm | 2 |
| May | 28°C / 82°F | 13°C / 55°F | 0 mm | 0 |
| Jun | 25°C / 77°F | 10°C / 50°F | 1 mm | 0 |
| Jul | 26°C / 79°F | 9°C / 48°F | 0 mm | 0 |
| Aug | 30°C / 86°F | 13°C / 55°F | 0 mm | 0 |
| Sep | 34°C / 93°F | 17°C / 63°F | 0 mm | 0 |
| Oct | 36°C / 97°F | 20°C / 68°F | 5 mm | 1 |
| Nov | 34°C / 93°F | 21°C / 70°F | 41 mm | 7 |
| Dec | 32°C / 90°F | 21°C / 70°F | 125 mm | 14 |
Visa — not required. US passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond both your arrival and departure dates, with 3 blank pages (neighboring countries you transit or connect through will want a similar number).
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from a country where yellow fever is a risk.
Currency. No limit on what you bring in or out, but amounts over 10,000 pula (about US$1,000) must be declared.
Good to know. Much of Botswana’s magic is in remote areas — which means limited medical care, medical evacuation that can be delayed (especially at night), and patchy internet. We strongly recommend travel insurance that includes medical evacuation. Traffic drives on the left.
U.S. Embassy, Gaborone: bw.usembassy.gov
Guidance is for U.S. passport holders and can change — always confirm with the official source before you travel. Confirm at travel.state.gov →
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