Affordable Africa!
Affordable Africa!
BOTSWANA’S SEASONS AND CLIMATE
Botswana is landlocked and very almost in the centre of the southern African subcontinent, on an elevated plateau of approximately 1000 metres above sea level. These factors tend to cause low annual rainfall.
The seasons in Botswana are indistinct. Rains generally start in October or November and persist through to March or April. Within that period there may be long dry spells. In April, temperatures begin to fall and May is generally regarded as the first month of the dry, cool winter, characterised by clear sunny days and cold nights.
Spring begins in August and temperatures rise rapidly during the hot, dry period of September, October and November until the rains again break.
Dry Season
Dry season begins from April to October, this is the best time to see game as animals congregate around permanent water sources and the foliage is sparse. Only permanent rivers flow in this season and central areas of the parks dry out.
There is always some water in the Okavango Delta, but by October the channels are narrow and the floodplains are mossy green but dry. With the oncoming threat of rain, the air becomes hot and October temperatures head into the high 38°C.
Wet Season
Rain falls between November and March. These are summer months, so it is hot and humid.
Some roads become impassable due to the sticky mud, so difficult to reach lodges and camps may close for a few months. The rainy season attracts a huge influx of birds, such as Flamingo that feed in the algae rich pans and raise their chicks.
Many grazing animals also give birth at this time, as the landscape is lush and there is an abundance of food.
Although the rainy season is generally from October to April, there is great variation in the time of its arrival and departure, in the quantity of rain that falls and in its distribution. The amount of rainfall decreases from the north-east of the country to the south-west, and as it does so its variability increases.
Thus the north-east might expect 600mm of rain with a variability of about 30%, whilst the drier south-west will receive, on average, only 200mm, with a variability of about 80%. Rain tends to fall in short, sometimes violent thundershowers.
Although rain may first fall in September, the greatest amounts fall in the months of December, January and February. It is important to note that, at any time of year, it does not normally rain on more than 2 consecutive days.
Based on credible sources, Botswana is one of the top 10 safest countries in Africa. The locals are welcoming, generous, and always eager to help. But, as a person visiting a foreign country, you need to take some precautions. Store your valuables such as cash, cards, expensive camera equipment, laptops, and jewellery in a hotel safe. Avoid travelling alone at night and during game drives always follow the guidelines set by the experienced safari guide.
The best times to travel in Botswana merely depends on what you want to do – and what your budget is as Botswana is a year-round safari destination.
Game is easy to find in the dry season – but accommodation rates are high. In the wet season game is fairly dispersed because water is everywhere, and you may have to travel further to locate it, but accommodation rates are low. The summer is also the best time for birding in Botswana.
The peak time to travel to Botswana is during the winter months of May through to September. . This however, is not necessarily the “best time” to visit Botswana as there are areas that attract herds of game in the summer months when the grass is lush and there is plenty of water about.
It was always believed that the best time to visit Botswana was in the winter as the wildlife concentrates around the permanent water sources, but in recent years the summer months, when all the antelope give birth and the migrant birds have arrived, have become a popular time to visit and can also lay claim to the “best time to travel” to Botswana.
Flooded Desert Rivers
Botswana is unusual in that some of the rivers are in peak flood at the height of the dry season – adding an extra dimension to a Botswana safari.
The world renowned Okavango Delta reaches its peak months after the last rains of the season have fallen in the area – due to the fact that most the Delta water comes from the highlands of Angola almost two thousand kilometres away. This provides a contrast of dry dusty surrounds and lush green waterways.
Wilderness areas are diverse, ranging from desert to wetland, from vast salt-pans to mighty rivers – and different species occur in these areas.
With such varied landscapes dictating the safari experience and the different activities that can be enjoyed apart from game-viewing, it all comes down to your needs and requirements.
Your best solution for a Botswana safari is a combination of areas with activities that match your interests whether they are birding, quad-biking, fishing, elephant back safari, mobile 4×4 camping or lap-of-luxury living.
The key to experiencing a great safari trip is to pack light; there are usually laundry services available so it’s easy to wash items as you travel around.
· Pack clothes that are comfortable to wear and easy to wash.
· Pack neutral colours such as beige and khaki for game drives.
· Pack warm clothes such as a wind-proof jacket, fleece jacket, beanie, scarf, and gloves for the early morning and evening game drives when the temperatures drop.
· You can shed these layers in the afternoon as the temperature rises. Pack sunscreen, insect repellent spray, sunglasses, and a wide-brim hat.
· Pack comfortable footwear for bush walks.
