Best Time to Visit Botswana: August and October

Botswana has perfected low-impact, high-value tourism, limiting visitor numbers to preserve ecosystems while delivering some of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife experiences. If you're wondering when to visit Botswana, August and October sit squarely in the dry season when the Okavango Delta floods transform the Kalahari Desert into a water wonderland while wildlife congregates around remaining water sources. August brings peak flood levels and the most dramatic wildlife concentrations. October offers slightly fewer tourists, warmer weather, and the beginning of the green season transition.

August: Peak Flood and Wildlife

August in Botswana means the Okavango Delta floods are at their maximum. Water from Angola's highlands takes months to reach Botswana, creating the paradox of floods peaking during the dry season. The channels fill, the islands become accessible only by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), and wildlife concentrations reach extraordinary levels as animals seek both water and grazing.

The temperatures in August are comfortable, sitting in the mid-to-high twenties during the day with cool mornings perfect for game drives. The dry conditions mean animals visit waterholes predictably, and predators capitalize on the concentrated prey. The Moremi Game Reserve and private concessions like Khwai and Linyanti deliver consistent sightings of lions, leopards, elephants, and wild dogs.

August also brings excellent bird watching as migratory species arrive. The channels and floodplains attract herons, storks, and kingfishers in spectacular numbers. The African fish eagle's distinctive call becomes the soundtrack to morokoro trips through papyrus-lined channels.

October: Shoulder Season Excellence

October marks the end of peak season in Botswana. The Delta's water levels remain excellent, though starting to recede, and the wildlife viewing stays exceptional as animals continue congregating around permanent water sources. The temperatures warm into the low-to-mid thirties, making midday game drives less comfortable but creating dramatic storm clouds that build through afternoon.

What makes October appealing is the decrease in tourist numbers while conditions remain excellent. The camps have more availability, the rates often drop slightly from peak season, and you're experiencing Botswana when it's still delivering without the premium pricing. October also brings the first green flushes after isolated rain showers, and some animals begin birthing season, particularly impala and other antelope species.

The Makgadikgadi Pans, vast salt flats that feel otherworldly, become accessible in October. While the main floods occur during wet season (November-March), October offers dry access to these ancient lake beds with their stark beauty and unique desert-adapted wildlife.

Where We'd Stay: Jack's Camp

For something completely different from typical Okavango lodges, Jack's Camp sits on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans in the Kalahari Desert. The camp channels 1940s safari romance with Persian rugs, campaign furniture, and mess tents that feel transported from colonial-era expeditions, except with proper beds, ensuite bathrooms, and a natural history museum's worth of artifacts and specimens.

What sets Jack's Camp apart is the utterly unique setting and activities. You're sleeping in the Kalahari Desert, visiting habituated meerkat colonies at sunrise, walking with Zu/'hoasi Bushmen trackers learning ancient survival skills, and quad biking across salt pans that stretch to the horizon. When rains come, the pans flood shallowly and attract flamingo populations that number in the thousands, turning the landscape pink.

August and October both showcase Jack's Camp beautifully. August offers comfortable temperatures for desert exploration and the possibility of Makgadikgadi zebra migration (one of Africa's longest but least-known migrations). October brings warmer weather and occasionally the season's first rains transforming the pans. Through our Virtuoso partnership, you'll receive daily meals, activity inclusions, and room upgrades when available.

Why These Months Work

August and October offer Botswana's dry season reliability when wildlife viewing is most productive and the Okavango Delta creates its unique flooded desert ecosystem. August delivers peak conditions with everything operating at maximum. October provides equivalent experiences with fewer tourists and the excitement of seasonal transition beginning.

Ready to explore Botswana's wilderness? Enquire with The Camel Collection and let us design your Botswana safari.