Why the Rainy Season Is Still the Perfect Time to Visit Botswana

Botswana is an incredible place to visit, even during the rainy season
Botswana is an incredible place to visit, even during the rainy season | © Melanie Van Zyl
Melanie van Zyl

An incredible place to visit at any time of year, Botswana tops the chart of Africa’s best safari destinations. Here’s why Botswana’s resplendent wilds are just as likely to impress during the rainy season.

Baby animals, vibrant birdlife, charismatic cats, scores of elephants, affordability and the magnificent rains are just a few reasons to visit during Botswana’s ‘Green Season’, often considered by many to be the worst time of the year to come.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Botswana is one of Africa’s best safari destinations

One of the first things you’re likely to Google when travelling is ‘When is the best time to visit?’ For Botswana, some sites will recommend the dry, winter season between May and September, when temperatures are moderate and game viewing is said to be better than at other times of the year. However, experiencing Botswana in the ‘Green Season’ definitely has its perks.

The sprawling mass of the Okavango Delta is best appreciated from the sky

The ‘Green Season’ is good value

Locally known as the ‘Green Season’, Botswana’s rainy, wet, summer season runs from December to March. The biggest advantage of travelling at this time is that visitor numbers dwindle, so you’re likely to enjoy a quieter, more personal stay at affordable rates as camps drop their prices by as much as 50 percent.

Check if your lodge has both a tracker and a guide for the best game sightings

Discover Botswana’s beautiful beasts in the Okavango Delta

The November to February period is right in the middle of the heat and rain of midsummer. The Kalahari Desert is particularly stifling, but thankfully there’s a slosh of water, namely the Kavango River and its catchment area, cutting through this harsh environment and providing refuge for the wild world.

The ears of the African elephant are enormous and help them to keep cool

The Okavango Delta is a low-impact tourism destination and visiting requires off-road driving, boating or fly-ins using small aircraft. Thanks to this inaccessibility, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been dubbed ‘the Last Eden of Africa’.

Many lodges still offer the iconic mokoro trip year-round

Spot tsessebe (the fastest antelope in the world) or shy water-dwelling sitatunga and enjoy the reinvigoration of the natural world as young, ungainly antelope join the herds. Botswana is also a hotspot for one of the world’s most endangered mammals, the African wild dog.

Small planes are used to ferry guests between Maun and the Okavango Delta

Tip: When staying at a lodge, such as the new Kwando Splash Camp in the Eastern Okavango, professional guides will be well acquainted with the movements of local lion prides, cheetah coalitions and the fast-moving, hunting packs of African wild dogs (named by World Wildlife Fund as the second-most endangered carnivore in Africa). In fact, these sought-after predators have territories so close to this particular camp that you’re likely to see them while eating breakfast.

Leopards have long whiskers, which help them move around in the dark

See the wild from the water in Chobe National Park

The wide, wild Chobe River marks Botswana’s border with Namibia and provides both sanctuary and water for the many creatures of Chobe National Park. Most notably, this area is home to the African continent’s greatest concentration of elephants, with overall herd numbers at an estimated 120,000. They’re best admired from the water.

Some call Chobe the ‘Land of Giants’

Tip: Many lodges in the nearby town, Kasane, offer sundowner cruises, but Chobe Safari Lodge is the closest base to the park for ease of access. You can also book a private boat for the early morning, when rain and thunderstorms are less likely.

Hippos can live for up to 40 years

Fall in love with Botswana’s birds

During summer, migrant birds swoop south and congregate in high numbers at various hotspots across the country. Even non-birders will be reaching for their binoculars during this active avian season.

Although Botswana has no endemic bird species, it’s one of the easiest places in the world to find extraordinary feathered friends. The Okavango Delta, for example, is a stronghold for critically endangered wattled cranes. For many twitchers, the ultimate sighting is the Pel’s fishing owl, a rarity that feeds on fish and frogs. Colourful bee-eaters snatch insects swiftly from the air, striking African skimmers flock to the northern rivers scooping up water using their specially adapted bills and the African fish-eagle lets out its resonating, soulful call.

Long, sharp talons help the African fish-eagle to snatch fish from the water

Tip: During the Green Season, diehard birders cannot miss the wonder of Godikwe Lagoon in the heart of the Okavango Delta, where waterbirds find safety from predators on islands surrounded by deeply flooded lagoons. Different species nest side by side in a seasonal ceasefire and create enormous breeding sites called heronries. Godikwe Lagoon is only accessible via boat when staying in lodges near to the Moremi Game Reserve, such as Kwando Splash Camp.

The yellow-billed stork also uses its feet to feed, by disturbing creatures in the mud

Dance in the rain

There is a particular reverence for rain in Botswana, which is called pula in the local language of Setswana. Pula is also the name of Botswana’s currency, and the colour blue dominates the country’s flag, representing the life-giving forces of water.

The Botswana flag flies high on Sedudu Island in Chobe

When the heat builds up and clouds eventually rupture with rainstorms, bringing water back to this parched place, join in the joy and soak up the open sky. After all, Africa knows best, that ‘no rain, no gain’.

Tip: During a stay at Mma Dinare lodge in the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta, you may be so lucky as to meet the delightful camp manager Mmapula Malela. ‘Mmapula’ means ‘mother of the rain’, and rain is all that anyone can talk about in the heights of summer’s stifling heat.

The Okavango Delta is a low-impact tourism destination
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article