When should you visit Botswana on safari? How about right now?
Botswana’s northeast, home to the world’s largest freshwater inland delta and the remarkably picturesque Selinda Spillway, is a dynamic landscape. It shifts and transforms with the seasons making every visit unique and special. if you’re planning a trip, here’s what you can expect year-round, both on and off the water:
🦅 January to March sees warm temperatures and afternoon rain showers, with early morning mists making for excellent photography opportunities. Wildlife sightings during this period include herbivore grazers such as warthog, lechwe and kudu, as well as elephants, buffalo and varied predators. This is one of the best times of year for bird-lovers, with enigmatic species including carmine bee-eaters regularly sighted. At some camps activities are suspended due to lower water levels.
From April to June, herbivores begin to return to the floodplains and main channels of the Okavango in anticipation of the floods, which begin in mid-late April. Flower lovers will delight as waterlilies begin to bloom in the Okavango, while the clear night sky acts as the perfect canvas for the famed Scorpio constellation. Wildlife opportunities abound, with hippos beginning to emerge during the day along with increased leopard and wild dog sightings.
💦 Temperatures are at their coolest and the flood is at its zenith in the Okavango during July to September, when water-based activities are at their prime and the Selinda Spillway begins to fill in peak flood years. Large herds of elephants begin to gather around the camps, with exceptional safari viewing during this period, which is also denning season for wild dogs and daily hunts occur close to denning sites.
🌱 October to December sees the floods in the Okavango recede, while the rainy season begins and daytime temperatures soar. Grasses begin to sprout on the floodplains, leading to high wildlife concentrations, with baby season promising the most adorable of animal sightings. This period is also excellent for bird and butterfly watchers, while water activities continue at most camps.
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