The dry season, an ideal period
From mid-June to mid-August, winter rages across the country. But this season, quite different from that in Europe, reveals two very different faces. During the day, it's always sunny, with very few clouds, and temperatures are very mild. For example, in the north of the country - in Maun, Chobe and the Okavango - it's around 25°C at midday. However, when the sun goes down, the difference in temperature is considerable, dropping to between 5 and 10°C. In the south - Eastern Corridor, Central Kalahari, Salt Pans - it's colder, and nights are often freezing in June, July and August, dropping to 0°C in the Kalahari. You'll need sweaters, jackets, hats, gloves and thick socks to withstand the morning frost. From September onwards, temperatures rise, and in October the air becomes so dry and hot that it can reach 40°C in the desert. Mammals are easy to spot around the few permanent waterholes. However, in the Central Kalahari, waterholes are so rare that it is difficult to observe wildlife.
The austral summer, rain and heat on the agenda
From November to March, Botswana's austral summer gradually sets in, with the first rains cooling the atmosphere. Birdlife returns in numbers, vegetation turns green again and mammals, which are not yet completely dispersed, are still visible. However, the weather is hot and humidity fluctuates between 50 and 80%. Temperatures rise to 30°C, peaking in January at around 45°C in the Kalahari. Showers are sporadic and unpredictable, and weeks of drought can sometimes occur during the so-called rainy season. However, when they do occur, it's not half-hearted! They fall heavily and sometimes violently, especially in January and February. But it's a breathtaking sight when stormy skies form mountains of clouds over the Botswana plateau. Rainfall is highest in the Chobe region, reaching up to 650 mm per year, while in the south-west, rainfall is at its lowest, at less than 200 mm. As the rainy season is also the season of abundant vegetation, births continue to take place during this period, for both mammals and birds. It's also the perfect time for birdwatching, with migratory birds arriving in their thousands.
