Botswana

Botswana has a semi-arid climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, making wildlife viewing highly seasonal. Gaborone averages 12°C in July (winter) and 26°C in January (summer), with most rain falling from November to March. The Okavango Delta floods during the dry season (peak water from July to August), creating the unique spectacle of water in the desert when wildlife concentrates around the channels. The dry season (May to October) is the best time for wildlife viewing, with June to September offering the coolest temperatures and clearest game viewing. Chobe National Park‘s elephant herds are at their most concentrated from August to October along the Chobe River. Summer (November to March) brings dramatic thunderstorms, newborn animals, and the best birdwatching.