Botswana FAQ

Botswana’s dry season lasts from the start of May through October, making these months the traditional time of year for exploring the country’s wild spaces. The chance of rain is almost non-existent, especially between June and the end of September, leaving clear skies and warm temperatures day after day.

What’s more, wildlife is at its most concentrated within Chobe National Park and Central Kalahari Game Reserve, as Botswana’s 170 mammal species gather around permanent water sources to quench their growing thirst.

It’s the dry season which also sees the Okavango Delta, arguably Botswana’s finest single attraction, at its best. Counterintuitively, the delta’s waters are at their highest at this time of year, creating the series of shallow channels which become a haven for wildlife.

Temperatures throughout Botswana’s dry season build steadily from around 75°F (24°C) in June, to 93°F (34°C) in October. They then remain steady from November until April or May, a period known as the rainy or green season. The Kalahari turns from dry countryside to a lush landscape which welcomes the calves of Botswana’s herbivores. It’s also the time of the recently-discovered zebra migration, crossing between the Okavango Delta and new growth of the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Despite around four inches (90 mm) of rain falling during January, this is considered the best time to visit Botswana for birding. The presence of migratory bird species at this time of year means there are around 500 individual species to look out for.

The best places to visit in Botswana are Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Kwando, Kwando, Selinda, & Linyanti Reserves, Makgadikgadi Pans & Nxai Pan National Parks, Maun, Moremi Game Reserve, and the Okavango Delta.

A national park is an area set aside and run by a national government whereas a game reserve (aka game park or wildlife park) is a large area of land where wild animals live safely or are hunted in a controlled way for sport. If hunting is prohibited, then a game reserve may be classified as a nature reserve.

U.S. citizens require a passport valid for at least six months and are permitted stays up to 90 days total within a 12-month period without a visa. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Botswana embassy in their country before traveling.

The time zone in Botswana is UTC+2. The country observes Central Africa Time (CAT) all year. There are no daylight savings time clock changes.

The best way to plan a trip to Botswana is to tell us what trip you want, when you want to travel, the number of passengers, and where you want to depart from. For an existing trip, you can either call us or complete the “Get Pricing Now” form on the itinerary page. If you want a personalized tour, you can either call us, email us, or complete the “Contact Us” form on our website.

Yes. Our clients choose their own departure dates, unless there is a cruise or a group tour with a fixed departure date.

All meals are listed on each itinerary as (B,L,D) or Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Typically, breakfast is included daily. The other meals are either included or not, depending upon the itinerary.

We do not include international airfare in the cost of our tours. We will, however, quote it for you and you can purchase it through us if you like. The cost of our international airfare is usually the same or lower than what you can purchase yourself. Domestic airfare may be included in the cost, depending upon the tour.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website provides recommended and/or required vaccinations for each country. For Botswana, it recommends that you should be up-to-date with routine vaccines such as Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (Influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Polio, and Shingles. It also recommends that you get vaccinated for COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid, and that you speak to your doctor about prescription medicine to prevent Malaria. Consider Rabies vaccination if you will be around dogs or wildlife. Yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers arriving from countries with risk for yellow fever virus transmission. Otherwise, it is generally not recommended for travelers to Botswana.

Yes, we recommend travel insurance and strongly believe that you should be protected in the event that something unforeseen happens either before or during your trip. We work with Allianz Travel Insurance, AIG (Travel Guard Travel Insurance), and Travelex Insurance Services.

You will need to check with your cell phone carrier prior to traveling, since every carrier is different.

Voltage: 230 V; Frequency: 50 HZ; Plugs: Type G (UK standard three-prong).

The official languages of Botswana are English and Setswana. Setswana is the national language and English is the official business language.