Botswana Tours & Vacations

About Botswana

There are extra elephants in Botswana than in any other country, the massive cats roam free, and there’s everything from endangered African wild dogs to aquatic antelopes, from rhinos making a comeback to ample birdlife at each turn. This is also the land of the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert, at once iconic African landscapes and significant stretches of wilderness. Thirty-eight percent of its whole land vicinity is committed to country-wide parks, reserves, and natural world management areas. Put these landscapes together with the wildlife inhabiting them, and it’s challenging to conclude that this is wild Africa at its best.

Botswana may additionally rank amongst Africa’s most one-of-a-kind destinations – lodging prices at most hotels are once-in-a-lifetime propositions – however, self-drive expeditions are also possible. For the first-time traveler, the outstanding fees will be found traveling in the “green season” of November to March” when the rains have come and the animals start migrating, especially to the Kalahari. April and May are also suitable for recreation viewing when deciding on your camps carefully. For an all-around flora and fauna experience in Botswana, we generally advocate that you visit three camp locations staying seven nights. And whichever way you see, Botswana is a, without a doubt, fantastic place.

Weather, Climate and Geography

Botswana’s climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, which runs through the summer months. Rainfall tends to be erratic, unpredictable, and highly regional. Often a heavy downpour may occur in one area. While for 6 or 10 miles away, there is no rain at all.

The strong sunshine often follows showers, causing significant rainfall to evaporate and transpire instead of penetrating the ground. Pula’, one of Botswana’s most frequently heard words, is the name of Botswana’s currency and the Setswana word for rain. So much of what takes place in Botswana relies on this essential, frequently scarce commodity.

Rainfall

The rainy season is in the summer, with October and April being transitional months. January and February are generally regarded as the peak months. The mean annual rainfall varies from a maximum of over 650mm in the extreme northeast area of the Chobe District to a minimum of less than 250mm in the extreme southwest part of the Kgalagadi District (see the map for districts). Almost all rainfall occurs during the summer, while winter accounts for less than 10 percent of the annual rainfall. Generally, rainfall decreases in amount and increases in variability the further west and south you go.

Temperatures

Summer days are hot, especially in the weeks preceding the cooling rains, and shade temperatures rise to the 38°C mark and higher, reaching a blistering 44°C on rare occasions. Winters are clear-skied and bone-dry, the air seductively warm during the daylight hours but cold at night and in the early mornings because there is no cloud cover.

Required Clothes

We recommend loose and natural fabrics. Light coats are also recommended for rainy days.

Did you know?

• Botswana is mostly desert. The Kalahari Desert covers over 80% of Botswana, making its climate mostly arid to semi-arid. Rainfall occurs mainly in summer, with the peak times being in January. The average rainfall is about 500mm per year in the northeast and less than 250mm in the other parts of the country. Some countries or areas, such as Chocó in Columbia, can receive 500 mm of rain in just one day.
• The national bird of Botswana is the Kori Bustard—the giant flying bird in Africa.
• Most of the elephants in the African continent call Botswana home. Over 130,000 elephants live and thrive in the country, making it the perfect place to spot these gentle giants. Most of them live in Chobe National Park.
• Despite the stigma of being ‘in third-world Africa,’ Botswana is a very well-off or wealthy country thanks to the wealth of diamonds. A politically stable government and most of the population enjoy a high living standard. Botswana has maintained one of the world’s highest economic growth rates since 1966.
• The national animal is the zebra. This has to do with the black and white stripes showing the racial harmony.
• There are around 150.000 elephants in Botswana, and 50.000 live in Chobe National Park.
• Botswana has an enviable biodiversity. Over 150 mammalian species live in Botswana, including the Big Five – lions, African elephants, leopards, cape buffaloes, and black rhinos. It is also home to over 200 species of amphibians and reptiles and more than 460 species of birds.
• Botswanans believe that rain on a wedding day is a blessing. However, stormy weather on this special day also means bad luck.