Botswana in January

Green season: storms, babies, migratory birds; Kalahari and pans at their best.

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JuneGreatPeak flood and mokoro season; cold nights (pack warm layers).
• JulyGreatHigh season; camps booked a year ahead.
• AugustGreatExcellent game; Chobe elephant herds build.
• SeptemberGreatHot days, top game viewing; flood recedes.

• Okavango Delta and Moremi · Maun, Delta camps, Khwairainy

  The flood from Angola arrives about May and peaks June–August, during the dry season. October is very hot and dry, with game at the water. Green season Dec–Mar brings storms and birds.

• Chobe and Linyanti · Kasane, Savuti, Linyantirainy

  Chobe riverfront elephant herds peak Aug–Oct. Savuti's zebra migration passes in Nov–Dec and Mar–Apr.

• Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan · Gweta, Nata, Nxai Panbest weather

  Zebra and wildebeest migration on the pans in the rains (Dec–Mar); quad-bike and meerkat trips in the dry season.

• Central Kalahari · CKGR, Deception Valleybest weather

  Best in the rains when antelope and predators gather on the green pans; very hot and dry in Oct–Nov.

• South-east · Gaborone, Tuli Blockhot

  Most of the population; Tuli is a quiet dry-season reserve on the Limpopo.

• Kalahari: Kalahari (Ghanzi, Tsabong, CKGR) · Western and central Botswanahot

  Cool, dry winter (May–Aug) brings cold nights near 0 °C (32 °F) and clear game-viewing days; the green season (Jan–Apr) is hot with afternoon storms and the best Central Kalahari game viewing.Cool, dry winter (May–Aug) brings cold nights near 32 °F (0 °C) and clear game-viewing days; the green season (Jan–Apr) is hot with afternoon storms and the best Central Kalahari game viewing.

• Okavango-Chobe: Okavango Delta and Moremi · Northwest, around Maunrainy

  Flood peaks June–August when the Delta is fullest; rains December–February bring green grass and calving herds.

• Okavango-Chobe: Chobe and Kasane · Northeast, along the Chobe Riverrainy

  Dry season June–October concentrates elephants on the river; October is hot before the rains.

• Southeast Botswana: Gaborone and the southeast · Hardveld plateau, about 1,000 mrainy

  Rain falls mainly in the summer months (Dec–Mar), often as afternoon storms; winter (May–Sep) is dry with cold nights — exact temperatures check. Oct–Nov is hot and dry before the rains.

• Maun33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 9 rain days
• Francistown30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Gaborone32.7 °C (91 °F) / 19.7 °C (67 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (32.7 °C) / 67 °F (19.7 °C), 9 rain days
• Ghanzi33 °C (91 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Gweta31 °C (88 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 6 rain days
• Kanye30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Kasane32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 13 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 13 rain days
• Mochudi30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Nata32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Tsabong33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 6 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year

  1–2 Jan

  Public holidays.

• Christmas and New Year

  25–26 Dec, 1–2 Jan · Maun

  Public holidays; transfers and flights fill.

Crowds · Botswana

Low

Prices · Botswana

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Botswana, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan

  Best weather of the year (Gweta, Nata, Nxai Pan)

• Central Kalahari

  Best weather of the year (CKGR, Deception Valley)