Botswana in October

Hottest month (up to 40 °C (104 °F)); animals at the last water.Hottest month (up to 104 °F (40 °C)); animals at the last water.

October is rated good. 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, Khwaihot

  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, Linyantihot

  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 Panhot

  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 Valleyhot

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

• South-east · Gaborone, Tuli Blockfine

  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 Maunfine

  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 Riverfine

  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 mbest weather

  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.

• Maun35 °C (95 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 1 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 1 rain days
• Francistown29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Gaborone32 °C (90 °F) / 16.3 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16.3 °C), 3 rain days
• Ghanzi32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 4 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 4 rain days
• Gweta27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
• Kanye25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 2 rain days
• Kasane35 °C (95 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 4 rain days
• Mochudi27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 4 rain days
• Nata34 °C (93 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
• Tsabong31 °C (88 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 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.

• Botswana Day

  30 Sep – 1 Oct

  Independence celebrations; government offices close.

• Independence Day

  30 Sep – 1 Oct · Maun

  Public holidays; a busy time on the roads and at airstrips.

• Hot, dry build-up

  Oct–Nov · Maun

  Hot afternoons and the first storms; fewer visitors, lower rates.

• Botswana Independence Day

  30 Sep – 1 Oct · Maun

  Public holidays; some shops shut and roads to the Delta gates are busy.

• Peak safari season

  Jul–Oct · Maun

  Fly-in camps, flights and lodges fill; book six to twelve months ahead for the best camps.

Crowds · Botswana

Medium

Prices · Botswana

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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Rated best or good this month

• Francistown

  Best months: May–Oct

• Gweta

  Best months: Jun–Oct

• Mochudi

  Best months: May–Oct

• Nata

  Best months: Jun–Oct