When to go · Botswana
Botswana in September
Great month. Hot days, top game viewing; flood recedes.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Botswana
- Prices
- High
- Botswana
Verdict
Hot days, top game viewing; flood recedes.
Is another month better than September?
No other month rates higher than September for Botswana in this guide.
Weather in September
- Okavango Delta and Moremi · Maun, Delta camps, Khwaibest weather
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, Linyantibest weather
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 Panfine
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 Blockbest weather
Most of the population; Tuli is a quiet dry-season reserve on the Limpopo.
- Kalahari: Kalahari (Ghanzi, Tsabong, CKGR) · Western and central Botswanabest weather
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 Maunbest weather
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 Riverbest weather
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.
- Maun32 °C (90 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 0 rain days
- Francistown28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days
- Gaborone30 °C (86 °F) / 12.3 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 54 °F (12.3 °C), 1 rain days
- Ghanzi30 °C (86 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
- Gweta25 °C (77 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 3 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 3 rain days
- Kanye23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
- Kasane33 °C (91 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 1 rain days
- Mochudi24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 2 rain days
- Nata32 °C (90 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 1 rain days
- Tsabong28 °C (82 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
Festivals and holidays
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.
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 and prices
- Crowds · Botswana
- High
- Prices · Botswana
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Botswana, side by side.
Verdict
Sep: Great
Jun: Great
Crowds
Sep: High
Jun: High
Prices
Sep: High
Jun: High
Festivals listed
Sep: 4
Jun: 2
September: Hot days, top game viewing; flood recedes.
June: Peak flood and mokoro season; cold nights (pack warm layers).
Botswana: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
Where to go in September
Rated best or good this month
Okavango Delta and Moremi
Best weather of the year (Maun, Delta camps, Khwai)
Chobe and Linyanti
Best weather of the year (Kasane, Savuti, Linyanti)
South-east
Best weather of the year (Gaborone, Tuli Block)
Warming; busy.
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: Apr–Sep (dry, mild)
Best months: May–Sep (dry, cool)
Best months: Jun–Oct
Best months: May–Sep (dry season, game concentrates on the river)
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: Jun–Oct
Best months: May–Sep (cooler, dry)