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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

GreatVoykit month rating for Botswana

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.

  • 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 days
  • Francistown28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days
  • Gaborone30 °C (86 °F) / 12.3 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days
  • Ghanzi30 °C (86 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days
  • Gweta25 °C (77 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 3 rain days
  • Kanye23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days
  • Kasane33 °C (91 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 1 rain days
  • Mochudi24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days
  • Nata32 °C (90 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 1 rain days
  • Tsabong28 °C (82 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 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

Build the full packing list for your trip →

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)

  • Maun

    Warming; busy.

  • Francistown

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Gaborone

    Best months: Apr–Sep (dry, mild)

  • Ghanzi

    Best months: May–Sep (dry, cool)

  • Gweta

    Best months: Jun–Oct

  • Kasane

    Best months: May–Sep (dry season, game concentrates on the river)

  • Mochudi

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Nata

    Best months: Jun–Oct

  • Tsabong

    Best months: May–Sep (cooler, dry)