Most normal people try to avoid going on holiday when it’s raining.
We want clear, blue skies, warm sunshine, and mild temperatures. We don’t want heavy clouds and dull light, and we definitely don’t like getting rained on.
Even more so on safari, which is very much an outdoors holiday, where you spend a lot of your day driving around in an open sided car.
So you’d be forgiven for assuming that the Botswana rainy season is the worst time to visit – after all, who wants to be drenched on holiday?
But here’s the surprising secret: many seasoned travellers, especially photographers like me, believe rainy season might actually be the best time to visit Botswana.
Read on to find out why you might want to literally save for a rainy day.
About my visit to Botswana in rainy season
I’ve been to Botswana twice during rainy season.
The first time was in early December, just as the rains were starting, when it was very hot and overcast and we had a few wet days, but the ground was still dry.
More recently I visited in January, during a particularly wet week, when it rained almost every day and we sometimes got completely soaked on our game drives.
All our drivers and guides commented on how unusually wet it was – but I still had a great time and took some of my best ever wildlife photos, as you’ll see throughout this post.
Every image was shot by me during Botswana rainy season.
When is the Botswana rainy season?
Unlike in Europe and North America, where we have four seasons – spring, summer, autumn (or fall, as my Americans readers would say), and winter, Botswana has two main seasons: wet and dry.
The dry season, which runs from May to November, enjoys cool mornings, hot afternoons, and barely a drop of rain, while the wet season from December to April brings downpours, dramatic thunderstorms, and warm, humid days.
Need help booking your dream safari?
If you’re ready to plan your dream African adventure but don’t know where to start, I can help.
I’ve travelled extensively throughout Africa and have a great network of personally-vetted and trusted safari operators.
Now I use those connections to help you plan your perfect trip.
Fill in my safari enquiry form and I’ll:
- Answer your questions personally
- Help you decide which options are right for you
- Match you with up to three trusted partners with decades of experience
- They will provide you with expert advice and FREE personalised, no-obligation quotes.
Simply fill out my safari enquiry form here to get the ball rolling.
Save time, avoid stress AND get a great deal by having an expert do the work for you!
How much does it rain during wet season in Botswana?
Not as much as you might fear.
Under normal circumstances, Botswana rainy season usually brings short, heavy showers, often in the late afternoon, that give way to gorgeous post-rain light and magnificent sunsets.
Or you may get storms during the night, when you can lie cosy in your safari tent listening to the drumming on the roof.
Rainfall varies across the country, with the north (including the Okavango Delta and Chobe) seeing more rain than the drier Kalahari.
But it rarely rains all day, and there are plenty of dry spells for game drives and exploring.
However, with climate change, things have become more unpredictable. During my last visit we did have some very wet days, and a few weeks later there was severe flooding in the capital, Gaborone.
Why many people prefer the Botswana dry season
The dry season is often considered the best time to visit Botswana.
As the water dries up, animals are forced to drink at waterholes, making it easy to spot wildlife. You simply drive to the nearest water source and wait.
Many lodges even create waterholes on the property, meaning the animals come to you!
In dry season you’ll also enjoy warm sunshine and cloudless skies – and everyone wants to get a little tanned on holiday, right?
But as a result (and because it also coincides with school summer holidays) dry season is also peak season. Prices soar, accommodation books up fast, and national parks can be more crowded.
So here’s why you should consider visiting Botswana in rainy season instead.
Read more: First Time Safari Facts: 18 Surprise Things To Know Before You Go
14 reasons why rainy season might be the best time to visit Botswana
1/ Everything is green
There’s a reason why they also call Botswana rainy season ‘the Green Season’.
Forget the dusty, bone-dry orange landscapes you’ve seen in other safari photos. During the rainy season, Botswana is transformed.
The parched earth softens, trees explode with new leaves and the land become a sea of vivid green.
It’s not just easier on the eyes – it’s also a welcome relief for the animals, who suddenly have an all-you-can-eat buffet of fresh grazing.
2/ There are flowers everywhere
Amidst all the green, the rainy season in Botswana also brings a riot of wildflowers, bringing the landscape to life.
In some areas like Chobe National Park, bright yellow devil’s thorn flowers bloom in every direction.
You’ll also see large pink devil’s thorn, delicate trumpet flowers and red fireball lilies, adding extra pops of colour.
Even the dry and dusty Kalahari gets in on the action, with its normally sandy scrubland sprouting blooms that attract butterflies, insects, and birds.
Nature really puts on a show in rainy season in Botswana.
3/ Baby animals
It’s no coincidence that Botswana’s rainy season is also baby season.
With food and water in abundance, this is the time when many animals give birth, filling the landscape with cute wobbly-legged wildebeest, comical warthog piglets, and doe-eyed baby impalas by the truckload.
And where there are babies, there will also be predators hoping to take advantage of the easy pickings, so you might see drama as lions, leopards, and wild dogs take advantage of the buffet of young, inexperienced prey.
Read more: 46 Amazing African Safari Animals – A Photo Guide
4/ Amazing bird life
Rainy season in Botswana is a paradise for birdwatchers.
As the rains transform the landscape, seasonal pans and floodplains fill with water, attracting thousands of migratory birds in their dazzling breeding plumage.
In the Okavango Delta and Chobe River, you’ll spot African skimmers slicing through the water, dazzling malachite and pied kingfishers perched on reeds, and colonies of carmine bee-eaters flashing crimson against the greenery.
The Makgadikgadi Pans become a spectacle of pink as thousands of greater and lesser flamingos arrive to breed.
Raptors thrive too – look out for bateleurs, African fish eagles, and the striking pale-chanting goshawk soaring over the grasslands.
Read more: Top 50 African Birds: A Safari Photo Guide
5/ Sandy-coloured predators stand out
Here’s an unexpected advantage of the rainy season in Botswana that hadn’t occurred to me.
Lions, cheetahs, and leopards, usually masters of camouflage in the dry, golden grass, suddenly become much easier to spot against the newly-minted green backdrop.
Their tawny coats, which blend so well into dusty landscapes, stand out vividly against the fresh greenery, making it that little bit easier to get those prized predator sightings.
This is a dream for photography, allowing you to capture vivid images of leopards resting amongst lush green leaves, or lions sitting against a backdrop of emerald grasses. Even the little brown impalas look gorgeous amongst all that foliage.
Read more: The Big Five Animals: My Photo Guide And Favourite Facts
6/ No dust
Anyone who’s been on safari in the dry season will know the drill: open vehicle, bumpy roads, and fine red dust coating everything, including you and your camera.
By the end of the day, you’re brushing it out of your hair, coughing up a lung, and you have that attractive dirty line where your filthy ankles meet the tops of your socks.
But in green season Botswana, the rain washes down the dust, leaving the air fresher, visibility clearer, and your lungs, clothes, and cameras much cleaner.
While clouds of orange dust can make for atmospheric photos, getting dust in your lenses or on your sensor is less pretty.
And game drives are much more pleasant – no more dust storms blasting through the open sides of the safari truck, leaving you looking like you’ve just emerged from an archaeological dig.
Read more: Using The Canon R5 For Wildlife Photography: A Full Review
7/ Comfortable temperatures and no sunburn
While the dry season in Botswana typically brings cooler temperatures, the midday sun can be relentless.
Yes, it can be hot and humid during rainy season, but the frequent cloud cover and cooling showers provide natural air conditioning.
Game drives tend to be more comfortable, and you won’t find yourself wilting under the blazing sun or getting one sunburnt arm as you lean on the side of the vehicle.
If you’re pale like me, this means you won’t need to be frantically reapplying SPF 50 every hour.
Though be warned, those clouds can lull you into a false sense of security – even when it’s overcast the sun can still be strong and yes, I still managed to get sunburned in Botswana in rainy season!
8/ Dramatic skies and thunderstorms
“I bless the rains down in Africa,” sang Toto – and frankly, if you haven’t experienced the drama of an African thunderstorm, you’re missing one of nature’s most incredible experiences.
There’s nothing quite like a Botswana thunderstorm. The day starts bright, a few clouds and humid air giving a clue to what’s to come.
By afternoon, towering clouds begin to build on the horizon, turning from fluffy white to ominous grey. The first gusts of wind rustle through the trees, then – boom! – the heavens open.
Rain hammers down in great silver sheets, lightning cracks across the sky, and thunder rolls like deafening drumbeats.
While I can confirm it’s not all that much fun being out in it in an open-sided safari car, if you’re listening to it from the comfort of your tent, or watching the show from your veranda, it’s a soul-stirring experience.
And then, within no more than an hour, it’s all over. The clouds break apart, letting the sunshine through, which lights up the landscape and the puddles in colours so vivid they look photoshopped.
I actually had to dial down the greens in some of these images because they looked fake!
Read more: Travel Photography On The Road – My Photo Editing Workflow Tips
9/ Epic sunsets
With dramatic, cloud-filled skies you sometimes get showstopping sunsets, and Botswana wet season really delivers.
As the day draws to an end, the sun peeps out behind the clouds and ignites the sky with deep oranges and fiery reds.
There were several days on my last trip where it was so cloudy we were convinced there’d be no sunset, and then at the last moment the sky suddenly exploded into colour that went on and on, getting richer and better with every minute that passed.
And let’s be honest, there are few better ways to end the day than on safari in Botswana with your drink of choice in hand, watching nature paint this glorious masterpiece.
10/ Puddles to splash in
Even if you’re not much of a child at heart, there’s a certain joy in splashing through a good puddle.
The rains leave behind pools of water everywhere, turning roads into rivers and creating impromptu splash zones for safari vehicles.
This gives your guides the opportunity to show off their expert off-road driving skills, and you the novel experience of riding a car through water a foot or more deep.
On one morning in Deception Valley when the wildlife was scarce, we spent an awesome hour bombing through the puddles and taking cool slow-motion videos, and it was the best fun our guide Knowledge had had in a while.
Puddles may also attract waterbirds and waders, as well as warthogs and elephants who enjoy a good mud bath.
11/ Beautiful reflections
Another great thing about the puddles is that they create gorgeous reflections of wildlife, trees and sky, adding a different dimension to your Botswana images.
Even if you’re not a photographer, reflections make everything look just a little more beautiful than usual. That sheer visual splendour is something you won’t get to enjoy in the dry season.
12/ Soft light, clear air and vivid colours
The green season in Botswana is the ultimate gift to photographers. The air, washed clean by the rain, is crystal clear and dust-free.
When the sun comes out after a shower, everything sparkles, and colours pop with an intensity I’d rarely seen before – emerald green grass, cobalt skies, butter-yellow flowers. If you’re lucky you might even get a rainbow.
Overcast days are wonderful too, with gentle, diffuse light and no harsh shadows. This is the perfect time to take high-key images of birds and animals against a flat white sky.
Compare that with the burnt-out brights and deep black shadows you get on sunny days, and you’ll understand why Botswana rainy season is so popular with photographers.
Read more: 41 Safari Photography Tips For Stunning Wildlife Photos
13/ Cheaper prices
Ok enough gushing about the light – here’s a very practical reason why rainy season is possibly the best time to visit Botswana – it’s much cheaper!
The dry season (May to November) is prime safari time, which means higher demand and sky-high rates.
But in the rainy season, prices can drop by as much as 50% in some places. Many lodges offer discounts, and some even throw in perks like free nights or extra excursions.
That means you can enjoy high-end accommodation, expert guiding, and incredible wildlife encounters for a fraction of the price.
If you’re looking for a luxury experience on a reasonable budget, green season is the time to go.
Read more: 9 Tips For A Botswana Budget Safari Without Luxury Prices
14/ Fewer crowds and wildlife to yourself
Despite all the reasons I’ve listed above, rainy season is still the least popular time to visit Botswana. And that means no crowds.
In peak season, popular reserves like Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve can feel a bit like a wildlife traffic jam, with multiple vehicles jostling for the best view of a lion.
But during the green season, visitor numbers are down, and you’ll often have sightings all to yourself.
On one occasion I got to watch this gorgeous male lion for about half an hour, just me and my guide.
Being alone with a leopard or sitting quietly with a herd of elephants without five other cars revving their engines is an incredible experience – quiet, personal, and truly exclusive.
Read more: Which Is The Best Botswana Safari Lodge? My Favourites With Photos
Want to see more of my photography or travel writing? Have comments or questions? Come follow me on Instagram, Threads or Bluesky and share your thoughts!
5 things to be aware of in rainy season Botswana
Ok, I know I’ve sung the praises of visiting Botswana in rainy season, but there are, of course some downsides.
And I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t make you aware of them.
So here are 5 reasons you might NOT want to visit Botswana in rainy season.
1/ You will probably get wet
Let’s face it, if you’re visiting in the rainy season, you’re going to get a bit wet.
Downpours can come on quickly when you’re out on a game drive, and the open-sided vehicles provide very little protection from sideways rain.
Spinning through muddy puddles may also see you getting splashed with mud.
But don’t panic – safari operators have you covered, literally. Most lodges and tour companies provide ponchos, and vehicles are roofed to keep the worst of the downpour off.
Even so, it’s a good idea to bring your own waterproof jacket, a rain cover for your camera, and enough dry socks!
There were times when all I could do was cover my camera, hunker down, and wait for the storm to pass – which it always did, fairly quickly.
Besides, isn’t getting a little wet all part of the adventure?
2/ Roads are very muddy and slippery
When you combine heavy rain with dirt roads, things get messy. Tracks turn into muddy rivers, and even the sturdiest 4x4s can struggle for grip.
Your guide will likely need to do some fairly aggressive off-road driving at times, sliding through thick mud, splashing through puddles or hitting the odd unseen bump.
You’ll need to be prepared for an adventure, with sudden dips, unexpected splashes, and the occasional need to grip your seat a little tighter.
3/ You will probably get stuck
With the muddy roads comes another problem – getting stuck. Even the best drivers in the best 4×4 safari vehicles will get bogged in the mud at some point. Getting stuck is pretty much guaranteed on a rainy season safari.
But fear not – this is all part of the adventure. All the drivers have radios to call for help, and another vehicle will come to the rescue in no time.
Guides are well-trained for these situations, and they always seem to find a way out, whether it’s using tow ropes, careful repositioning, or some good old-fashioned teamwork.
4/ It is harder to see animals
As you now know, during the dry season, animals gather predictably around shrinking waterholes, making them easy to find.
In the rainy season, however, water is everywhere, meaning wildlife can go wherever it wants.
Added to this, the thick, fresh vegetation makes it easier for them to disappear – with leaves on all the bushes, an elephant could be standing just a few metres away and you wouldn’t see it.
5/ It can be harder to follow animals off road
Another thing that makes it more difficult to see animals during wet season in Botswana is that it’s harder to go off-road.
Depending on whether you’re in a national park or a private reserve, if an animal crosses your path, you may be permitted to follow it. In the dry season that means you could be tracking a leopard or a pride of lions on the hunt, wherever they may go.
But in the rainy season, when the ground turns into a swamp, things get tricky. Vehicles now face a challenge, and guides must carefully judge whether they can follow those lions or if they’ll end up sinking into a waterlogged mess.
Several times during my visit, we had to let the animal go as it was simply too boggy to follow.
So yes, you will probably see less wildlife in the rainy season in Botswana – but as you can see from these photos, I still saw loads of animals, and when we did see them they were against a gorgeous backdrop of green and flowers instead of a dry, dusty plain.
When is the best time to visit Botswana?
By now you’ll know there isn’t a simple answer to this question!
The best time to visit Botswana depends on what you want from your safari.
If you’re after peak wildlife sightings and budget isn’t so much of an issue, then the dry season from May to November is still your best bet.
But for a more affordable, quieter, and prettier experience, the rainy season from December to April is a truly magical time to visit.
Yes, you’ll get wet, and yes, the roads can be a challenge, but the trade-offs – fewer crowds, lower prices, and a unique safari experience – make it all worthwhile.
And as you can see, if you’re a photographer like me, Botswana green season is a wildlife photography dream!
Read more: 41 Safari Photography Tips For Stunning Wildlife Photos
Need help booking your dream Botswana safari?
Parks, lodges, prices, operators… it’s easy to get overwhelmed before you’ve even started.
That’s where I come in.
Using my first-hand experience and trusted contacts in Botswana and beyond, I’ll help you cut through the confusion and find the right trip for you – at no cost.
Here’s how it works:
- You fill in my safari enquiry form.
- I review your plans and answer your questions.
- Then I pass your enquiry to up to three of my trusted, handpicked safari partners.
- They contact you directly to provide a free, no-obligation quote.
Get the ball rolling on your dream safari here!
Save time, avoid stress and confusion AND get a great deal by having an expert do the work for you!
Where to stay during your visit to Botswana in Green Season
Pangolin Chobe Hotel
A paradise for photographers, this boutique hotel overlooks Chobe National Park and offers specialised photo safaris with expert guides, fully equipped camera gear, and custom-built boats designed for capturing Botswana’s incredible wildlife up close.
Read more: What Happens On An African Photo Safari: Are They Any Good?
Bush Ways Lodges
Offering intimate and affordable safari experiences, Bush Ways Lodges are typically set in slightly more off-the-beaten track locations, making them more affordable without sacrificing viewings.
With a focus on immersive experiences and eco-friendly practices, they provide an excellent base for exploring Botswana’s landscapes without breaking the bank.
Read more: Affordable Botswana Safaris: My Bargain Wildlife Trip Review
Desert & Delta Safaris
Known for their stunning lodge locations across Botswana, Desert & Delta Safaris offer a mix of luxury and authenticity, with expert guides, excellent game viewing, and a strong commitment to conservation and community empowerment.
Read more: Leroo La Tau In Botswana: See The Incredible Zebra Migration
Wilderness
One of Africa’s most prestigious safari operators, Wilderness runs ultra-luxurious camps in prime wilderness areas, offering unparalleled wildlife encounters, top-tier hospitality, and exclusive access to Botswana’s most remote and pristine ecosystems.
Read more: Which Is The Best Botswana Safari Lodge? My Favourites With Photos
Buy me a coffee
Did you enjoy this website or find it useful? If you did and fancy showing your appreciation, that would be amazing!
A small token of support helps keep Passport & Pixels going, so I can carry on creating free content for travellers like you. Also, it makes my day! Thank you!
My favourite travel tools and brands
To help you organise your trip, here’s a short list of some of the brands and tools I use over and over again when I’m planning my travels. You can see more on my Travel Resources page.
- Booking.com: A huge range of hotels to choose from, often with free cancellation. If you book hotels regularly you can earn discounts. I’m on Genius Level 3 which gets me 20% off!
- Expedia: Another great place to find hotels and Expedia also sell flights, car hire, and loads more all in one place.
- Skyscanner: The only place I ever go to search for flights and compare prices.
- Flight Centre: Booking a more complicated route? Let Flight Centre organise it for you (and deal with the drama when something goes wrong).
- Priority Pass: I love having access to 1600+ airport lounges when I fly, allowing me to enjoy my time at the airport. Buy through my link and you get up to 20% off!
- Airalo: Say goodbye to ridiculous mobile roaming charges. Did you know you can now buy ane-SIM, install it in your phone before you leave home, and then use data abroad at local prices? Game changer. Get US$3 credit with code BELLA5735.
- TourRadar: If you prefer group travel and organised tours, TourRadar has a huge range of fantastic tours from respected operators. They’re very helpful and have 4.5 stars on TrustPilot.
- Viator: Part of the TripAdvisor brand, Viator is another great place to search for group adventures and day trips.
- GetYourGuide: A great place to find local tours and day trips in your destination.
- Wex Photo Video: The UK’s best camera gear store.
- Ellis Brigham: Looking for good quality backpacks, travel clothes and other gear? Ellis Brigham is where I buy almost all of mine.
- Rentalcars.com: Part of the Booking.com family and the world’s largest online car rental service, with 24/7 customer service.
- World Nomads Travel Insurance: I never ever travel without travel insurance and nor should you!
Where to next?
If you enjoyed this post, why not try some of my other Africa and safari posts? Here’s a small selection or there are more in the Places tab at the top of the page.
- Uganda Animals: The Amazing Wildlife of Uganda
- Kenya Vs Tanzania: Travel Experts Decide
- Shompole Wilderness Lodge In Kenya: My Complete Review
- Hiking Kenya’s Beautiful Loita Hills On A Walking Safari
- 28 Brilliant Things To Do In Uganda
- A Visit to Kibale National Park, Uganda
Liked this post?
Social shares help support my hard work! You can share via the buttons at the bottom, or pin this handy Pinterest Pin. Thank you!
