Botswana Green Season Safaris

Secret green season no longer a secret! Best safari value in Botswana.

As experts we are often asked when is the best time to visit Botswana. Botswana has become a year round destination, it all depends on what you want to see and how you cope with heat!

The Government run their tourism industry as ‘low impact high cost’ which means they allow less people into its wilderness areas and charge a higher cost than, for example Kruger National Park. The beauty is that you see less people and more wildlife. We call it a truly immersive safari holiday.

In ‘green season’ you see even less people because it’s considered the ‘off peak’ season largely due to the heat just before rainy season kicks in. Having said that, the rainy season is far from wet all day and every day! It is more like summer storms rolling in across the plains, dumping rain and moving on and out.

So if you travel in the green season you can benefit from outstanding reduced rates and phenomenal wilderness that greens with the rain and explodes with new life as most species give birth to their young. Also expect some predator action.

Whilst you may not love birds and actively seek them out, Botswana green season is known for its birding, their breeding plumage and migratory species.

With receding water levels in the Delta it is possible to explore the islands on foot with an experienced guide of course! The mornings are clear and the perfect temperature for early morning game drives. The afternoon brings along great thunderstorms which create a picture perfect photo with grey skies against the lush green trees and grass and temperatures cool down from here. And nothing beats the smell of rain in the Botswana bush!

Water camps that have access to permanent water still continue to offer the quintessential water experience such as mokoros, boating and catch and release fishing.

The Central Kalahari comes to life changing from a desert to green fields of wild flowers and grass which attracts the huge migration of zebras, springboks and oryx closely followed by the predators, the black mane lions. The Kalahari has some of the best cheetah sightings too! The Kalahari also allows you a glimpse of some rare species such as the honey badger, reclusive brown hyena, porcupine and bat eared and Cape fox.

So why wouldn’t you visit Botswana during the green season? Stunning landscapes, game viewing in abundance, less people – it will feel like you have the place to yourself and you will get the best bang for your buck!