5 Reasons To Visit Botswana During The Green Season

5 min

Creator: Jemima Forbes

With a prosperity of nationwide parks – from the lush Okavango Delta to the arid lowlands of the Central Kalahari – it is no shock that Botswana is 1 of Africa’s most common safari destinations.

June to September is customarily thought of the ideal time to pay a visit to Botswana: the weather is drier, temperatures cooler and animals are ordinarily less difficult to spot in the sparse undergrowth. But if you want to encounter this wonderful nation in an totally different light-weight, think about heading in the green year (or moist season) between Oct and March instead.
We sat down with our Southern Africa professional, Anja Füssel, who traveled there just lately, to learn why this period is a single of Botswana’s best-retained vacation techniques.

1Get pleasure from fantastic wildlife sightings

All through Botswana’s dry time, animals trek for miles to obtain watering holes, but the green season is appreciably far more abundant. Major rains and dramatic storms infuse everyday living into the landscape, notably in arid destinations like the Kalahari Salt Pans. With extra greenery and drinking water to go close to, animals roam all-around the wilderness in herds. You may well witness the good migration of zebras, as substantial herds of these majestic creatures journey from north to south to graze on new floor. 

Many animals delivery their younger all through the eco-friendly season far too. You can anticipate to see several toddler animals in Botswana’s recreation reserves, from playful zebras to adorable adolescent antelopes. On Anja’s most new journey, she even received to see teenage lion clubs! New life also indicators a host of new predators. As is the ‘circle of life’, it is not uncommon to witness lions, cheetahs and wild canine circling the susceptible young in the hopes of securing their future meal. 

2Birders will have a great deal to glance ahead to

Botswana is properly-identified for its impressive birdlife with around 400 chook species soaring across its skies during this season. Between Oct and March, quite a few birds migrate from Asia, Europe and other places of Africa to Botswana’s lush grasslands to nest and breed. Vibrant kingfishers, swooping kites and noisy cuckoos can be glimpsed all along the meandering Chobe River. Other areas where by you can anticipate a bounty of birdlife contain the immense plains of the Okavango Delta and the wild wetlands of Savuti and Linyanti.

3The landscapes is vibrant and eco-friendly

Following a extended dry spell, the lifestyle-supplying rains in the course of the environmentally friendly season open up the cracked earth.  Abruptly, the landscape transforms into a lush paradise of various shades of green, with the occasional rainbow streaking across the obvious blue African sky. As nicely as staying a address for the eyes and your digicam lens, it’s good news for Botswana’s wildlife. 

Despite the fact that the rain can be heavy at times, it is commonly brief-lived. The sky clears up soon sufficient and the magical mild amplifies the practical experience further more. As Anja describes: “It only rained 2 times: once at evening and the other time we were being in a mokoro. We noticed the clouds glide more than the delta and it was the most remarkable sight.”

Our specialists will constantly make sure you are harmless throughout your trip, no matter of the weather conditions. Established off on video game drives in shut-top vehicles with lots of home windows for viewing. On the odd occasion you get caught in the mud, guides are well-geared up to pull vehicles out – an working experience Anja claims is not as distressing as it appears. 

From intense lions to majestic elephants, in this article are some images that Anja captured during her journey to Botswana.

4You are going to locate fewer crowds to contend with

While the peak time for Botswana safaris may well be dry and significantly less humid, it’s also generally significantly far more crowded and costly. This can make it trickier to obtain a guide, and you will probable discover your self jostling for a fantastic check out of the motion at the country’s extra well known match reserves. 

By contrast, reserving through the environmentally friendly period permits for a a lot much more exclusive safari trip. Quieter parks, superb wildlife sightings and improved availability of seasoned safari guides are just the starting. Our specialists can also help you prepare a getaway in the course of the eco-friendly season that’s personalised to your requirements. 

“All the guides are super proficient and motivated,” Anja suggests. “They normally make guaranteed you see what you are interested in and that you are risk-free and comfortable. Your guideline will make sure you have blankets and raincoats on the car or truck, your favored consume in the coolbox and the very best gentle for your images.”

5You will appreciate terrific benefit for revenue at camps and lodges

Heading on safari and remaining amid the surreal wilderness has to be a person of the very best points to do in Botswana. Some of the country’s lodges offer you excellent off-time costs, making it possible for you to elevate your safari experience, though furnishing good benefit.

Keep in a person of Botswana’s best luxurious safari camps for significantly less by visiting throughout the inexperienced time.  You can rest in lavish tents in the Moremi Recreation Reserve at Chief’s Camp or enterprise to Shinde Camp in the pristine Okavango Delta – one of Africa’s top safari destinations. Shinde Camp was a person of a handful of lodges Anja stayed in on her the latest trip and she specifically loved the panoramic sights from its private verandahs. She adds that most of the camps have been refurbished in the very last two several years, and visitors can find some new kinds these kinds of as Kiri Camp and Kala Camp.

Like a extra personal knowledge? You won’t be disappointed. “All the camps have a restricted amount of tents,” Anja tells us. “This can make the total knowledge really private and exceptional.”

Why restrict your safari experience to the dry winter months? Superb landscapes, new child wildlife, cost-effective lodging and much less crowds all make the green season a perfect time to guide a Botswana holiday. Chat with us right now about planning your aspiration safari vacation in this truly enchanting corner of Southern Africa.

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