Botswana Safari in September

Lodges and camps are full around this time of year, as September is one of the most popular months for wildlife viewing. The weather remains excellent, and as the green landscapes die out in drier conditions, it becomes easier to spot game.

September is a great time to visit parks and reserves like Mashatu Game Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and Selinda Game Reserve. In Mashatu, you’ll find animals like lions, spotted hyenas, and cheetahs, while the other parks have some members of the Big Five (rhinos are challenging to spot in Botswana).

Weather in September

Kuzuma Sunset views | Photo credit: Hideaways Camp Kuzuma — Lodges and camps are full around this time of year, as September is one of the most popular months for wildlife viewing | Photo credit: Hideaways Camp Kuzuma

Temperatures increase from August onwards, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the weather is unpleasant. While daytime temperatures can be comfortable, some areas, like the Kalahari, are hotter during the day and colder at night.

Average Weather in September

Temperature	Celsius	Fahrenheit	Rainfall
Min	13℃	55℉	0.09 inches
Max	33℃	91℉	0.4 inches

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Destinations to Visit in Botswana During September

Game drive spotting a leopard in the wild — Mashatu is a top destination for a variety of wildlife | Photo: Mashatu Game Reserve

Mashatu Game Reserve

If elephants, lions, wild dogs, and leopards are on your list for your safari trip, Mashatu Game Reserve would be a top destination for you. Although the game reserve isn’t a Big Five destination, it has a variety of activities to partake in, such as horseback riding and walking safaris.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

September is a good month for wildlife viewing at Kgalagadi. One of the best parts about the park is that it doesn’t have a high season, which means it never gets crowded and the rates rarely fluctuate. This is where you can see black-maned Kalahari lions as well as the rare pangolin.

Selinda Game Reserve

September coincides with the high season and the best wildlife viewing opportunities. Although higher rates apply during this month, Selinda rarely gets busy. That means you get quality wildlife sightings without the addition of a crowded park. All three big cat species can be spotted here, as well as wild dogs and hyenas.

Activities to Do in Botswana During September

Game drives
Mokoro safaris
Walking safaris
Horseback riding safaris
Desert safaris

"What we appreciated was the effort in doing all the best to satisfy our requests! So everything was as expected.. the tented camp (everything was like at home),the game drive( we asked a private tour), the position of the camp ( very important for us, we sa..."

Silvia Del Giovane, Italy•12 Nov 2026•

"Justin helped us with the safari and Victoria Falls portion of our trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The lodges were fantastic and ground transfers perfectly executed. We had an amazing time!"

Kelly Headrick, United States•02 Jun 2026•

"We have just returned from a trip to 3 different safari camps in Botswana, a short trip to Victoria Falls and a gorilla trek in Rwanda that was booked with Susan from Discover Africa. We couldn't be happier with the direction and support she gave us to trul..."

Robyn Dell, Canada•02 Oct 2025•

"Justin helped me book my camp experience with short notice, he made the whole process very easy, took care of everything, was easy to contact and my trip was perfect."

Jen Flack, Australia•09 Sep 2025•

"Was the Safari of lifetime. We spent one week between Zimbabwe for the Victoria Falls and Botswana. Amazing. The river cruse in the Zambezi river is a dream. We saw also Chobe national park and the Delta of Okavango: a dream. Everything was well orga..."

Gaia, Italy•20 Aug 2025•