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Botswana Safari in August

Africa's best tailor-made safaris

Like July, August is such an exciting time to visit Botswana. It’s squarely in the middle of peak safari season and lines up with European summer holidays! While temperatures may be high at midday, the weather tends to feel quite mild, and there’s little to no rain.

By now, rainfall from the Angola highlands has emerged in the Okavango Delta, creating vast floodplains despite the lack of rain. Wildlife congregates around these water sources, and thanks to shorter grass and shrubs, it’s far easier to see animals.

Weather in August

The salt and clay pans will have completely dried out in the arid areas during this period | Photo: Moela Safari Lodge

The salt and clay pans will have completely dried out in the arid areas of the country. Temperatures are low in the morning and evening, so warmer clothes are required.

Average Weather in August

Temperature Celsius FahrenheitRainfall
Min 8℃46℉0 inches
Max 28℃82℉0.11 inches

Destinations to Visit in Botswana During August

August is one of the most popular times of the year for a Kalahari safari | Photo: Zebra Kalahari Lodge

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

August is one of the most popular months to visit the Central Kalahari, meaning higher rates will likely apply. Conditions are dry and temperatures are cool in the middle of the day.

Chobe National Park

Early morning game drives are the perfect time to spot predators like lions and spotted hyenas. Chobe National Park is famous for its large elephant population, so expect to see many herds of these majestic animals. This park is also an excellent destination for birding, particularly for waterbirds.

Moremi Game Reserve

Game life becomes more prominent in Moremi during August. This month is the best for wildlife viewing, so high season rates will apply. August also sees high water levels, which means it’s a good time for mokoro (dugout canoe) trips.

Swimming Pool at Savute Safari Lodge. Photo: Savute Safari Lodge
Swimming Pool at Savute Safari Lodge | Photo: Savute Safari Lodge

Savute

This area is one of the best wildlife hotspots in Botswana, and it’s all the more exciting during the dry season. Well-known for its populations of lions, wild dogs, and hyenas, a Botswana safari here can bring you front-row to see incredible interactions between predators and their prey.

Okavango Delta

With several private reserves available, the Okavango Delta offers an authentic wilderness experience and stunning scenery. Beyond the Big Five, the Delta boasts an impressive range of wildlife, including cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, many bird species, and various antelope species. Since game viewing is at its prime, lodge rates are high.

Linyanti Concession

The reserve houses four of the Big Five, with just rhinos being absent. During August, you will find the best game-viewing, as the dry season has thinned vegetation and reduced watering holes. The dry season also sees large herds of elephants migrating across the region.

Game drive with elephants eating a baobab
The Makgadikgadi Pans offer stark, breathtaking landscapes and unique wildlife experiences | Photo: Jabali Private House

Makgadikgadi Pans

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park sees little to no rain in August. Over the last few months of the dry season, the salt pans have well and truly dried out. While early mornings and evenings are cold, the middle of the day sees temperatures well into the 20 to 30°C/80°F range, making for pleasant excursions across the wilderness

Activities to Do in Botswana During August

  • Mokoro safaris
  • Day and night drives
  • Walking safaris
  • Horseback riding safaris
  • Desert safaris

Botswana Tours

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$15650 USD

per person sharing per tour

'; $2820 USD

$4420 USD

per person sharing per tour

'; $3990 USD

$5320 USD

per person sharing per tour

'; $2980 USD

$4240 USD

per person sharing per tour

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"We really enjoyed our trip from South Africa to Botswana and Zimbabwe! Sometimes a lot of whether a trip is successful comes down to the logistics. In this case, Susan Veldman and the company took care of all details related to our accommodations, transitio..."

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"This was my 6th trip to South Africa and Botswana and, as always, Matthys van Aswegen made it a happy, safe, and exciting experience! My roommate, Glenna, and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to South Africa's Boulders Beach to visit the African Penguin Reserv..."

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"I contacted a few agency, Discover Africa was fast to respond. Every steps of the way in planning to the very end of departure, all things were planned with precise accuracy. Adelle was always in communication and ready to help and answer everything. Fra..."

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"This was a well organized trip that smoothly transitioned us from one adventure to the next. All our transfers from hotels to airport to safari lodges were professional, courteous, and timely. We loved the places that were recommended and felt the pace of o..."

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"Discover Africa- Susan Veldman-was fantastic to work with. She responded promptly to our questions and needs and she put together several itineraries to choose from based on our budget and wish list. We toured Capetown and 10 days on safari spread betwee..."

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"Our trip was absolutely wonderful and exceeded all our expectations. Every lodge we stayed in was amazing—comfortable, charming, and perfectly located. The human service throughout the trip was excellent, and the wildlife experiences were simply indescribab..."

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