Botswana Safari in January

Botswana, home to the highest concentration of elephants in Africa, offers a unique safari experience – even in the low season. The country’s low season for safaris spans January to March, bringing with it a very different southern African experience.

Wildlife is still around, but lush greenery and abundant water make them difficult to spot and quite spread out. This makes January an ideal time for birdwatching and observing smaller game. However, while the north of the country experiences its low season, the Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan fill with water, attracting huge numbers of animals.

Weather in January

Elephant in front of Zarafa Camp — Expect lsh green landscapes during this period | Photo: Zarafa Camp

Expect lush, green landscapes as well as occasional thundershowers. Although it’s considered a wet month, the temperatures are often hot, with the rains allowing a cooling period. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, the conditions offer stunning photographic opportunities. You won’t need to layer clothes for your safari experience – lightweight clothing (including a rainjacket) will usually suffice.

Average Weather in January

Temperature	Celsius	Fahrenheit	Rainfall
Min	19℃	66℉	2.8 inches
Max	32℃	90℉	7.7 inches

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Destinations to Visit in Botswana During January

Kalahari Desert in Botswana — The Kalahari Desert is still stunning during January | Photo: CapturedOnce via Getty

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

While January isn’t the best time to spot wildlife, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve can still be stunning. It’s a secluded destination that offers the opportunity to see black-maned lions. The Kalahari Desert as a whole can get incredibly hot in summer, but rain brings the landscape’s vegetation to life.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

The summer rains bring a thin layer of water to the Makgadikgadi Pans, attracting huge numbers of migratory waterbirds like flamingos and pelicans. In contrast to less arid parts of Botswana, summer is an exciting time to visit this region, especially to witness the epic zebra migration.

Nxai Pan National Park

In January, Nxai Pan National Park is typically as wet as it ever gets. The abundance of grass attracts herbivores like zebra, wildebeest, and other antelope in their thousands, alongside migratory birds. Peak season here spans December to March, so higher rates will apply. However, the park seldom gets busy, so you won’t have to experience large crowds.

Activities to Do in Botswana During January

Birdwatching safaris
Game drives
Photographic safaris
See the zebra migration

"An outstanding safari through Discover Africa- from the organisation and attentiveness, Thanks Vihann, to the sublime wildlife viewing and stunning sunsets this was Africa as you imagine it. Okavango is stunning and pristine form the air and the camps fabul..."

Paul, United Kingdom•22 Jul 2026•

"My wife and I and two of our friends took this trip, which covered South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The trip was customized based on our needs and our Tour Manager/ Coordinator, Vihann, planned and executed with such ease and precision, I cannot think o..."

Ashesh, United States•08 Jul 2026•

"All advising given by Discover Africa (in our case, by Justin Van Wyk) was really helpful and the programe they have outlined was great. Everything went really smooth and professional."

Luis Cortez, Portugal•15 Apr 2026•

"I used Discover Africa services for organizing our South African safari. Justin was our organizer, he did an excellent job. He was very communicative, responsive and very helpful. He helped us all the way and kept in contact also during the Safari. I will d..."

Shahin Shahkarami, South Africa•14 Feb 2026•

"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..."

Jeanne Bryan, United States•22 Nov 2025•

"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..."

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