There is no doubt about it, hands down, the question that is easily the most asked by anyone planning a trip to Botswana is “when is it REALLY, the best time to visit the Okavango Delta?” And it’s a contentious question as well. There is an assorted plenitude of many different online “expert” opinions as well as an array of very different factors that can add a lot of anxiety around the safari planning process. But it really does not have to be as complicated as everyone makes out.
Not to worry. Brother Rory has it all sorted out for you and he’s going to help break things down to make it simpler for you to decide when would be the best time to suit your, and no one else’s, specific needs and preferences around an ideal Okavango Delta safari.
Flood levels
First off. If you want to plan your safari around flood levels, be wary. All the stats we have are highly unpredictable. Simply put, what happens one year, almost never happens the next. Even if we would be able to predict, with some degree of certainty, the amount of water entering the Okavango panhandle, we never know what it’s going to do when the water hits the Delta. New channels continually open, usually the work of hippos, but sometimes wayward human activity is involved. And when these new channels open, water spreads out across the delta system in completely different ways. This year, you might find that where there was decent flood water a year ago, the area is now dry, despite this year being a better flood year. So, you just never can tell.
However, there are some basic trends. The Cubango river flood hits the pan handle in March, with the second charge coming from the Cuito arriving in April/May. But this is still unpredictable and is very dependent on the rainfall in the catchment of the Angolan water tower.
As such, water levels generally start increasing – particularly in the upper areas of the Okavango Delta – at the end of March. By August, if it’s a good flood year, the flood waters have reached across the Delta. And by September, the water levels start decreasing.
Any measurements (graphs) you see are sketchy depending on where they are taken in the Delta. The best measurements would be those taken at Rundu, a town in Namibia that sits on the banks of the Okavango River before it flows into Botswana and spreads out into the Delta.
The spikes clearly show the faster charge coming from the Cubango River, followed by a second charge from the Cuito.
But this is only a gauge of water entering the system. Again, we have little idea what the water will do once it reaches the Delta, what paths and channels it will take, and how far down it will reach.
You also need to keep in mind that Rundu is approximately 250km (150 miles) from the Okavango Delta, and that it takes the water time to reach there.
The whole issue is further compounded by regional rainfall in Botswana, discussed below. If there is good regional rain, this can provide a significant charge to water levels during periods when flood waters are generally diminished from October to March.
If flood levels are important to you, consider visiting from May to August. Also consider choosing a lodge closer to the main river channels in the north of the Delta, many of which have year-round water. Just keep in mind that we cannot predict flood levels and every year is different.
Rainfall
Some people are put off by the rain, others are attracted by it. In Botswana, we celebrate it. Regional rainfall tends to happen anywhere from November to March in the form of short heavy afternoon thunderstorms. Keep in mind that rainfall – at least when it happens in Botswana – is sporadic and rather than being a wet and cold event, generally results in a welcome break from high temperatures. 15 minutes of rain fall will often drop the temperature by at least 5 degrees centigrade for at least a day or two – and this alone can make visiting during periods of higher rainfall probability more attractive.
The annual rainfall in the Okavango varies, with some years being quite intense, and other drought years having practically nothing.
The average annual rainfall is 450 mm (18 in) (which incidently is approximately one-third that of its Angolan catchment area).
If avoiding rain is important to you, look for the winter season. However, understanding that rains offer a welcome break from the heat, and give the vegetation a compellingly lush look, makes the summer months a great option.
Temperature
During October, when rainfall is unlikely, temperatures can really spike, and this is often considered the hottest time to visit the Okavango. It’s also the windiest, but you can also find really wonderful days in October.
While a number of “experts” advise visiting in our winter owing to lowered temperatures, they tend to leave out the fact that things can, and often do get quite cold in the Okavango in the evening. It shouldn’t be forgotten that the Okavango bleeds slowly smack bang into the center of the Kalahari Desert. And deserts get cold. Especially at night. Especially in winter. And it isn’t uncommon for temperatures to drop to 4 or 5 degrees centigrade (approx. 40 Fahrenheit) at night and the early mornings. The further you venture out from the middle of the delta, the colder it gets with temperatures sometimes dropping to below zero (32 Fahrenheit) around the extremities.
If temperature is important to you, avoid October which can be tricky. High temperatures and hot winds can be uncomfortable. Remember temperatures drop with rainfall November to March. Also keep in mind that it can get quite cold in the evenings in winter months.
Wildlife
More often than not, “experts” advise on visiting the Okavango during the winter months because of wildlife sightings. Their reasoning is that the absence of foliage makes it easier to spot and view wildlife. This is a very tricky assumption to make, especially in the Okavango. During the regional rainfalls, grass can grow quite high, and while this can make it slightly difficult to notice some wildlife, in my experience, you still see them. All of them.
There are a few caveats with regards to specific species such as Zebra that tend to migrate. Remember that calving season is over the December to March period, and there is heightened activity with predators over this period.
In my experience, wildlife is fantastic year-round.
By and large, anytime of the year is going to be good wildlife viewing. Just remember that if you are interested in viewing wildlife, you should choose a camp that is located on a relatively large concession, and one that offers dry activities (game drives and game walks) and not only water-based activities (boating and mekoro).
Cost
The Okavango is a pricey destination. All things told it is the most high-cost area for a safari in Africa. This is based on two important factors. Firstly, the government of Botswana follows a strict low impact policy that only allows for a certain number of bed nights in the region. This is to protect the area and ensure its long-term sustainability and future.
The second reason is that the majority of Okavango camps are very remote and very hard to reach. As such it is very hard to supply, manage, and maintain a functional camp in the region. Goods (food and supplies) often need to be flown in (or driven in on trucks which can take over 18 hours from Maun) and this adds significant costs to maintain a camp. Rubbish also needs to be taken out as it is illegal to bury or burn rubbish in the area. There are no power lines into the camps, which means that they all need significant solar installations to power basic camp operations (fridges and freezers, lighting, charging points etc…).
All of these factors combined make the Okavango Delta a pricey destination. But it is also the most unique and untarnished of all safari destinations, and the minimal number of visitors creates a boutique experience that is unmatched anywhere and often worth every dollar spent.
That all said, prices in the Okavango vary greatly depending on the time of the year. Every camp and operator have slightly different time frames for seasonal pricing, but by and large low-season runs from Dec to March, mid-season runs from April to June (November is also mid-season), and high season runs from July to October.
Rates differ widely between lodges and operators with entry level camps costing $500 USD per person per night in low season and over $1200 USD per person per night during high season. High level camps cost around $1300 USD per person per night during low season and up to over $3000 USD per person per night during high season. I have covered whether the high costs of the upper tier camps are worth it in the past – and yes they certainly are.
Keep in mind that holiday periods over Christmas and New Years, often incur high season rates.
During the low-season expect to pay 40% of high season rates (that’s a 60% discount). Mid-season is around 60-70% on high season rates (around a 30-40% discount off high season).
Combining with what other destinations?
If you are going to be coming all the way over to the Okavango, it makes sense to combine this often-once-in-a-lifetime experience with another destination. As such, another really important point to consider around best time of year to visit the Okavango, is how this could affect any other destinations you wish to visit on the same trip.
The most common destinations to combine a trip with the Okavango are invariably regional destinations like Chobe, the Makgadikgadi Pans, and the Kalahari. Then there is Victoria Falls (often coupled with Chobe). Cape Town in South Africa is also a destination very commonly combined with a trip to the Okavango (especially owing to the daily flights between Cape Town and Maun).
I’m not even going to try and put a graph together for this one. However, here are some short descriptions:
Cape Town – You really want to avoid the winter months from late May to end of August. It’s cold, it rains (a lot), and you really are not going to get much out of the experience. Climbing Table Mountain with zero visibility is a crap experience. Trust me, I’ve done this before a few times. Cape Town is best visited from October through to April.
As such, combining an Okavango trip with Cape Town means you need to aim for the Africa Spring and Summer months, coupled with the factors above, in order to get the best out of both destinations.
Chobe – For wildlife, Chobe is good May to October because animals tend to congregate around the river. If you are into birding – like me – then go for the wet season (Nov to April) as birdlife thrives during this time.
Victoria Falls – Best time for me to visit the Falls is between February and May as this is when the water is really pumping and you are going to get the most out of the drammatic waterfall experience. However, August to November is also good if you want to visit Devil’s Pool and swim at the edge of the falls. Likewise, wildlife viewing is better owing to the drier period with animals tending to congregate around the river.
Makgadikgadi Pans – Aim for the dry (winter) season here (April to September) as temperatures around Summer can be very hot. In fact, many of the lodges actually close over the hottest months. Another important point to consdier is the zebra migration which tends to happen in March/April and is one of the highlights of the area.
Kalahari – You want the sweet spot between intense hot summer months and very cold winter months when temperatures drop below zero at night. March to May, and August to November are the best times to visit.
Other destinations – If you’re thinking of combining with other destinations in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, or South Africa, get in touch and we’ll take you through the best time of year to visit.
So, When REALLY is the best time to visit the Okavango?
As I am sure you can tell by now, there are just so many factors that influence decisions over the best time of year to visit.
It’s easy to see why choosing the best time to visit is complicated….
Ultimately the Okavango can be visited year-round. It’s just a question of making it work for you, and this is why we are here.
The best advice I can give is to think about the dates that best suit you (school holidays, leave from work etc.…) and then get in touch with us. We’ll then be able to advise you around the best camps to visit at that time of year given your own priorities and how to maximize the full potential of an Okavango Delta safari.
