Botswana Safari in September

Botswana Safari in September

Copy Link Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook Share on X

Copied to clipboard!

Lodges and camps are full around this time of year, as September is a popular month for wildlife viewing. The weather remains excellent; however, the green landscapes die out in dryer conditions, and most parks become dusty. These dry conditions don’t make it an ideal time for photography.

September is a great time to visit parks and reserves like the Mashatu Game Reserve, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and the Selinda Game Reserve. In the Mashatu Game Reserve, you’ll find animals like lions, spotted hyenas, and cheetahs, while the other parks have some of the Big Five, with the rhino rarely spotted.

Weather in September

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 often sweltering.

Pros

• Warm weather – temperatures rise, with hot game drives and safari experiences in some areas
• Rich wildlife – warmer weather means wildlife is visible all around

Con

• Parks get dusty – parks can get dusty at times which can impact photography

National Parks to Visit in Botswana and Why

Mashatu Game Reserve

If elephants, lions, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and cheetahs are on your list for your safari trip, the 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, mountain biking, and walking safaris.

What to do:

• Horse riding
• Mountain biking
• Walking safaris

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi has the best weather from May to September, as it’s less hot during the day. September is also a good month for wildlife viewing.

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.

What to do:

• Photographic safari
• Game drives
• Birding

Selinda Game Reserve

September coincides with the high season and the best wildlife viewing. Although higher rates apply during this month, the reserve rarely gets busy. That means you get quality wildlife sightings without the addition of a crowded park.

What to do:

• Game drives
• Boat trips
• Walking safaris