↳ Botswana's seasons · Xudum Channel

WEATHER

Two seasons. Twelve months. Knowing the difference shapes the visit.
Lat / Lng19°16′S · 22°50′E
ClimateSemi‑arid savanna
Elevation945 m
Time zoneSAST · UTC+2
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Xudum Channel · LIVE
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Tomorrow —°
Wind
Humidity
Today
Sunset
↳ Today's sky

Sun and moon
over the channel.

Times calculated for the camp at 19°16′S, 22°50′E. Dawn drives leave at civil twilight. Sundowner walks meet the sun on the way down.

—:—
Sunrise Civil dawn about 25 min earlier.
Solar noon Sun at its highest.
Sunset Civil dusk about 25 min later.
Day length From rise to set.
Moon phase
Next full moon Best for night drives.
Next new moon Best for stargazing.
Golden hour Either end of the day.

Dawn and dusk,on the channel.

The Delta runs to the sun. Walk the bookends of the day.

The year

Twelve months,
two distinct halves.

Maun's climate splits cleanly into a dry winter (April–September) and a wet summer (October–March). The bars below show average daily high temperatures; the cooler blue base tracks monthly rainfall.

Daily high °C Rainfall mm
Two seasons

Dry season, wet season.
Each has its own Delta.

Botswana doesn't have four seasons; it has two. Knowing which one you're walking into shapes the trip, what you pack, what you'll see, and what it costs.

Dry season · Cool · Peak game

The dry winter.

April → September

Cool, sunny days. Sharply cold nights. Water sources shrink, drawing wildlife to the channel and the deeper pans. The flood from Angola arrives in May and stays through August — the Delta is at its fullest. This is when you see the most animals at close quarters, and when the mornings bite enough to need a coat.

Daily high24 – 32°C
Nights2 – 12°C
Rain~1–25 mm
Wet season · Hot · Birding peak

The wet summer.

October → March

Building heat. Afternoon thunderstorms from November. New foliage everywhere, calves and foals on the ground, and migratory birds arriving in waves through the rains. Animals are dispersed because water is everywhere, so game viewing is harder but birding is at its peak. The Delta itself recedes by January, then rises again in May.

Daily high28 – 35°C
Nights17 – 22°C
Rain25 – 100 mm
Month by month

What to expect,
twelve at a time.

A field‑staff field note for each month — when the channel rises, when the elephants come in, when Poachella runs, when to consider a longer stay.

January Green, wet, dramatic Heaviest rains. Storms most afternoons. Calves born across the bush. Birding peak.
February Lush, hot, quiet Fewest visitors. The land at its most photogenic. Excellent rates.
March Tailing off Storms thinning. First cool nights. Migrant birds beginning their northbound route.
April The turn Dry season begins. Mornings cool. Bush starts to thin.
May Flood arrives Annual flood from Angola reaches the southern Delta. Channels widen. Mokoro at its best.
June Cold + clear Coldest mornings of the year. Crisp light. First proper game concentrations.
July Peak game Heavy elephant traffic on the channel. Predators highly active. Book early.
August Warming again Mornings still cool, days warmer. Flood still in. Excellent walking conditions.
September Hot, dry, vivid The land at its driest. Animals tied to the channel. Sundowner colour is best of the year.
October Festival month Poachella weekend (2–4 Oct). Building heat. Last reliable dry days before the rains.
November First storms Afternoon thunderstorms return. The bush greens fast. Migrant birds arrive in numbers.
December Wet again Full wet season. Lush, hot, photogenic. Festive‑week rates apply 21 Dec – 5 Jan.
The kit list

What to bring,
by season.

The summary version. The full kit list is sent on every booking confirmation. If in doubt, lean toward neutral colours, long sleeves for dusk, and one warm layer more than you think you need in winter.

↳ Dry season · Apr–Sep

  • Warm fleece + windproof jacket for mornings
  • Beanie or buff for dawn drives and mokoro
  • Long trousers, long‑sleeved shirts (neutral tones)
  • Closed shoes + one pair of sandals
  • Sunhat, polarised sunglasses
  • SPF 30+ sunscreen, lip balm
  • Binoculars (8×42 ideal)
  • Reusable water bottle

↳ Wet season · Oct–Mar

  • Light long‑sleeved cottons (mosquito coverage)
  • Light rain shell or poncho
  • Quick‑drying trousers + a spare pair
  • Closed shoes that handle wet sand
  • Wide‑brim sunhat
  • SPF 50+ sunscreen
  • Malaria prophylaxis (consult a clinic six weeks ahead)
  • Camera dry bag

↳ Year‑round essentials

  • UK / EU / US plug adaptor (SADC M, 230V)
  • Headtorch + spare batteries
  • Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)
  • Personal medications
  • Soft‑sided luggage (charter flights when used)
  • Passport with 2 blank pages, 6 months validity
  • USD, Pula or card — both accepted on site
  • A notebook. Always a notebook.
Best time for…

Match the month
to the moment.

The Delta is good year‑round. But each pursuit has its peak window.

Big game Jul – Sep Dry months pull animals to the channel.
Mokoro & channel May – Aug Flood at full extent. Pole through papyrus side streams.
Birding Nov – Feb Wet‑season migrants double the species list.
Photography Apr – May, Sep Cleanest light, varied subjects, fewer crowds.
Walking safari May – Sep Cooler mornings, drier underfoot.
Family travel Jun – Aug Low malaria risk window. School‑holiday friendly.
Poachella festival 2 – 4 Oct Edition 02. Tickets via Quicket.
Quietest months Feb & Apr Shoulder pricing. Real solitude.