Best Time to Visit The Okavango Delta

The best time to explore the Okavango Delta is from June to October, known as the dry season. In this time of the year rains have finished, and the floodwaters have generally come. Despite its name, the «dry season» is when the Okavango waters are at their greatest, when floodwaters from Angola enter, bringing animals from the arid hinterland to the waterways. Many camps can also provide aquatic activities at this time. However, there are exceptions; for example, October is the driest and warmest month, providing excellent game viewing but low water levels. The best time to visit Okavango will also depend on the particular interest.

The greatest time to visit the Okavango Delta if you are a birder is during the summer months, when the Okavango is teeming with resident and migratory birds, filling the air with song and flashes of color. However, certain heronries are better visited later in the year, so this will also be a personal choice. Excellent game watching may also be had throughout the warmer months in the correct settings with good resident wildlife and permanent water systems. In addition, tens of thousands of zebra travel to the salt pans during these months, creating a spectacular picture.

The shoulder months (mid-season) have a lot to offer as well. November ushers in the first life-giving rains, bringing with it a lush green carpet across the plains and the start of the calving season for many antelope, such as impala.

Every month offers a unique experience, and with proper planning, you can enjoy a fantastic Okavango safari at any time of year. Alternatively, tell us about the type of safari you want to go on, and we’ll give you advice and help you arrange your trip around your specific interests.

Because of the surrounding vast red dunes, Sossusvlei, located in Africa’s most comprehensive conservation area, the Namib-Naukluft National Park, is the country’s most stunning and well-known location on a Namibia vacation. The dunes, which reach over 400 meters (1,300 feet) in height, are among the world’s highest and most beautiful, especially in the morning and sunset light. 

Seasons

When arranging a safari, keep is mind the seasonal pricing changes that the camps apply to their prices. This will represent the safari experience you may anticipate during these months to some extent, but it’s essential to remember that a wonderful safari can be experienced at any time of year with good preparation in the correct regions.

• Low Season – December to March
• Mid-Season – April-June and November
• Peak Season – July October

Winter

Winter lasts from April to September in the Okavango Delta. The days are normally dry, bright, clear, and mild to warm, with temperatures dropping rapidly in the evening. During the day, temperatures often reach 25 degrees Celsius, but evening temperatures can drop to as low as 2 degrees Celsius or even below freezing in certain arid locations. During the winter, there is hardly little rainfall. As the terrain around the delta dries up, the animals begin to congregate near the floodwaters that arrive between April and June.

Due to the concentration of animals near the Okavango waterways and the sparse vegetation permitting superb vision, the dry winter months are the greatest time to visit the Okavango Delta for big game watching.

Summer

Summer in the Okavango Delta begins in September, with temperatures rising steadily until the rains arrive in November, bringing respite. 

The highest dry temperatures, which can reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher, occur in October. Cloud cover, which occurs around the time of the first rains in late November or early December, lowers the temperature significantly, but only for a short time. The days are sunny in the mornings throughout the rainy season, which lasts until the end of February, with afternoon thunderstorms generally resulting in brief, heavy downpours in the late afternoon.

Daytime temperatures can reach 38 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures dip to roughly 20 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is irregular, erratic, and very regional. Heavy rains may fall in one place when there is no rain at all 10 or 15 kilometers away. Showers are frequently followed by bright sunshine, so most rainfall is lost to evaporation and transpiration before reaching the ground.

The greatest time to visit the Okavango Delta for birding and to see the scenery at its greenest and most magnificent is during the summer.

From late September to October/November, the early summer months provide excellent game viewing possibilities. Animals are drawn to permanent water sources. Those who can tolerate the scorching temperatures of October, when the soil is dry, will be rewarded with spectacular and dramatic game watching near the last water sources. Some consider this to be the greatest time to visit the Okavango Delta, yet the heat and dust should not be overlooked.