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Botswana in January

January

January is unpredictable, featuring rainy days and thunderstorms yet bright and sunny conditions too – and a treasury of young animals, migratory birds, and flowers.

What's the weather going to be like in Botswana in January?

  • A bit of a mixture – clear and sunny days, with a possible chance of afternoon thunderstorms
  • Very rainy on the whole, as January and February are both peak green season months and bring the bulk of Botswana’s rainfall
  • Warm, with minimum temperatures averaging in the low 20s
  • It’s hot and rainy, so light layers of clothing and waterproofs are advised
  • Be prepared for big storms, rainy afternoons, and a very high humidity level

What are the highlights of visiting Botswana in January?

  • Availability of camps and lodges is high
  • As it’s low season, this is a much cheaper time to visit the country
  • Temperatures rarely fall below 19 degrees
  • A surge in young animals results in raised changes of spotting predators
  • You can enjoy the sight of newborn impala and zebra, teetering next to their mothers on uncertain limbs
  • Attracted by the rains, an abundance of migratory birds results in an exciting diversity of species – it’s a great month for birders
  • There’s loads of greenery and lots of flowers
  • Thrilling cloud formations, vibrant colours, and sunny skies after a storm present wonderful opportunities for photography.
  • Rivers tend to flood allowing for great game viewings

Any lowlights?

  • The rains can be continuous for days
  • Humidity can be high
  • There are a lot of insects about
  • The rains can limit game walks and make driving more difficult in some places, while concentrations of game are low in the Okavango and Linyanti regions

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