Botswana: A Tale of Two Seasons

I was lucky enough to guide three trips in Botswana last year. My first visit came in March, just as the rainy season was tapering off, signalling the end of summer. After a particularly wet year I expected lingering showers, but instead we were welcomed by blue skies, sweeping green grasslands, carpets of cornflowers and wide, dry open plains.

The abundance of grass was a feast for herbivores and, as nature dictates, where there are grazers, predators soon follow. Though the tall grass can make wildlife spotting a challenge, the absence of standing water opened up vast areas for exploration. Free from the constraints of reserve roads, we followed animal tracks and warning calls across open plains, discovering 'islands' where birds and mammals escaped the heat of the sun. These offered excellent vantage points, and the photographic possibilities were seemingly endless.

Our first two Heart of the Delta Photo Safaris were, quite simply, cat-tastic. “Oh, there’s a leopard,” became our trip’s catchphrase – first coined when, while photographing a southern ground hornbill, we realised a leopard was napping in the tree behind us. From then on, we were treated to lions and leopards on nearly every drive. We were utterly spoiled.

After the rains, I had my fingers crossed for good macro subjects, and the cornflower patches did not disappoint. They buzzed with life, offering up butterflies, mantids, weevils, and other tiny wonders for a few hours of happy snapping.

When I returned to the Okavango Delta just three months later, the transformation was striking. From the air, we could already see the floodplains gleaming with the annual floodwaters from Angola, and the cool, crisp air in the mornings hinted at winter’s arrival. One morning at breakfast, we could even see our breath – a far cry from the balmy mornings of March. Thermal layers and gloves might seem out of place in Africa, but they quickly proved their worth!

One of my favourite comforts on Botswana’s winter safaris is the 'bush babies' (hot water bottles); these are tucked into your bed at night and handed to you with a blanket on early morning drives. There’s nothing quite like that cosy warmth … until midday arrives and you find yourself basking in 28°C sunshine, wondering if you ever really needed the hot water bottles after all!

While the areas we explore on the Botswana Photo Safari are also within the Delta, each season reveals a new side of the wild. This is mostly a mobile camping adventure rather than a single lodge stay, and we embrace the true safari spirit. It’s made special by the warmth and incredible skill of the camp staff, whose hospitality and delicious meals create a true sense of home in the wild. The trip finishes with three nights in a beautiful lodge, so you can recharge before heading home.

On my third visit in winter, the wildlife spotlight shifted from cats to canines. We were treated to unforgettable encounters with African wild dogs, including several visits to a den with ten playful pups. The journey concluded by trading land for water, with morning and afternoon boat trips along the Chobe River, photographing elephants crossing the channels, buffalo grazing knee-deep in the shallows, and hippos basking lazily in the sun. The birdlife was simply spectacular: storks, herons, bee-eaters, kingfishers, and African jacanas all weaving life and colour along the riverbanks.

No matter when you travel, each Botswana safari tells its own story – a celebration of the seasonal rhythms, the abundance of wildlife, and the joy of adventure beneath Africa’s endless skies.

If you've been inspired to visit Botswana, discover our collection of Botswana wildlife holidays today, or contact our expert team for further guidance.