Things to Do in Botswana in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Botswana
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Prime game viewing season - August sits right in the middle of Botswana's dry winter, meaning animals congregate around permanent water sources in predictable patterns. The Okavango Delta is at peak flood levels from Angola's rains, creating that incredible contrast of water everywhere while the surrounding Kalahari stays bone-dry. You'll see massive elephant herds, sometimes 100-plus animals, gathered at channels.
- Comfortable daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) make this genuinely pleasant for all-day safari drives, unlike the scorching 35°C-plus (95°F-plus) heat you'd get in November. Mornings start cool enough at 5°C-10°C (41°F-50°F) that you'll actually want that fleece on early game drives, then warm up nicely by midday without becoming unbearable.
- Minimal vegetation means exceptional wildlife photography and viewing - the grass is short and brown, trees have dropped leaves, and there's nowhere for animals to hide. That leopard lounging in a tree? You'll actually see it clearly, not just glimpse spots through dense foliage. Professional photographers specifically target August for this reason.
- Low tourist numbers compared to the July peak - school holidays have ended in Europe and South Africa, so lodges that were fully booked in July often have availability. You'll still see other vehicles at popular sightings, but you're not dealing with the June-July rush when some lodges book out 12-18 months ahead.
Considerations
- Cold early mornings and evenings genuinely surprise first-timers - temperatures can drop to 5°C (41°F) at dawn, and that's in an open safari vehicle doing 30 km/h (19 mph), which creates serious windchill. Many visitors underestimate this and pack only for the 25°C (77°F) midday heat, then spend their first morning game drive absolutely freezing.
- Still peak season pricing without the absolute peak crowds - you're paying near-maximum rates (lodges typically charge 20-30% more than green season rates from January-March) while getting slightly fewer guarantees than July. Some camps drop prices marginally in late August, but don't expect significant savings.
- Dust becomes genuinely intense by August - after four months without meaningful rain, the Kalahari dust is fine as talcum powder and gets absolutely everywhere. Your camera gear needs protection, contact lens wearers struggle, and you'll be shaking orange dust out of everything you own for weeks after returning home.
Best Activities in August
Okavango Delta mokoro excursions and walking safaris
August offers the Delta at its most spectacular - the flood waters have spread across the floodplains creating those iconic lily-covered channels, but water levels are stable and predictable, not rising like they were in June-July. The contrast is remarkable: you're gliding through crystal-clear channels surrounded by papyrus while just 50 m (164 ft) away the land is completely dry. Walking safaris work beautifully now because islands are well-defined and guides know exactly where animals will be. Water temperatures around 20°C (68°F) mean hippos are active and visible rather than hiding in deeper pools.
Chobe River boat safaris and game drives
The Chobe riverfront in August becomes one of Africa's greatest wildlife theaters. With the interior pans dry, elephant herds migrate to the permanent Chobe River water, and you'll regularly see 200-300 elephants on a single afternoon boat cruise. The timing works perfectly: animals come to drink in late afternoon when temperatures peak around 25°C (77°F), meaning 3pm-6pm boat trips deliver consistently spectacular viewing. The low humidity around 70% means comfortable conditions for 3-4 hour boat sessions without that oppressive heat you'd get later in the dry season.
Makgadikgadi Pans quad biking and cultural experiences
August offers perfect conditions for exploring the vast salt pans - the surface is completely dry and hard-packed after months without rain, creating that otherworldly lunar landscape effect. Daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) make quad biking comfortable rather than the scorching experience it becomes in October-November. This is also when you can visit habituated meerkat colonies at dawn, watching them emerge and sun themselves in those cool 5°C-10°C (41°F-50°F) morning temperatures. The low humidity means the pans' famous stargazing is at its absolute best - zero moisture in the air, no clouds, just extraordinary Milky Way visibility.
Moremi Game Reserve self-drive and mobile safari combinations
August offers ideal conditions for exploring Moremi - roads are in their best condition after the dry season, and you can access areas that become impassable during rains. The 50 km (31 mile) drive from South Gate to Third Bridge takes about 3 hours with stops, and you'll encounter wildlife constantly along the route. Self-drivers get flexibility that lodge-based visitors miss, though you need genuine 4x4 capability and experience with sand driving. The variable weather with occasional light rain totaling 51 mm (2.0 inches) across the month means dust is slightly less intense than September-October, while still maintaining excellent visibility.
Central Kalahari predator tracking and San culture experiences
The Central Kalahari in August offers something completely different from the Delta - vast open grasslands where predators are easier to track because prey animals concentrate around remaining water sources. This is one of the best times to see the desert-adapted black-maned Kalahari lions, and cheetah sightings are reliable on the short grass plains. The moderate 25°C (77°F) days mean comfortable all-day game drives across this massive park, and the 5°C-10°C (41°F-50°F) nights create that quintessential campfire-under-the-stars experience without being dangerously cold.
Maun and Gaborone urban culture and craft shopping
While most visitors rush through Maun to reach safari camps, spending a day here before or after your safari offers worthwhile cultural context. August's comfortable 25°C (77°F) temperatures make walking around town pleasant, and you can visit craft cooperatives selling authentic baskets, pottery, and textiles at fair prices. Gaborone works similarly as a bookend to northern safaris - the National Museum provides good context on San culture and natural history, and the city's markets offer last-minute shopping without tourist markup. The low humidity makes urban exploration comfortable rather than the sweaty slog it becomes in summer.
August Events & Festivals
Maitisong Festival
This performing arts festival in Gaborone typically runs in late August or early September, showcasing Botswana theater, music, dance, and poetry. It offers genuine insight into contemporary Botswana arts beyond the safari-and-wildlife narrative, with performances at the Maitisong Theatre and various venues around the capital. Worth timing your trip around if you're spending time in Gaborone, though exact 2026 dates won't be confirmed until early in the year.