Things to Do in Botswana in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Botswana
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (30°C)
High Temp
63°F (17°C)
Low Temp
2.9 inches (74 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March is your last call. The Okavango Delta's seasonal floodplains still shimmer before the slow retreat. You win water-based game and the summer rain's emerald aftermath.
- + Peak crowds have gone. You might pole a mokoro alone. Lodges breathe. Staff remember your name.
- + Late-afternoon storms rinse the sky. Acacia silhouettes cut like paper. Petrichor lingers longer than photos.
- + Shoulder season rules. You skip peak tariffs yet dodge the wet-season rock-bottom. Botswana becomes a sane splurge.
Considerations
- − Weather flips fast. 28°C (82°F) sunshine at dawn. By 3 PM a Kalahari thunderhead turns tracks to slick mud.
- − Wildlife stays excellent. Some remote, water-logged corners of Moremi Game Reserve tighten access late in the month.
- − Humidity hovers at 70%. Midday feels thick if you arrive from a dry place. Kalahari breeze arrives later.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Botswana in March is a country caught between seasons. The heavy summer rains have mostly ended. Yet the land stays thick with green growth under a sky that can flip from clear blue to glowering gray in sixty minutes. The air feels humid and warm, carrying the scent of damp earth and the distant, sweet perfume of rain-washed acacia trees. You will hear the afternoon insect chorus start with an electric buzz as clouds gather, a sound that vanishes when a brief, heavy shower passes, leaving everything glistening. Locals move at a pace tuned to this variability, carrying umbrellas for rain and for the strong sun that follows. Compared with the deep, dry winter months, March has a lushness you can see in the fuller coats of grazing animals and feel in the softer, dust-free air. It is a quieter season on the tourism calendar, positioned between the peak of the green season and the onset of the busier dry season, offering a more solitary connection to the land. The climate data shows March as a pivot point. With average highs around thirty degrees Celsius and ten days of rain, it is notably cooler and wetter than the scorching, dry months from July to October. Yet significantly drier than January. This creates conditions good for certain pursuits, around the capital, where the heat is less oppressive for exploration. There are no major festivals or verified public events during this month, which shifts the focus toward the rhythms of daily life, literary discovery, and the accessible wilderness on the country's fringes. For those wondering about the best time to visit Botswana, March presents a compelling case for travelers seeking lush scenery and fewer crowds, accepting the trade-off of occasional showers for lively landscapes.
Gaborone City Tour (Half Day tour)
guided_experienceA guided exploration of Botswana's capital reveals a city of contrasts, where modern glass towers cast long shadows over traditional stalls piled with bright, woven baskets and the day's catch of silvery fish. You will see the imposing Parliament buildings and hear the lively chatter of the Main Mall, a pedestrian zone where the air carries the mingled smells of roasting corn and exhaust fumes. The tour often includes the National Museum, where you can feel the cool, still air inside galleries displaying San rock art reproductions.
It is the most efficient way to grasp the administrative heart and commercial pulse of Botswana, a city often bypassed for the wilderness but central to understanding the nation.
Insider tip: Visit the Main Mall in the late morning after the commuter rush has faded but before the midday heat sends everyone indoors, allowing you to comfortably see the craft vendors and street artists at their most active.
This month: The occasional March rain showers often arrive in the afternoon, making a morning tour the most reliable way to stay dry while walking between sites.
Multiday Tour From Gaborone: 2 day Gaborone Experience
day_tripThis two-day immersion goes beyond the standard city tour, offering a deeper taste of life in and around Gaborone. You might spend a day exploring urban highlights before venturing to a nearby cattle post to feel the dry, scratchy brush underfoot and hear the lowing of Brahman cattle, then share a meal where you taste seswaa, shredded beef stew served over thick pap.
It provides a structured yet intimate glimpse into both the contemporary capital and the lasting rural traditions that still define much of Botswana's culture.
Insider tip: If your itinerary includes a traditional homestead visit, ask your guide about the proper etiquette for greeting the family head; a small, respectful gesture is always appreciated.
This month: The landscape on the city's outskirts is green in March, with fuller watering holes and livestock in good condition, painting a picture of pastoral abundance.
Around Gaborone Adventure
otherThis adventure focuses on the dramatic rocky landscapes and historical sites within a short drive of the city. You will climb the steep, sun-warmed paths of Kgale Hill, feeling the granite under your palms, for a panoramic view where you can see the city grid dissolve into a vast, green-brown scrubland. Another stop might be the ancient rock art at Manyana, where you can see ochre paintings of giraffes and antelope in the cool, shaded silence of a sandstone overhang.
It answers the question of what to do in Botswana besides safari by showing the striking geology and ancient human history easily accessible from Gaborone.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with good grip. The trails on Kgale Hill are rocky and can be slippery if a brief March shower has passed through.
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Literary Tour (Mma Ramotswe Tour)
guided_experienceFans of Alexander McCall Smith's novels will delight in this tour that brings the fictional world of Mma Ramotswe to life. You will see the tiny white house at Zebra Drive, smell the red bush tea brewing at a local café that could double for Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and visit the Kgale Hill viewpoint that features prominently as a place for the detective to think. The tour makes you feel like you've stepped into the pages of the books, where problems are solved with wisdom and a cup of tea.
It is a uniquely literary way to engage with the gentle pace and moral landscape of Botswana as portrayed in internationally beloved fiction.
Insider tip: Read at least the first novel, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," before the tour. Recognizing the references will immensely enrich your experience of seeing the real locations that inspired the stories.
Half Day Tour from Gaborone (Manyana Village Visit)
guided_experienceThis half-day excursion takes you to the village of Manyana, home to one of Botswana's most significant heritage sites. Under the dappled shade of a large rock shelter, you will see well-preserved San rock art depicting rhinos and human figures, feeling the cool, ancient stone. The journey there offers sights of rural life, with goats grazing beside the road and the smell of woodsmoke drifting from homesteads.
It has a direct, tangible connection to the ancient San people, the original inhabitants of Southern Africa, through art that has survived for centuries.
Insider tip: Bring a small flashlight or use your phone's light; carefully angling light across the rock face can reveal finer details in the paintings that are otherwise difficult to see in the shelter's shadowy interior.
1 Night Madikwe Game Reserve
otherThis short safari excursion transfers you to the Madikwe Game Reserve in neighboring South Africa, a malaria-free area known for its strong conservation programs. You will spend a night listening to the sounds of the bush from your lodge, wake before dawn to feel the cool, damp air on an open-vehicle game drive, and hopefully see the silhouette of an elephant against the pink morning sky or hear the distinct sawing call of a leopard.
It provides a concentrated, classic safari experience with strong chances of spotting the "Big Five," all within a relatively short journey from Gaborone.
Insider tip: Pack layers; March mornings in the bush can be surprisingly crisp. But you will shed those jackets quickly as the sun climbs and the temperature soars by late morning.
This month: The reserve is lush and green in March, with many animals having given birth recently, meaning you might spot young impala or wildebeest calves staying close to their mothers.
Where to Stay in Botswana in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
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Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best game viewing in March happens early, 6-10 AM, and late, 4-7 PM. Midday heat and humidity drive animals into shade; travel, lunch, or siesta fill those hours. Guides do exactly that.
Flying north from Maun to the Delta on a small charter? Sit on the left. The aerial view of the large Okavango panhandle repays the ticket price.
Never skip the simple, campfire-cooked dinners. Braai smoke mingles with night-blooming jasmine. Distant hyenas whoop. That scent and sound define Botswana.
Tip guides and camp staff in US dollars, small denominations. Everyone accepts them and the gesture matters. Many workers support extended families.
Avoid These Mistakes
Leave formal clothing at home. Botswana stays casual. Even top lodges expect only clean safari trousers and a collared shirt for dinner. Anything fancier feels awkward.
Never assume all 'safari' feels the same. A mokoro safari in the Delta means silent, intimate water drifting. A game drive in Chobe delivers big herds and riverfront drama. Study each reserve.
Check visa requirements early. Many nationalities still get a visa on arrival. Yet rules shift. A refusal at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport ends the trip and empties your wallet.
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