Botswana in December: Where the Wildlife Is and What to Expect

Botswana in December is the start of the green season: afternoon thunderstorms, hot days around 33°C, fresh grass, newborn antelope and the best birding of the year. Wildlife spreads out from the rivers, zebra herds head for Nxai Pan and the Kalahari, and lodge rates drop well below the dry-season peak.

The catch is that December looks nothing like the classic Botswana brochure. The Okavango is at its lowest water, mokoro trips are limited, and elephants leave the Chobe riverfront for inland pans. This guide shows you where wildlife is in December, the real weather, which regions shine, the trade-offs, and how to build a route that makes the most of the month.

Is Botswana in December a Good Time for a Safari?

Botswana in December is a good time for a safari if you want lush scenery, baby animals, dramatic skies and lower rates. It is a weaker month for big dry-season concentrations at rivers and for water activities in the Okavango, so the right answer depends on what you want to see.

Between June and October, Botswana’s wildlife crowds along permanent water such as the Chobe River and the Okavango channels. Once the first proper rains fall, usually from late November, seasonal pans fill across the country and the herds no longer need the rivers. They move out to graze on new grass, often into areas that are dry and almost empty for the rest of the year.

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That shift is the key to planning. A December itinerary that follows the rain, towards Nxai Pan, the Makgadikgadi and the Kalahari, can be outstanding. One that copies a September route along the rivers will feel quieter, because the animals have moved on.

Who should visit Botswana in December?

Botswana in December suits repeat safari-goers, keen birders, photographers who love moody skies and green backdrops, and travellers who want quieter camps and better value. If this is your first safari and you dream of mokoro trips and big elephant herds at the river, look at the dry season instead, or combine a December trip with an East African safari where the timing is stronger, such as our guide to a Kenya safari in December.

What Is the Weather Like in Botswana in December?

The weather in Botswana in December is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms. Maun, the gateway to the Okavango, averages a high of about 33°C and a low of about 20°C, with around 86 mm of rain falling on roughly 10 days of the month (climate averages checked October 2026).

Rain usually arrives as short, heavy storms in the afternoon or evening rather than all-day drizzle, and the sun is often out again within an hour or two. Mornings tend to be clear and bright, which is when wildlife is most active. The hottest days before a storm can reach around 40°C, so a lodge with a shaded deck or plunge pool is worth having.

December sits between the drier early summer and the wetter peak of the season. The table below shows how the month compares with November and January in Maun.

Rainfall varies a lot from year to year, and the Kalahari is drier than the north. Pack for heat first and rain second: breathable clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and a light waterproof jacket.

Where Should You Go in Botswana in December?

The best places in Botswana in December are the areas that come alive with the rains: Nxai Pan National Park, the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The Okavango Delta and Chobe still offer good game viewing and birding, but they are at their quietest compared with the dry season.

Nxai Pan and the Makgadikgadi Pans

Nxai Pan and the Makgadikgadi are the stars of Botswana in December. As the rains start, zebra herds that spend the dry season on the Chobe floodplains begin moving south, usually from late November to early December, and settle on the grasslands around Nxai Pan from about December to February before returning north in late February and early March.

A smaller zebra movement also runs from the Okavango to the Makgadikgadi on a similar timetable. Where the zebra go, predators follow, so lion and cheetah sightings can be excellent. The famous Baines Baobabs, a cluster of ancient trees on the edge of a salt pan inside Nxai Pan National Park, make a memorable stop.

If you have seen the wildebeest herds in East Africa, this is a very different, quieter spectacle. Our Great Migration month-by-month guide explains how the Serengeti and Masai Mara herds move, which makes a useful comparison when you weigh up the two.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is at its best in the wet season, roughly November to March. Rain fills the pans of Deception Valley, an ancient riverbed that has not flowed for thousands of years, and draws large herds of springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest and red hartebeest, along with eland and giraffe.

Many antelope give birth at this time, which attracts black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetah, wild dogs and both brown and spotted hyena. Drives are long and sandy, so allow at least three nights. Our 7 Days Kalahari Expeditions trip pairs Nxai Pan and the Baines Baobabs with three nights in the Central Kalahari, which matches the December wildlife pattern well.

Is the Okavango Delta worth visiting in December?

The Okavango Delta is still worth visiting on a trip to Botswana in December, but go for game drives, walks and birds rather than water. The annual flood from the Angolan highlands has drained away and will not return for months, so water levels are the lowest of the year and most mokoro and boat activities are unavailable.

Camps in the central, northern and north-western Delta, near permanent deep channels, have the best chance of offering some water time. On land, impala and tsessebe calving brings predators into action, and Moremi Game Reserve and private concessions such as Khwai can deliver lion, leopard and wild dog sightings. Thicker bush makes animals harder to spot than in September, so an experienced guide matters.

Chobe National Park and the riverfront

Chobe National Park in December is quieter than in the dry season. With water available inland, the big elephant and buffalo herds that line the river from June to November spread out, so the riverfront feels less crowded with animals and with vehicles.

Boat cruises on the Chobe River are still a highlight, with hippo, crocodile, elephant and waterbirds seen reliably, and the green season brings newborn tsessebe, impala and red lechwe. Kasane, the riverfront town, is also close to Victoria Falls, which makes Chobe an easy add-on for travellers combining countries.

What Wildlife Can You See in Botswana in December?

In Botswana in December you can see newborn antelope, migrating zebra, active predators and a huge variety of birds. General game is more spread out than in the dry season, but the animals are healthy, the light is beautiful, and predator action around the calving herds can be exceptional.

Calving season and predators

Calving in Botswana in December follows the rains. Tsessebe drop their calves first, followed by impala and red lechwe, and in the Kalahari springbok and other antelope give birth on the green pans. Young, inexperienced prey means busy predators, so lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog sightings can be very rewarding for patient guests.

Botswana in December for birders

Botswana in December is one of the best times of year for birding. December falls in the secret season from December to February, when more than 200 migratory species are present alongside residents. Wetlands and fresh grasslands fill with summer visitors, and many resident species are breeding, so the bush is loud with song from dawn. Our birding safaris can be built around this window.

How to Plan a Safari in Botswana in December

Plan a safari in Botswana in December by following the rain: spend most nights in the pans and the Kalahari, add a few nights in the Delta or Chobe for variety, and book Christmas and New Year dates early. Seven to ten nights gives you enough time to cover two or three regions without rushing.

Sample routes for December

Our 7-Day Botswana Safari through Chobe, Khwai and the Okavango covers the northern circuit with Chobe River cruises and game drives in Moremi and the Khwai concession, and the 8 Days Moremi and Northern Exploration goes deeper into the north. Both can be combined with Kalahari nights to make the most of the season.

Getting there and getting around

Most international travellers reach Botswana through Johannesburg, then fly on to Maun for the Okavango and Kalahari or to Kasane for Chobe. Within the country, light-aircraft transfers save long drives between regions, and soft bags are usually required because aircraft space is tight. Muddy tracks can slow road transfers after heavy storms, so allow some slack in a self-drive or overland plan.

Health, Park Fees and Practical Tips for December

The main practical points for Botswana in December are malaria prevention, heat management and checking park fees close to travel. Most lodge and guided packages include park fees, but it is worth knowing how they work.

Malaria and health

December is the rainy season, when mosquitoes are most active. According to the CDC malaria information for Botswana, malaria transmission occurs in districts that include Chobe, Ngamiland and the Okavango, Boteti and Ghanzi, and preventive tablets are recommended for those areas. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you fly, and use repellent, long sleeves and bed nets in the evenings. Good cover matters on remote trips, so read our page on travel insurance for safaris.

Park fees

Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks charges conservation fees per person per day in national parks and game reserves such as Moremi, Chobe, Nxai Pan and the Central Kalahari. A revised fee schedule due to start on 1 April 2026 was postponed on 31 March 2026, and no new date had been announced (checked October 2026). Because fees may change at short notice, confirm the current rates with us or the park authority before you book.

Combining Botswana with other countries

December works well for multi-country trips. Kasane is close to Victoria Falls, and Botswana pairs naturally with Namibia; our Namibia safari guide covers that side of the border. If you would rather spend part of the holiday in East Africa, our Uganda safari in December guide shows how gorilla trekking fits the same month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is December a good time to visit Botswana?

Yes, Botswana in December is a good choice for green landscapes, newborn animals, superb birding and lower lodge rates. It suits repeat safari-goers and anyone keen on the Kalahari and Nxai Pan. It is less suited to first-timers set on Okavango mokoro trips, since water levels are at their lowest.

Can you do a mokoro trip in the Okavango Delta in December?

Mokoro trips are limited in December because the Okavango Delta is at its lowest water level of the year and the annual flood from Angola has not yet arrived. Camps in the central, northern and north-western Delta, close to permanent deep water, have the best chance of offering boat or mokoro outings. For guaranteed water activities, travel between May and August.

How hot is Botswana in December?

Botswana in December is hot. Maun averages a daily high of about 33°C and a low of about 20°C, and the hottest days can reach 40°C before afternoon storms cool things down. Plan game drives for early morning and late afternoon, rest in the heat of the day, and pack breathable, light-coloured clothing plus a rain jacket.

Where is the zebra migration in Botswana in December?

In December the zebra herds of northern Botswana are on the move south from the Chobe floodplains towards Nxai Pan National Park, timed to the first good rains. They usually stay on the fresh grasslands of Nxai Pan and the Makgadikgadi from about December to February before heading north again in late February and early March.

Do I need malaria tablets for Botswana in December?

Most safari areas in northern Botswana, including Chobe, the Okavango and Ngamiland, Boteti and Ghanzi, have malaria transmission, and the CDC recommends preventive tablets there. December falls in the rainy season, when mosquitoes are more active. Speak to a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you fly, and use repellent, long sleeves and nets every evening.

Final Thoughts on Botswana in December

Botswana in December rewards travellers who follow the rain: zebra on the green pans of Nxai Pan, calving herds and lions in the Central Kalahari, and superb birding everywhere, all at quieter camps and lower rates. Skip it only if mokoro trips and big riverfront elephant herds are your top priority.

If the green season appeals, tell us your dates and interests and our Nairobi team will shape a route around where the wildlife will be.