When people ask me when to visit Botswana, I smile and say, "April." It's not the obvious choice, and that's precisely why I love it. There's a certain magic to experiencing Botswana during this quiet shoulder month that I simply can’t get enough of. Here’s why visiting Botswana in April stole my heart and might just steal yours, too.
Adorable young wildlife is just one of the reasons for visiting Botswana in April, Image Credit: Brad Mitchell
1. Green Season Glory Without the Crowds
April falls into a sweet spot known as the shoulder season when the landscapes are still lush from recent rains, wildlife is active, and the crowds have started to thin out. You’re not following a convoy of vehicles or waiting your turn at sightings. Instead, it feels like the wilderness is yours alone.
Imagine crisp mornings brought to life as the sun appears over the horizon, birds calling from rain-kissed trees, and elephants meandering peacefully with no one else in sight. It’s nature in full display; calm, unhurried, and all the more immersive for it.
Better still, April doesn’t attract peak-season prices. Lodges often offer more attractive rates while still delivering the same five-star exclusivity. So, you get the best of both worlds: all the beauty, none of the bustle.
Visiting Botswana in April means better rates and availability, Image Credit: &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
2. Exceptional Wildlife Viewing
You might think wildlife viewing would be harder in April with all that greenery, but here’s the surprise – it’s excellent. Water sources are still plentiful, so animals don’t congregate in dense herds, but the payoff is witnessing them in more natural, relaxed states.
Animal sightings are incredible, and some of the best lion sightings I’ve ever enjoyed have come at this time of year. And if you’re into birds, like me, this is your time. Some of the migratory species are still around, and the wetlands are alive with calls and colours.
From big wildlife to small birdlife, Image Credit: Brad Mitchell
3. The Okavango Delta Comes to Life
By April, the annual floodwaters from Angola are starting to seep into the Okavango Delta. It’s not yet in full flood, but the transformation has begun. Channels widen. Life stirs. You start seeing the mokoros gliding quietly through the water and that feeling of gentle exploration sets in.
This is when I truly fell for Botswana. I love a game drive as much as anyone, but drifting silently past a reed frog on a papyrus stalk while the Delta sighed around me. That’s the kind of stillness that lingers long after you’ve flown home.
Sunset mokoro ride over the Okavango Delta
4. It’s Cooler (And So Much More Comfortable)
April, brings a delicious shift in the weather from Africa's hot summers. Daytime temperatures are warm but manageable. Mornings and evenings are cooler – ideal for game drives where a jacket is all that is needed, or for dinners under the stars with just a light shawl.
Cool enough to truly appreciate your morning coffee, yet warm enough to make that G&T at sunset hit just the right spot, April in Botswana brings perfectly balanced days that let you savour every moment outdoors.
Experience the Delta in the most authentic way possible, Image Credit: Oddballs' Enclave Camp
5. A Front Row Seat to Botswana’s Rhythms
The shoulder seasons feel more intimate. The pace is unhurried, and you’re not just ticking animals off a list. You’re getting to know the land, understanding the small signs: the tracks in the sand, the change in a birdcall that signals the approach of a predator, the hush before a rain shower.
This is what makes Botswana in April so special. It’s not just about seeing wildlife. It’s about feeling part of something ancient and ongoing. It’s about letting Africa reveal herself slowly, richly, and honestly.
Walk along ancient wildlife paths and focus on the intricacies of the bush, Image Credit: Wilderness Vumbura Plains
Bonus: Next Door – Victoria Falls in Full Flow
One of the perks of visiting the northeast of Botswana in April is just how close you are to one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles on Earth, Victoria Falls, in peak flow.
April is when "The Smoke That Thunders" lives up to its name. Easily accessible via a day tour, it’s an opportunity that simply can’t be missed..
Add this to your Botswana journey, and you’ll leave with more than memories. You’ll carry a feeling that’s hard to explain but impossible to forget.
Experience Victoria Falls in full flood
Ready to Fall in Love With Botswana?
Whether it’s your first safari or your fifth, experiencing Botswana in April offers a unique blend of natural drama and quiet luxury. It’s a time of awakening – for the land and, I suspect, for us, too.
Let our Travel Experts craft your bespoke Botswana itinerary. Because the best journeys begin with the right questions – and one of them might just be: “Why not April?”
