The best times to visit Central Kalahari Game Reserve for ideal weather are

April 2nd to September 30th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Central Kalahari Game Reserve Travel Info

Weather in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Temperature

Average temperatures in Central Kalahari Game Reserve vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of precipitation throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 51st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the hottest months are October, November, and then December. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early November where highs are regularly around 94.4°F (34.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 66.8°F (19.3°C) at night.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Central Kalahari Game Reserve Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Central Kalahari Game Reserve Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Central Kalahari Game Reserve Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 88.6 77.8 67.4
Feb 90.3 77.9 66
Mar 88.9 76.6 64.4
Apr 83.7 70.8 58
May 82 66.8 51
Jun 76.4 61 45.6
Jul 75.7 60.7 45.4
Aug 82 66.1 48.9
Sep 90.4 74.9 58.4
Oct 93.4 79.9 64.9
Nov 92.1 79.7 67.1
Dec 89.8 78.5 68.1

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 31.4 25.4 19.7
Feb 32.4 25.5 18.9
Mar 31.6 24.8 18
Apr 28.7 21.6 14.4
May 27.8 19.3 10.6
Jun 24.7 16.1 7.6
Jul 24.3 15.9 7.4
Aug 27.8 18.9 9.4
Sep 32.4 23.8 14.7
Oct 34.1 26.6 18.3
Nov 33.4 26.5 19.5
Dec 32.1 25.8 20.1

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Central Kalahari Game Reserve are July, August, and then May. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid May. For example, on the week of May 14th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid December with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of December 10th.

When can you find snow in Central Kalahari Game Reserve? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Central Kalahari Game Reserve (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 20% 0 3.9
Feb 9% 0 1.6
Mar 8% 0 1.9
Apr 7% 0 1.1
May 1% 0 0.1
Jun 2% 0 1
Jul 0% 0 0
Aug 0% 0 0
Sep 2% 0 0.2
Oct 6% 0 0.7
Nov 12% 0 1.9
Dec 18% 0 2.3

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 20 0 9.9
Feb 9 0 4.1
Mar 8 0 4.8
Apr 7 0 2.8
May 1 0 0.3
Jun 2 0 2.5
Jul 0 0 0
Aug 0 0 0
Sep 2 0 0.5
Oct 6 0 1.8
Nov 12 0 4.8
Dec 18 0 5.8

 

Humidity and Wind

Central Kalahari Game Reserve has some comfortably humid months, and dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is September (25.8% relative humidity), and the most humid month is January (56.2%).

Wind in Central Kalahari Game Reserve is usually calm. The windiest month is October, followed by September and November. October’s average wind speed of around 8.5 knots (9.8 MPH or 15.8 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid October where average top sustained speeds reach 14.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 6 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Feb 5.8 Light breeze 11.1 Significant breeze
Mar 6 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Apr 5.6 Light breeze 10.7 Gentle breeze
May 5 Light breeze 9.9 Significant breeze
Jun 5.5 Light breeze 10.3 Gentle breeze
Jul 6.2 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Aug 6.3 Light breeze 11.3 Significant breeze
Sep 7.3 Gentle breeze 12.4 Significant breeze
Oct 8.5 Gentle breeze 14.2 Significant breeze
Nov 7.2 Gentle breeze 13 Significant breeze
Dec 6.7 Light breeze 12 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 56.2%
Feb 49.9%
Mar 48.2%
Apr 48.6%
May 38.7%
Jun 39.4%
Jul 36.2%
Aug 29.4%
Sep 25.8%
Oct 29.7%
Nov 40.4%
Dec 52.8%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Central Kalahari Game Reserve?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Botswana; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Oct 10, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana is November, followed by March and September. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Central Kalahari Game Reserve in June. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 54.6 in June means 54.6% of the tourists vs. November.

 

 

Overall Central Kalahari Game Reserve Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 90.2°F (32.3°C) and 79.4°F (26.3°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 0 to 2 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 0 to 1 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the slowest season for tourism in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, so lodging and other accommodations may cost less than usual.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 94.4°F (34.7°C) and 88.7°F (31.5°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 4 days per month. Tourism is the busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be higher priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Central Kalahari Game Reserve to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 91.7°F (33.2°C) and 87.9°F (31.1°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 2 to 6 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

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