Timing
When to go to the Okavango Delta
The Okavango runs on a counter-intuitive clock: the flood does not arrive with the rain. It arrives months later, during the driest time of year. Getting this backwards is the single most common planning mistake visitors make.
The flood paradox
Heavy summer rain falls in the Angolan highlands around January. That water enters the Okavango River — over 1,600 km long — and takes months to work its way down. It reaches the bottom of the Delta around June, in the middle of Botswana's dry winter.
The consequence is the Delta's defining feature: at the exact moment the surrounding Kalahari is at its driest, the Delta is at its fullest. Animals converge on the water from hundreds of kilometres away. Around 11 cubic kilometres of water spread across the Delta each year, over an area that varies between roughly 6,000 and 15,000 km² with the season.
Water levels in any given month vary meaningfully from year to year. Treat the table below as the pattern, not as a forecast for a specific season.
Month by month
| Months | Water | Wildlife | Weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan – Mar | Low | Green season; newborn antelope; migratory birds arriving | Hot, wet, afternoon storms | Best value (30–50% off); lush; excellent birding |
| Apr – May | Rising | Good game; fewer visitors | Warm, drying out | Shoulder: best balance of availability and price |
| Jun – Aug | Peak flood | Concentrated; excellent predator action | Cool, dry (5–25 °C); minimal mosquitoes | Best overall — mokoro at its best; book 12+ months ahead |
| Sep – Oct | Falling | Exceptional big game; predators crowd remaining water | Hot — October can reach 40 °C | Best for land safaris; some shallow concessions lose mokoro access |
| Nov – Dec | Low | Green season begins; calving starts | Hot, storms return | Good value; dramatic skies; strong photography |
Indicative, as of 2026-09-25.
When not to go
- If your priority is mokoro paddling, avoid September–October in shallow concessions: as water recedes, some camps lose mokoro access entirely.
- If you are booking less than 12 months ahead for June–August, expect the best-known camps to be full.
- If you dislike extreme heat, avoid October, which can reach 40 °C.
- In the green season (Nov–Apr), roads in Moremi can become impassable mud and animals disperse as water becomes available everywhere.
How far ahead to book
Peak-season bookings generally require 12–18 months of advance planning. Trips outside peak season can usually be arranged 6–9 months ahead, with better rates and more availability. Botswana deliberately limits the number of camps and beds in the ecosystem, so supply — not demand — is what sets the booking window.