Time the Floodwaters, Not the Rainfall

A common misconception is that the high-water season coincides with local rainfall. Local summer rains fall between December and March, but the famous annual inundation is sourced thousands of kilometers away in the Angolan highlands. These waters travel slowly down the Cuito and Cubango river networks, taking months to filter into Botswana.

Consequently, peak flood season occurs during the dry winter months, stretching from June through August. If your dream is navigating lily-covered waterways by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) or motorboat, schedule your trip during mid-winter. Conversely, if your goal is dense concentrations of big game such as lions, leopards, and wild dogs, the late dry season between September and October is premier, as drying channels force animals toward dwindling waterholes.