The Kalahari has two distinct seasons. The dry season (May to October) is the standard time to visit: cooler temperatures, clear skies, and wildlife concentrated around waterholes make game viewing easier. June and July nights can be cold — desert cold, the kind that requires a proper sleeping bag — but days are comfortable.
The green season (November to April) transforms the landscape. Rain turns the Kalahari's fossil river valleys vivid green, wildflowers appear across the plains, and the game reserve supports extraordinary numbers of antelope, drawing their predators with them. Roads inside the Central Kalahari become impassable after heavy rain, and some campsites close. August is the best month for the Kuru Traditional Dance and Music Festival at D'Kar — a compelling reason to time a visit.