Gaborone, Botswana Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Gaborone
Gaborone averages 71°F (21°C) across the year, with 10.9 hours of sunshine a day and 13.6 inches (345 mm) of precipitation. The spread runs from July, at 71°F (22°C), to December, at 90°F (32°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: December - highs near 90°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 71°F (22°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 109°F (43°C) high · 33°F (0°C) low
- Wettest month: December (9 rainy days) · Sunniest: January (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: semi-arid
- Annual swing: 12°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 14°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 6
- Average humidity: 48%
Temperatures through the year
Precipitation concentrates in December - 2.9 inches (74 mm) on 9 days - and thins out by August. July is the coolest month, with highs of 71°F (22°C) and lows near 44°F (6°C). At its warmest, in December, Gaborone runs to 90°F (32°C) in the afternoon and back to 69°F (20°C) by dawn. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 109°F (43°C) and bottoms at 33°F (0°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 6 months of the year, September through February being the unbroken run.
Rain, sun and snow
Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is May through August. Relative humidity averages 48% across the year, drier than all but 5% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Sunshine averages 10.9 hours a day over the year - sunnier than 93% of the 3496 cities in our dataset, peaking in January at 11.7 hours.
How Gaborone compares
- Afternoons run 14°C above the following night - a bigger day-to-night gap than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 47 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 8% of the 3496 cities we track.
- 60% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 92% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 89° | 69° | 9 | 2.8 in | 11.7 h/day | 13.5 h | 30% | 55% |
| February | 88° | 68° | 8 | 2.4 in | 11.2 h/day | 13.0 h | 28% | 57% |
| March | 86° | 65° | 5 | 1.0 in | 10.8 h/day | 12.3 h | 15% | 56% |
| April | 81° | 59° | 4 | 1.3 in | 9.9 h/day | 11.5 h | 14% | 59% |
| May | 76° | 51° | 1 | 0.3 in | 10.3 h/day | 10.9 h | 4% | 54% |
| June | 71° | 45° | 1 | 0.1 in | 10.0 h/day | 10.6 h | 2% | 52% |
| July | 71° | 44° | 1 | 0.1 in | 10.4 h/day | 10.7 h | 2% | 45% |
| August | 79° | 50° | 0 | 0.0 in | 10.7 h/day | 11.3 h | 1% | 37% |
| September | 86° | 57° | 0 | 0.1 in | 11.2 h/day | 12.0 h | 1% | 32% |
| October | 90° | 63° | 3 | 0.9 in | 11.3 h/day | 12.7 h | 8% | 35% |
| November | 90° | 66° | 6 | 1.7 in | 11.7 h/day | 13.4 h | 19% | 43% |
| December | 90° | 69° | 9 | 2.9 in | 11.4 h/day | 13.7 h | 30% | 52% |
Gaborone month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Gaborone's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
February
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
March
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
April
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
May
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
June
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
July
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.7 h
August
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
September
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
October
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
November
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
December
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Gaborone
Spring (September through November)
Through spring, Gaborone is hot: 89°F (32°C) by day, 62°F (17°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 9 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day.
Summer (December through February)
Through summer, Gaborone sits firmly in the heat: 89°F (31°C) by day, 68°F (20°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 26 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day.
Fall (March through May)
Fall is hot here - highs near 81°F (27°C), nights near 58°F (15°C), and rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day.
Winter (June through August)
Winter is mild and warm here - highs near 74°F (23°C), nights near 46°F (8°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 6 mm (0.2 in) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
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Best time to visit Gaborone
April to August is the sweet spot for Gaborone - temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Expect 76°F (24°C) in the afternoon and around 1 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Gaborone with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection. December nights average 69°F (20°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Gaborone temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.