AI-generatedFrancistown at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Aug
- Warmest month
- Oct · 33°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,640 h
- Rain a year
- 448 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Elevation
- 989 m
Climate in Francistown
Francistown has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. October is the warmest month with average highs of 33 °C, while July is the coolest at 24 °C. With around 2,640 hours of sunshine a year, Francistown is sunny; September is the sunniest month with 8.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Francistown
The best time to visit Francistown is from April to August. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to August. In October it can get very hot, with highs of up to 33 °C. The rainy season is from January to February; the wettest month is January with 105 mm.
Francistown through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Francistown in spring
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 31–33 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days in all
Francistown in summer
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 30–31 °C by day
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Francistown in autumn
Mar – May
Excellent
- 27–30 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days in all
Francistown in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 24–28 °C by day
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Aug
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Oct
Highs of 33 °C or more
Rainy months
Jan – Feb
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Francistown for you.
Your best months: June – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: April – August
Keep in mindPeak heat
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 24°
- Midday, 13:00: about 33°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 32°
- Evening, 20:00: about 25°
- Night, 23:00: about 21°
05:3918:12
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:25–06:09 · evening 17:42–18:26
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:17–05:25 · evening 18:26–18:35
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Francistown compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs rise from about 32° at the start of the month to 33° at the end. The days get 0.6 h longer.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 32° | 33° |
| Night-time low | 16° | 18° |
| Daylight | 12.3 h | 12.8 h |
What is the weather like in Francistown in October?
In October, Francistown is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sun shines for around 8.0 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Francistown.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 33 min05:39 – 18:12
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 29 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 25 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %24 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %83 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
Compare two months in Francistown
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Francistown: score 95 against 59. In May, days are 6 °C cooler than in October. May has 2 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 59 | 95better |
| Daytime high | 33° | 27° |
| Night-time low | 17° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 8.0 h | 7.6 h |
| Rainy days | 3 | 1better |
| Rainfall | 14 mm | 4 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Francistown month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
53January30° · 6.7 h
In January, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 6.7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 12 days, totalling 105 mm. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in January59February30° · 6.7 h
In February, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 6.7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 10 days, totalling 101 mm. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in February69March30° · 6.8 h
In March, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun shines for around 6.8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 44 mm. On about 15 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in March83April29° · 7.0 h
In April, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 13 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in April95May27° · 7.6 h
In May, Francistown is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7.6 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in May93June24° · 7.0 h
In June, Francistown is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in June93July24° · 7.0 h
In July, Francistown is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in July92August28° · 8.0 h
In August, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 8.0 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in August70September31° · 8.2 h
In September, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 8.2 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 20 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in September59October33° · 8.0 h
In October, Francistown is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sun shines for around 8.0 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in October48November32° · 7.0 h
In November, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 56 mm in total. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in November48December31° · 6.6 h
In December, Francistown is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 100 mm in total. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Francistown.
Francistown in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Francistown
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
PleasantOctober: nights around 17°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open.
The coolest nights are in July (8°), the warmest in January (19°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from October to April.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 53 | 30° | 19° | 6.7 h | 12 | 105 |
| FebruaryFeb | 59 | 30° | 19° | 6.7 h | 10 | 101 |
| MarchMar | 69 | 30° | 18° | 6.8 h | 7 | 44 |
| AprilApr | 83 | 29° | 16° | 7.0 h | 3 | 13 |
| MayMay | 95 | 27° | 12° | 7.6 h | 1 | 4 |
| JuneJun | 93 | 24° | 9° | 7.0 h | 1 | 4 |
| JulyJul | 93 | 24° | 8° | 7.0 h | 0 | 3 |
| AugustAug | 92 | 28° | 11° | 8.0 h | 0 | 1 |
| SeptemberSep | 70 | 31° | 14° | 8.2 h | 1 | 4 |
| OctoberOct | 59 | 33° | 17° | 8.0 h | 3 | 14 |
| NovemberNov | 48 | 32° | 19° | 7.0 h | 9 | 56 |
| DecemberDec | 48 | 31° | 19° | 6.6 h | 13 | 100 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
21.17° S, 27.51° E · 989 m · Africa/Gaborone
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Francistown
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.0 of 12.5 hours of daylight in Francistown, 64 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Francistown: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Francistown has about 3 rainy days with 14 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Francistown
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in January (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Francistown
How breezy and how cloudy Francistown is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Francistown typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 29 % of the sky over Francistown: mostly sunny, with about 8.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat & humidity
Heat and humidity in Francistown
How often the day gets hot in Francistown (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Francistown has about 25 hot days, with an average daytime high of 33 °C: often hot. Avoid the midday sun, look for shade and drink plenty.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Planning a trip to Francistown
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Francistown in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Francistown has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 95) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 51).
- 79
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 29 °C by day
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
- 95
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 92
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 26 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 59
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 33 °C by day
- 8.0 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 51
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 31 °C by day
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 45 min
- Distance
- 8,530 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: Botswana
- Currency
- Botswanan Pula (BWP)
- Language
- English
- Sockets
- Type D, G, M · 230 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +267
- Emergency number
- 911 · 999
UK plugs fit
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Francistown compared
Put Francistown side by side with another destination.
Francistown vs Bulawayo
In October Bulawayo has the better holiday weather (score 68 vs 59). During the day Bulawayo is 2 °C cooler than Francistown.
| in October | Francistown | Bulawayo |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 59 | 68 |
| Daytime high | 33° | 31° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 3 | 5 |
| Best time | Apr – Aug | Apr – Sep |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Botswana in October: the best places
In October, Francistown ranks 2 of 3 destinations in this country.
All destinations: BotswanaPlaces nearby
Near Francistown
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Francistown
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Francistown's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Francistown
When is the best time to visit Francistown?
The best time to visit Francistown is from April to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Francistown?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C and nights around 17 °C. July is the coolest month at 24 °C.
When does it rain most in Francistown?
The rainy season is from January to February; the wettest month is January with 105 mm. The driest month is August with 1 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Francistown get?
Francistown gets around 2,640 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is September with 8.2 hours a day; in December there are 6.6 hours a day.
What time zone is Francistown in?
Francistown is on UTC+2 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Francistown?
A nonstop flight from London to Francistown takes about 10 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,530 km.
Which school holidays are best for Francistown?
Francistown has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 95) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 51). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 79, May half-term 95, summer holidays 92, October half-term 59, Christmas holidays 51.