Botswana's Climate Is Semi-Arid, Not Tropical

No. Botswana has a semi-arid (BSh/BWh Köppen) climate — not tropical.

Why It's Not Tropical

• Latitude: 18°–27°S — south of Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S).
• Rainfall: 250–650 mm/yr (tropical = >1,500 mm).
• Seasonality: Distinct wet/dry (tropical = year-round rain or monsoon).
• Vegetation: Savanna/grassland/Kalahari sandveld (tropical = rainforest).

Actual Climate

• Hot summer (Oct–Mar): 30–40°C days, thunderstorms.
• Mild/cool winter (Apr–Sep): 20–25°C days, 0–10°C nights (frost common in Kalahari).
• High diurnal range: 15–20°C day-night swing.

Neighboring Zambia, Angola, DRC (north of 18°S) are tropical. Botswana sits on the subtropical fringe—hence the Kalahari "desert" (actually fossil sand sheet).