For optimal wildlife viewing conditions, the best time to visit Zambia is in the dry season between May and October. Many of the water holes have dried up, pushing the animals to congregate around large pools and lakes. It’s a great time to explore the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa on a walking safari or open-topped game drive vehicles. If you’re travelling at the end of this period, be prepared for high temperatures of over 40ºC.
Depending on your specific trip, packing requirements will vary; make sure to speak to your travel expert about what you will need for any sections that are particularly adventurous or where equipment may be provided. We recommend considering the following.
January experiences a lot of heavy rainfall. Most camps will be closed and roadways are often flooded. It’s part of the green season so the scenery can be very beautiful, with flocks of migratory birds.
Green season is the best time to visit if you’re a birder, with flocks of migratory birds arriving in Zambia.
Water levels are high enough for boat safaris on the Lower Zambezi, wonderful for spotting elephants.
Similarly to January, February will experience heavy rainfall throughout the country. The majority of accommodation will still be closed, but some may be open to a small range of outdoor activities. Fly-in safaris may be best for the wet season.
The green season is a great time for birdwatchers with flocks of migratory birds like the terek sandpiper.
South Luangwa National Park offers wonderful boat safaris at this time of year.
The wet season is nearing an end, but there’s still plenty of rainfall. Temperatures hover around 23°C with heavier rainfall at the start of the month. Throughout the winter months, it can be a wonderful opportunity for bird watching with thousands of migratory birds starting to take flight. It may be more difficult to spot some wildlife with the thick vegetation after the rainy season.
March is a fabulous time for a cruise down the Lower Zambezi River.
After the rains of the wet season, Victoria Falls is at its fullest. It may be best seen from the skies in a helicopter or microlight, unless you don’t mind getting soaked by the spray.
April is the first month of the year that Zambia becomes accessible after the rains of the winter months, but with quieter camps and national parks. Temperatures are marginally cooler, averaging 21°C and there’s significantly less rainfall than the previous months. Around mid-April, the rain generally stops making it a great time for a safari, especially in the south. Predators may be harder to spot due to the thick vegetation, but birdwatching is fabulous at this time of year.
Antelope offspring tend to be born in the rainy season, so by April there will be young wildlife roaming around the parks.
With April marking the end of the rainy season, there’s the opportunity for spectacular views of Victoria Falls when it’s at its fullest. There will be lots of spray, so we recommend a helicopter or microlight flight for panoramic views.
May brings the cool, dry winter season from May until October, making it a wonderful time to visit Zambia. Wildlife is in abundance, temperatures are pleasant and there’s considerably less rainfall. It’s still a fairly quiet time to travel to Zambia as May falls between the long rainy season and the peak of the dry season. It may still be cool in the early mornings and nights, so make sure to bring thin layers.
The Bangweulu wetlands is home to one of Africa’s most unique birds.
With high water levels, witness the powerful flow of Victoria Falls.
Temperatures average around 25°C during the daytime and remain cooler through the evening. This is the start of the peak season for safaris as it’s one of the cooler months of the dry season. Make sure to bring plenty of thin layers with you for any early morning safaris.
June marks the start of the walking safari season in Luangwa Valley. A fantastic way to bring you into close proximity with the wildlife.
With the lack of rain, the bush will be starting to dry out making it easier to spot wildlife.
July is one of the peak months for travel in Zambia, with temperatures ranging from 22°C to highs of 30°C. All accommodation and destinations throughout the country will be fully open, with opportunities to partake in all activities. Tourist numbers start to increase, as do prices. We recommend booking well in advance to ensure your pick of accommodation.
South Luangwa is the best option for game at this time with walking safaris and the Lower Zambezi is great for river cruises and fishing. It’s also the start of white water rafting season in the Zambezi River; with class 3-5 rapids interspersed with serene pools, this can be an incredible way to explore.
It’s much easier to spot wildlife in July. In the dry season, the grasses and bushes become grazed down and big cats are more active during the day, before it becomes too hot.
Lower water levels means that the flow won’t be as impressive as previous months, but it does mean you can get better views as the spray is less. More thrilling and adrenaline pumping activities will be available around the falls too.
Zambia is in the middle of its peak season as it’s one of the best times to visit for both wildlife viewings and Victoria Falls. We recommend booking well in advance to ensure you have your pick of camps and parks. There will be slight variations in climate depending on the parks; lower altitudes will be hotter and higher altitudes will be cooler. Bring plenty of thin layers for safaris.
Prey gathers around limited water supplies, meaning plenty of opportunities to witness predator action. Keep an eye out for leopards, lions and cheetahs on the prowl.
With waterholes drying out, the locations of wildlife start to become more predictable. The bush is less dense and animals congregate around the larger water supplies. This makes for fabulous walking safari opportunities.
Temperatures start to rise and can reach highs of 28°C in certain regions of the country. This can be an ideal month for safaris in Zambia; fewer water sources means animals congregate around waterholes and rivers, leaving you with a higher chance of regular wildlife viewings on game drives. Walking safaris may be more difficult in this heat, but you are guaranteed long, dry days. Spot lions lounging in the shade during late morning game drives.
Sightings of eagles and storks preying on fish in depleted pools of water aren’t uncommon.
September is towards the end of the dry season, making for incredible sightings of large pods of hippos in the remaining pools of South Luangwa.
The river valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa will become very hot in October. Game drives during the day can sometimes become uncomfortable because of the humidity and high temperatures. Game viewing may be best in the early morning or later in the day to avoid peak temperatures. If you can handle the heat and humidity, game viewing opportunities are incredible with animals congregating along the edge of river beds and waterholes.
There may be no water on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls after the long months of the dry season, but it’s possible to head over to Zimbabwe to see the falls from there. It can however be a good time for white water rafting below the falls while water levels aren’t too high.
As early as August, these pink and blue migratory birds begin to arrive in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Their numbers build over the next couple of months, making October the best time to see them. Taking advantage of the dry weather, they burrow into dry river banks to build their nests, congregating in colourful colonies as they flit back and forth from their nests.
This is a fabulous time for tiger fishing at Lake Kariba, when the fish are more active and feed regularly during their breeding season.
The dry season comes to an end, making November the shoulder season in Zambia. Early in the month, days are hot and dry, but the weather can become unpredictable in the second half of the month. Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa may be your best chance of dry weather and wildlife sightings. Parks and camps should be quieter and prices should drop as Zambia heads into its wet season. It may not be possible to do walking safaris, so we recommend visiting earlier in the season if this is a must for you.
As the rains start to arrive, the birding season starts to flourish with a mix of endemic and migratory species. The water levels of Victoria Falls start to rise again; it may even be possible to take a dip in the Devil’s Pool before the power of the falls starts to build.
In November, the skies above Kasanka National Park in Zambia fill with a strange sight. More than eight million fruit bats flood into the park, descending upon the forest to feed on wild fruits. This is the largest mammal migration in the world and, for a couple of months, the area heaves with bats, tree branches sagging under their weight.
40,000 blue wildebeest begin their migration in Liuwa Plain National Park around mid-November.
By December, Zambia’s rainy season is in full flow with temperatures rising to highs of 28°C. Lush, green vegetation starts to grow, making it harder to spot wildlife. Some camps may even start to close because of heavy rainfall and flooding. Rainfall often comes in the form of afternoon downpours, which lowers the humidity and makes for pleasant evening game drives and sundowners. There are plenty of opportunities for birders, with migratory birds moving through the bush.
There are plenty of opportunities for birders, with migratory birds swooping through the bush.
It may be difficult to spot wildlife in the lush, dense vegetation, but provides a wonderful backdrop for photo opportunities. The dense vegetation provides cover and nutrition for newborns and gives them the best chance of survival.
Drag the slider to see monthly temperature and rainfall.
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The Kafue National Park
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The Lower Zambezi National Park
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Lusaka
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North Luangwa National Park
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South Luangwa National Park
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Victoria Falls
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