When is the best time to visit Zambia?
The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season between June and November. The skies are cobalt blue, the days are hot, and the nights are cool. Temperatures can sit anywhere from 73°F to 97°F across the country. Wildlife-spotting opportunities are plentiful during this time too, as animals gather around the limited water sources.
Victoria Falls makes a great option to combine with a safari, but can be visited on its own when the camps are closed briefly in the wet season between January and February. This is when the 鈥榮moke that thunders鈥� lives up to its name. This name was coined by the Kalolo-Lozi people, who could see the enormous clouds of mist and spray from a distance.
Rain does fall outside of the wettest months, but this is compensated for by minimal crowds and top-quality birdwatching, plus temperatures remain warm.
Month-by-month guide for traveling in Zambia
Visiting Zambia in January
January is a good time to see Victoria Falls, but is very wet elsewhere and most camps are closed.
Events & Festivals
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Visiting Zambia in February
It remains wet throughout February, so it's a good time to see Victoria Falls, but only a few camps stay open for boating and walking. It's also a good time for birdwatching.
Events & Festivals
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Visiting Zambia in March
Victoria Falls is at its fullest, sending huge amounts of spray into the air and often obscuring the view of the falls themselves. Some camps are open for boating, and birdwatching is excellent. This time of year offers fantastic value for money and camps are really quiet so there are no crowds.
Events & Festivals
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Visiting Zambia in April
The weather starts to dry up a bit, but rain remains a significant feature of April.
Events & Festivals
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Visiting Zambia in May
A few more camps open up as the rain stops. However, this isn't the best time to embark on a safari as the ground is still sodden, which makes access difficult.
Events & Festivals
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Visiting Zambia in June
The ground starts to dry out after the rains, making June a lovely time to visit. The rivers are still full and the bush is colorful. The camps have opened and are offering excellent deals, while there are few other visitors to compete for space with.
Visiting Zambia in July
Once July hits, Zambia kicks into high gear. Temperatures are rising but it stays chilly in the mornings and evenings. All camps are open in all the national parks, with the South Luangwa the best option for game, the Lower Zambezi for river cruises and fishing, and the Kafue for remote wilderness. Victoria Falls is spectacular, without being overly wet.
Visiting Zambia in August
The hotter weather and drier bush means walking safaris are excellent across the country. This is the prime time of year to combine game viewing and Victoria Falls.
Visiting Zambia in September
September is a superb time to be on safari. Temperatures around 80°F make the days pleasant, and the water sources are drying up so animals congregate by the rivers and waterholes. Victoria Falls is not as dramatic as earlier months but is still impressive. Meanwhile, carmine bee-eaters arrive in their thousands to nest in the river banks.
Events & Festivals
- Carmine bee-eaters arrive: This month sees the carmine bee-eaters arrive, with flocks of hundreds nesting in river banks, providing a thrilling spectacle of color and sound in South Luangwa National Park
Visiting Zambia in October
The heat increases through October and game viewing is best done early and late in the day to escape the midday temperatures.
Visiting Zambia in November
The rains arrive in the latter half of the month, but as they are not regular they are not too disruptive and the bonus is seeing dramatic skies with storm clouds building. Temperatures are high and it can be muggy. Some camps close but lots stay open and are great value. You may also be able to see lots of young animals being born.
Events & Festivals
- Great bat migration: Experience the world's largest mammalian migration as millions of bats fill the skies in a remote part of Zambia.
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Visiting Zambia in December
Rains fall regularly, the rivers rise and the bush gets thicker and more colorful. This is an excellent value time to travel.
Events & Festivals
- Green Season: this is a great time for birdwatchers and walkers, offering beautiful scenery, flocks of migratory birds and hardly any people, as well as amazing value for money. Read more about Zambia's Green Season.
Zambia Climate Guide
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lusaka | 79°F 8" | 79°F 7" | 79°F 3" | 79°F 1" | 77°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 79°F 0" | 84°F 0" | 88°F 1" | 84°F 4" | 79°F 8" |
| North Luangwa National Park | 86°F 9" | 86°F 8" | 86°F 6" | 86°F 2" | 84°F 0" | 82°F 0" | 81°F 0" | 84°F 0" | 91°F 0" | 93°F 0" | 93°F 3" | 88°F 7" |
| South Luangwa National Park | 88°F 8" | 88°F 7" | 88°F 5" | 88°F 2" | 86°F 0" | 84°F 0" | 84°F 0" | 88°F 0" | 95°F 0" | 97°F 1" | 97°F 3" | 90°F 6" |
| The Kafue National Park | 82°F 8" | 82°F 7" | 82°F 4" | 84°F 1" | 81°F 0" | 77°F 0" | 77°F 0" | 82°F 0" | 88°F 0" | 91°F 1" | 86°F 4" | 84°F 9" |
| The Lower Zambezi National Park | 88°F 7" | 88°F 6" | 90°F 4" | 90°F 1" | 86°F 0" | 82°F 0" | 81°F 0" | 86°F 0" | 93°F 0" | 99°F 1" | 95°F 2" | 91°F 7" |
| Victoria Falls | 86°F 7" | 88°F 6" | 88°F 3" | 88°F 1" | 84°F 0" | 79°F 0" | 79°F 0" | 84°F 0" | 91°F 0" | 97°F 1" | 93°F 3" | 88°F 7" |
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Travel advice
Practical tips for traveling to Zambia, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest US State Department travel advice.
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