The Best Time to Visit Zambia
Zambia by season
Zambia enjoys a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season is the most popular time to visit, mainly due to the fine weather, but the country can be visited all year round. When’s best for you depends on your interests and budget. To help you decide, we’ve split the year into its two seasons:
December to April
The rains arrive across Zambia in December, and usually last through to March, bringing average temperatures between 25 and 30°C. Plants and flowers bloom due to the excess water, leaving a lush, green landscape, and giving this season its delightful name. There are bargains to be found in the emerald season, although do note that some safari camps close as the roads become impassable.
Go for:
Birdwatching: November to May is the ideal time to visit Zambia if you like avifauna; the lush green scenery attracts flocks of migratory birds and there are few other people around.
Victoria Falls: In April, Victoria Falls is in full flood. The ‘smoke that thunders’ is especially impressive at this time, and you’re guaranteed to get absolutely soaked in the spray.
May to November
By May the rains have passed and days are bright, warm and sunny. Nights can be chilly though, so do bring a jacket. Zambia’s famous walking camps open in June, just as peak season starts and temperatures start to climb. Average temperatures peak at about 35°C in October, the heat bringing the animals out from the bush and down to the waterholes, where you have a great chance of getting some fantastic wildlife sightings.
Go for:
Walking safaris: if you’d like to see the Zambian bush on foot, then June, July and August are the ideal time to visit. Conditions are perfect for walking safaris and all camps are open.
Bats: in November, Zambia’s Kasanka National Park sees the Great Bat Migration, one of the world’s largest and most impressive migrations involving millions of bats that darken the skies.
