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Famous for its exceptionally high standards of guiding and simple yet very high-quality camps, Zambia offers great-value safari vacations that are off the mainstream circuit. The safari parks are thrillingly remote, with intense concentrations of game:
Best time to visit Zambia
The best time to travel to Zambia really depends on its two most popular activities: walking safaris with superb game-viewing, and heading to Victoria Falls, whether that is to watch the world’s largest waterfall in full flood or to take part in adventures such as white-water rafting. As an overview, avoid traveling between December and April, when it’s the hot, rainy season, as many lodges and roads are closed. Shoulder season offers great rates and availability, but you might have to sacrifice on the quality of game-viewing as the bush can still be thick. Go in peak season, and you’ll be in the thick of the action for walking safaris, big game, and impressive highlights, but remember that this all comes at a higher price. For a full month-by-month guide, take a look below:
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
January - Mixed month to visit Zambia
- January in Zambia is a mixed month, as it’s the peak wet season. Heavy showers are typical, and the days can be quite humid and hot.
- Although the green landscape is glorious, the vegetation is thicker and so animals are harder to spot.
- There is limited game-viewing potential during this time of year, as some areas are inaccessible.
- There are hardly any other travelers about, making for intimate safari experiences – plus rates are low.
- Many camps are closed at this time of year, as roads are flooded.
Wet season
Max temp 90 F
Heavy rain
Waterproofs are essential
Great birding
Lots of bugs
February - Mixed month to visit Zambia
- As it is still peak rainy season, you can expect rain throughout Zambia in February.
- The bush is dense due to very heavy rainfall, and the focus starts to move away from game drives to boating and walking safaris.
- Birdwatching is fabulous – you can expect to see lots of migrant species.
- If camps are open, there’s amazing value for money if you travel at this time of year, and the parks are very quiet.
- The weather is hot and humid, and high humidity makes for more bugs and mosquitoes.
Wet season
Max temp 90 F
Heavy rain
Vic Falls in full flow
Lots of bugs
Many lodges are closed
March - Mixed month to visit Zambia
- March is the final month of the rainy season – landscapes are super-lush and Victoria Falls is in full flow.
- Lots of Zambia’s safari properties are still closed because of flooded roads.
- March is an exceptionally good month for birdwatching.
- Property availability is good at the few camps that are still open and rates are low.
- It’s calving season for lots of animals, so there are plenty of newborns around.
Wet season
Max temp 88 F
Afternoon showers
Lots of bugs
Great Vic Falls month
Plenty of photo ops
April - Good month to visit Zambia
- April in Zambia is a mixed month. It’s the start of the shoulder season and wildlife can often be hard to spot due to thick, green vegetation.
- April also heralds the start of the dry season, although there are a few showers.
- Most safari areas are still relatively quiet.
- Properties in the national parks of Kafue and the North Luangwa and South Luangwa start to re-open.
- Young herbivores amidst lush landscapes makes for stunning photography.
Dry season
Max temp 88 F
Afternoon showers
Vic Falls in in full flow
High mosquito numbers
Low rates
May - Good month to visit Zambia
- Characterized by few travelers in the parks, May is a great time to take a quiet safari in Zambia – the bush is still beautifully green and mosquito numbers are on the decline.
- It’s a fairly quiet time of year, so most properties are open, available, and reasonably priced.
- In some spots, the grass growth is still quite high, which means wildlife is more difficult to see.
- Night temperatures start to drop, so lots of warm layers are recommended for the chillier periods.
- The walking areas are not yet open, making walking safaris difficult at this time of year. The ground is still muddy and slippery after heavy rain.
Dry season
Max temp 82 F
Small chance of rain
Fewer mosquitoes
Lush landscapes
Victoria Falls in full flow
June - Good month to visit Zambia
- June can be one of the best-value months to visit Zambia – it’s the beginning of walking safari season, and water levels are medium to low at Victoria Falls.
- The temperature in Zambia in June drops at night and in the early morning - so game drives can get cold.
- June marks the start of the walking safari season and wildlife is becoming easier to spot as the bush dries out.
- It’s an excellent time to visit Victoria Falls, as water levels are medium to low and the spray doesn’t impede the view.
- Rates can be reasonable, as not all camps charge high season – Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro have excellent special offers at this time of year.
Dry season
Max temp 77 F
No rain
Few bugs
Chilly mornings
Excellent Vic Falls month
July - Best month to visit Zambia
- Zambia in July is a very popular month for travel to Zambia, due to near-perfect conditions for both going on safari and visiting Victoria Falls.
- This is the start of the busy tourist season, so parks and properties are getting busier. Property availability is low, so make sure to book early.
- Game-viewing in the South Luangwa National Park is at its best, and walking safaris are particularly good due to comfortable temperatures.
- It’s an excellent time for river cruises and fishing on the Lower Zambezi.
- Water levels at Victoria Falls are low enough for white water rafting and visits to Devil’s Pool.
Peak season
Max temp 77 F
No rain
Perfect conditions at Vic Falls
Superb photography month
Nights are cold
August - Best month to visit Zambia
- August in Zambia is well into the dry season, and is one of the best months for a game-viewing safari holiday.
- It is also peak season, so property availability can be an issue as well as prices being higher at this time of year.
- It’s a great month for walking safaris as there is little, if any, rainfall throughout the whole month.
- Water levels at Victoria Falls are low enough for travelers to access Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool (from approximately 20th August – water levels dependent).
- August features plenty of big cat predator action, generally great game viewing across the national parks, and wildlife is easier to spot now there is less vegetation.
Peak season
Max temp 82 F
No rain
Access to Devil's Pool
High rates and low availability
Mid-winter
September - Best month to visit Zambia
- Wildlife viewing in September in Zambia is exceptionally good, with highlights that include big cats, big game, and carmine bee-eaters flitting about the riverbanks.
- It’s peak season, so there’s relatively low availability of properties and prices are high.
- September is one of the most popular months, so holiday destinations can feel crowded.
- The temperature in Zambia in September is getting hot, so walking safaris are more difficult now.
- This is a great time to see huge herds of hippos wallowing in the riverbeds of the South Luangwa National Park.
Peak season
Max temp 91 F
No rain
YZ favorite month
Look out for bee-eaters
Not a great Vic Falls month
October - Best month to visit Zambia
- The weather in October in Zambia is the hottest month of the year, and water sources are drying up, so game-viewing can be fantastic around waterholes.
- Game drives and walking safaris are restricted to the early morning or evening to avoid the stifling midday temperatures and humidity.
- It’s a fantastic month for white water rafting on the Zambezi river, as water levels are so low, as well as for daring dips in Devil’s Pool.
- There might be no water flowing over the edge of the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, but you could cross over to the Zimbabwe side for river activities.
- Towards the end of the month, some camps start to drop their rates and value can be found.
Peak season
Max temp 95 F
Small chance of rain
Hottest month
Plenty of photo ops
Great game viewing
November - Good month to visit Zambia
- November in Zambia is a transition month from dry to rainy season – unpredictable weather is the norm.
- The rains begin in the second half of the month, but usually consist of short and light late afternoon or early evening showers.
- Walking safaris lessen when the rains come in and half the camps shut down during the middle of the month.
- There are hardly any other tourists at this time of year, so parks will be much quieter than they were during the previous few months.
- Waters should still be low enough for travelers to access the Devil’s Pool at the edge of Victoria Falls.
Transition season
Max temp 93 F
Light showers
Not ideal for Vic Falls
Migratory birds
Herds over from Angola
December - Mixed month to visit Zambia
- December in Zambia sees the rainy season beginning in earnest in Zambia. The bush grows green, many migratory birds may be viewed, and it’s calving season for herbivores.
- Lots of Zambia’s remote camps are closed in December, so there are limited options concerning accommodation.
- Temperatures remain high throughout the rainy season, and it can feel quite humid.
- The lodges that remain open have excellent availability and prices are relatively low.
- Birdwatching is brilliant, as lots of migratory species are present.
Rainy season
Max temp 91 F
Big downpours
Not ideal for Vic Falls
Green landscapes
Humidity brings bugs
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