When to go · Zambia
Zambia, month by month
The best months for Zambia: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixedRains; most bush camps closed; falls rising.Livingstone and the falls: rainy · Luangwa Valley: rainy · Lower Zambezi: rainyCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryMixedWet and green; Luangwa emerald season boats at a few camps.Livingstone and the falls: rainy · Luangwa Valley: rainy · Lower Zambezi: rainyCrowds: Low
- MarchGoodFalls powerful; parks still closed or muddy.Livingstone and the falls: rainy · Luangwa Valley: rainy · Lower Zambezi: rainyCrowds: Low · 5 festivals or holidays
- AprilGoodFalls at peak: spray soaks the Knife-Edge Bridge.Livingstone and the falls: best weather · Luangwa Valley: fine · Lower Zambezi: fineCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- MayGoodCamps reopen; green bush; falls still high.Livingstone and the falls: best weather · Luangwa Valley: fine · Lower Zambezi: fineCrowds: Medium · 4 festivals or holidays
- JuneGreatCool dry season; walking safaris start in earnest.Livingstone and the falls: best weather · Luangwa Valley: best weather · Lower Zambezi: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- JulyGreatPeak season; Lower Zambezi canoeing at its best.Livingstone and the falls: best weather · Luangwa Valley: best weather · Lower Zambezi: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- AugustGreatExcellent game; Devil's Pool opens as the river drops (check).Livingstone and the falls: fine · Luangwa Valley: best weather · Lower Zambezi: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- SeptemberGreatHot and dry; predators at water.Livingstone and the falls: fine · Luangwa Valley: best weather · Lower Zambezi: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- OctoberGood'Suicide month': 40 °C (104 °F) in the valleys; peak game; falls low.'Suicide month': 104 °F (40 °C) in the valleys; peak game; falls low.Livingstone and the falls: hot · Luangwa Valley: hot · Lower Zambezi: hotCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- NovemberMixedFirst rains; camps close; Liuwa migration begins.Livingstone and the falls: hot · Luangwa Valley: hot · Lower Zambezi: hotCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- DecemberMixedWet season; falls low on the Zambian side.Livingstone and the falls: rainy · Luangwa Valley: rainy · Lower Zambezi: rainyCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Zambia, side by side.
Verdict
Jun: Great
Jul: Great
Crowds
Jun: Medium
Jul: High
Prices
Jun: Medium
Jul: High
Festivals listed
Jun: 1
Jul: 1
June: Cool dry season; walking safaris start in earnest.
July: Peak season; Lower Zambezi canoeing at its best.
Zambia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingstone and the fallsLivingstone, Mosi-oa-Tunya | Wet | Wet | Wet | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | OK | Hot | Hot | Wet |
| Luangwa ValleySouth and North Luangwa | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Wet |
| Lower ZambeziLower Zambezi NP, Chiawa | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Wet |
| Kafue and the westKafue, Busanga Plains, Liuwa Plain | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | OK | OK |
| PlateauLusaka, Copperbelt, Bangweulu | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | Best | Cool | Cool | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Wet |