Zambia in January

Rains; most bush camps closed; falls rising.

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JuneGreatCool dry season; walking safaris start in earnest.
• JulyGreatPeak season; Lower Zambezi canoeing at its best.
• AugustGreatExcellent game; Devil's Pool opens as the river drops (check).
• SeptemberGreatHot and dry; predators at water.

• Livingstone and the falls · Livingstone, Mosi-oa-Tunyarainy

  Peak flow and spray March–May; Devil's Pool opens as water drops (about mid-August to January). By November the Zambian side can be a dry cliff.

• Luangwa Valley · South and North Luangwarainy

  Hot, low valley; most camps open about May–November. 'Emerald season' boat safaris at a few camps Jan–Mar.

• Lower Zambezi · Lower Zambezi NP, Chiawarainy

  Camps close about November–March; canoeing and tiger-fishing season from May.

• Kafue and the west · Kafue, Busanga Plains, Liuwa Plainrainy

  Busanga Plains floods until about July; Liuwa's wildebeest migration comes with the first rains (Nov).

• Plateau · Lusaka, Copperbelt, Bangweulurainy

  At 1,200 m: pleasant; Bangweulu shoebills are easiest to see Mar–Jul.

• Central Zambia: Lusaka and the plateau · Lusaka, Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhirainy

  Cool dry season May–August (cold nights, 8–12 °C (46–54 °F)); hot dry season September–October (30 °C (86 °F)+); rains November–April with afternoon storms.Cool dry season May–August (cold nights, 46–54 °F (8–12 °C)); hot dry season September–October (86 °F (30 °C)+); rains November–April with afternoon storms.

• Copperbelt: Copperbelt plateau · Ndola, Kitwe, Chingola and the mine beltrainy

  Rainy season roughly November–March; dry, cooler months May–September are the comfortable window. Days are mild at this altitude; nights can be cold in June–July.

• Eastern Zambia: Luangwa Valley (South Luangwa, Mfuwe, North Luangwa) · Valley floor, 500–700 mrainy

  Cool dry season May–August, hot dry September–October (35 °C (95 °F)+), rains roughly November–April when most camps shut.Cool dry season May–August, hot dry September–October (95 °F (35 °C)+), rains roughly November–April when most camps shut.

• Eastern Zambia: Chipata and the plateau · Eastern Province high ground, about 1,100 mrainy

  Milder than the valley; afternoon downpours December–March.

• Northern Plateau: Plateau towns (Kasama, Mbala, Mpika) · 1,200–1,500 m elevationrainy

  Cooler than the lowlands; nights can drop to around 10 °C (50 °F) in June–July. The dry season runs roughly May to October, with the heaviest rain December to March.Cooler than the lowlands; nights can drop to around 50 °F (10 °C) in June–July. The dry season runs roughly May to October, with the heaviest rain December to March.

• Zambezi Basin: Zambezi valley and Livingstone · River corridor from Kazungula west to Senangarainy

  Cool dry May–August is the comfortable window; October is 35 °C (95 °F)+ before the rains break. The falls run highest roughly March–May and lowest around November.Cool dry May–August is the comfortable window; October is 95 °F (35 °C)+ before the rains break. The falls run highest roughly March–May and lowest around November.

• Zambezi Basin: Barotse floodplain (Mongu, Senanga) · Western Provincerainy

  The plain floods roughly December–April and the Kuomboka ceremony follows the high water; roads to the plain can be cut in the wet season.

• Livingstone29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 13 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 13 rain days
• Chama28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 18 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 18 rain days
• Chingola28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Chipata28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 18 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 18 rain days
• Kabwe27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 18 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 18 rain days
• Kapiri Mposhi28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Kasama30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 20 rain days
• Kazungula30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Kitwe28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Lundazi28 °C (82 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
• Lusaka27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 18 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 18 rain days
• Mfuwe28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Mongu30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 18 rain days
• Mpulungu28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 18 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 18 rain days
• Ndola27.6 °C (82 °F) / 17.3 °C (63 °F), 20 rain days82 °F (27.6 °C) / 63 °F (17.3 °C), 20 rain days
• Siavonga28 °C (82 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Solwezi28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Public holiday.

• Christmas and New Year check

  24-25 and 31 December · Livingstone

  Lodges book out; prices rise.

Crowds · Zambia

Low

Prices · Zambia

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Zambia, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →