Zambia in May

Camps reopen; green bush; falls still high.

May is rated good. 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-Tunyabest weather

  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 Luangwafine

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

• Lower Zambezi · Lower Zambezi NP, Chiawafine

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

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

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

• Plateau · Lusaka, Copperbelt, Bangweulubest weather

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

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

  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 beltbest weather

  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 mbest weather

  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 mbest weather

  Milder than the valley; afternoon downpours December–March.

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

  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 Senangabest weather

  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 Provincefine

  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.

• Livingstone27 °C (81 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 0 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 0 rain days
• Chama26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
• Chingola33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Chipata27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
• Kabwe26 °C (79 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
• Kapiri Mposhi24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Kasama23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• Kazungula29 °C (84 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
• Kitwe23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
• Lundazi30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 4 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 4 rain days
• Lusaka25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
• Mfuwe24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 10 rain days
• Mongu28 °C (82 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
• Mpulungu28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 4 rain days
• Ndola27.7 °C (82 °F) / 9.1 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (27.7 °C) / 48 °F (9.1 °C), 1 rain days
• Siavonga34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Solwezi30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 6 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.

• Labour Day and Africa Freedom Day

  1 May / 25 May

  Public holidays.

• Peak flow at the falls check

  Roughly March to May · Livingstone

  Full flow and heavy spray; wet paths; some activities closed.

• Africa Freedom Day check

  25 May · Livingstone

  Some closures.

• Falls at high water

  May-Jun · Livingstone

  Wall of spray and full flow; wet paths, closed rafting and swims.

Crowds · Zambia

Medium

Prices · Zambia

Medium

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Livingstone and the falls

  Best weather of the year (Livingstone, Mosi-oa-Tunya)

• Plateau

  Best weather of the year (Lusaka, Copperbelt, Bangweulu)

• Livingstone

  Dry season begins; falls very full.

• Chama

  Best months: May–Sep (dry season, road passable)

• Chingola

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, better road conditions)

• Chipata

  Best months: May–Aug (dry, cooler); late Feb for Ncwala, Aug for Kulamba

• Kabwe

  Best months: May–Aug (dry, cool)

• Kapiri Mposhi

  Best months: May–October (dry season, easier road travel)

• Kasama

  Best months: May–October (dry season)

• Kazungula

  Best months: May–Oct (dry, easier crossing)

• Kitwe

  Best months: May–October (dry season, cooler evenings)

• Lundazi

  Best months: Apr–Oct