Zambia in October

'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.

October 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-Tunyahot

  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 Luangwahot

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

• Lower Zambezi · Lower Zambezi NP, Chiawahot

  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, Bangweuluhot

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

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

  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 beltfine

  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 mhot

  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 mhot

  Milder than the valley; afternoon downpours December–March.

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

  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 Senangahot

  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 Provincehot

  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.

• Livingstone34 °C (93 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 2 rain days
• Chama32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
• Chingola30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 9 rain days
• Chipata32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
• Kabwe31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
• Kapiri Mposhi24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 9 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 9 rain days
• Kasama27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 rain days
• Kazungula34 °C (93 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
• Kitwe25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
• Lundazi29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Lusaka32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
• Mfuwe25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 10 rain days
• Mongu33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
• Mpulungu31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
• Ndola32.7 °C (91 °F) / 16.2 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (32.7 °C) / 61 °F (16.2 °C), 3 rain days
• Siavonga32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 9 rain days
• Solwezi28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 10 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.

• Independence Day

  24 Oct

  National celebrations.

• Low water

  Sep-Dec · Livingstone

  Devil's Pool swims and full rafting open; the Zambian falls can look thin.

Crowds · Zambia

Medium

Prices · Zambia

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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Rated best or good this month

• Chingola

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

• 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

• Lusaka

  Best months: May–Aug (dry, cool nights); Sep–Oct is hot before the rains

• Mfuwe

  Best months: Jun–Oct

• Siavonga

  Best months: Apr–Oct

• Solwezi

  Best months: May–Oct (drier, less rain)