Zambia in September

Hot and dry; predators at water.

No other month rates higher than September for Zambia in this guide.

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

  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 Luangwabest weather

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

• Lower Zambezi · Lower Zambezi NP, Chiawabest weather

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

• Kafue and the west · Kafue, Busanga Plains, Liuwa Plainbest weather

  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 Senangafine

  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.

• Livingstone32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
• Chama30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Chingola32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Chipata30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 1 rain days
• Kabwe30 °C (86 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 0 rain days
• Kapiri Mposhi22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
• Kasama26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Kazungula32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Kitwe23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Lundazi28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 rain days
• Lusaka32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
• Mfuwe23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Mongu32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Mpulungu30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Ndola31.6 °C (89 °F) / 12.8 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days89 °F (31.6 °C) / 55 °F (12.8 °C), 1 rain days
• Siavonga31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
• Solwezi27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 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.

• Low water check

  Roughly September to December · Livingstone

  Swims and rafting open; the falls are thinner.

Crowds · Zambia

High

Prices · Zambia

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

• Luangwa Valley

  Best weather of the year (South and North Luangwa)

• Lower Zambezi

  Best weather of the year (Lower Zambezi NP, Chiawa)

• Kafue and the west

  Best weather of the year (Kafue, Busanga Plains, Liuwa Plain)

• Plateau

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

• Livingstone

  Hot, dry; falls lower.

• Chama

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

• 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