Gorongosa National Park

Weather & Climate

2 Gorongosa Tours

Expert

By Philip Briggs

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Mozambique.

Climate Chart Gorongosa National Park – 18-307m / 59-1,007ft

* Averages based on 50 years of monthly climate data, taken from 1km² (0.39mi²) interpolated climate surfaces.
© chart & park data: SafariBookings. © climate grid data: WorldClim project. All rights reserved.

Gorongosa has a tropical, hot climate with a Wet and Dry season. The cool Dry season from May to October offers the most comfortable travel conditions and these are the best wildlife viewing months.

Dry Season –May to October

There is little rain in the Dry season. Animals congregate more and more around the rivers and permanent water sources. It is warm during the day, but cool at night.

May – At the start of the Dry season the bush is still lush but the rain has really fallen away.
June & July – There is almost no rain and the bush is drying out. These are the coolest months with daytime temperatures around 27°C/81°F. It gets cold at night, averaging 14°C/57°F. Warm clothing for early morning drives is essential.
August & September – It is still very dry. The bush is starting to look parched. It is also warming up, with an average daytime temperature in September of 31°C/88°F. Mornings are getting less cold.
October – Daytime temperatures keep ramping up to an average of 34°C/93°F. Peak temperatures are much higher, and the heat can become unbearable during the day. Mornings are ideal, with temperatures around 20°C/68°F.

Wet Season –November to April

This is the warm, Wet season. The roads get very bad after heavy rain and the park closes from mid-December to the end of March. Showers in the afternoon are common and spectacular thunderstorms rumble overhead. The sky is clear and the bush is lush.

November – When the rains start, it’s a relief because the bush is very dry and the skies are hazy. It is still very hot. The average temperature is 34°C/93°F. When it rains, it mostly comes in afternoon thunderstorms.
December, January, February & March – The wettest months bring rain most days, but rarely lasting the whole day. Daytime temperatures average 33°C/86°F, while at night and in the early morning temperatures average about 21°C/70°F. The park is closed.
April – This is a lovely month as the rain is winding down but everything is lush and green. The park reopens. Some of the roads might be closed until they dry out.