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Best Time to Visit Zambia (Month by Month)

Zambia Safaris Zambia
  1. January: Poor
  2. February: Poor
  3. March: Poor
  4. April: Fair
  5. May: Good
  6. June: Good
  7. July: Excellent
  8. August: Excellent
  9. September: Excellent
  10. October: Good
  11. November: Good
  12. December: Fair
  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Fair
  4. Poor

You’ll see lots of wildlife in Zambia during the middle and end of the Dry season (May to October). This will fit in nicely with a visit to Victoria Falls, which is at its best from June to August. A Wet season safari (November to April) is much more challenging, as most parks and camps shut down because of heavy rain. The exception is the Mfuwe section of South Luangwa National Park, which has a small circuit of all-weather roads.


154 Zambia Safaris
calendar Best Time
May to September (Most parks)
clock High Season
July to October (Victoria Falls and South Luangwa get busy)
percentage Low Season
November to April (Very few people; many camps are closed)
sun Best Weather
April to August (Cool and dry)
raincloud Worst Weather
October (Very hot) and December to March (The wettest months)

May to October Dry Season – Winter

  • Animals are easier to spot
  • There’s hardly any rain, and there are fewer mosquitoes
  • June through August is the best time to see Victoria Falls
  • October gets very hot, especially in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi
  • Morning game drives in winter are chilly, so bring warm clothing

November to April Wet Season – Summer

  • The landscape is green
  • January and February are good months to see Victoria Falls
  • You can see newborn animals
  • This is the best time for birding, with migrants present
  • The rain mostly falls as short showers in the late afternoon
  • It’s low season, which means lower rates
  • Most parks and camps close down – but South Luangwa remains open
  • Animals are harder to find because they no longer rely on rivers and waterholes to drink
  • From October to December, Victoria Falls might just be a trickle on the Zambian side

Wildlife Photos

Male lion Herd of buffalo +15 Photos

Best Time To Go by Major Park

For the best wildlife viewing in the main parks (South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi), visit in the dry winter months (July to October). This coincides with the best opportunities for great photos of Victoria Falls – from June to August. Most camps close in the rainy season and washed-out roads make travel difficult. However, the landscape is beautiful and bird watching is superb at this time.

  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Fair
  4. Poor
  1. Kafue National Park
    1. January: Poor
    2. February: Poor
    3. March: Poor
    4. April: Fair
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Poor
  2. Lower Zambezi NP
    1. January: Poor
    2. February: Poor
    3. March: Poor
    4. April: Fair
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Poor
  3. South Luangwa NP
    1. January: Poor
    2. February: Poor
    3. March: Poor
    4. April: Fair
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Good
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Poor

Want To Visit Zambia?

154 Zambia Safaris