Zambia Travel Guide Best Time To Visit
Philip is our Zambia expert and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.
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.
May to October Dry Season – Winter
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Animals are easier to spot
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There’s hardly any rain, and there are fewer mosquitoes
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June through August is the best time to see Victoria Falls
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October gets very hot, especially in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi
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Morning game drives in winter are chilly, so bring warm clothing
November to April Wet Season – Summer
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The landscape is green
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January and February are good months to see Victoria Falls
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You can see newborn animals
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This is the best time for birding, with migrants present
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The rain mostly falls as short showers in the late afternoon
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It’s low season, which means lower rates
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Most parks and camps close down – but South Luangwa remains open
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Animals are harder to find because they no longer rely on rivers and waterholes to drink
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From October to December, Victoria Falls might just be a trickle on the Zambian side
Wildlife Photos
Male lion
© Michael PolizaHerd of buffalo
© Ariadne van ZandbergenAfrican elephant entering the Zambezi River
© Ariadne van ZandbergenAfrican elephant in the Zambezi River
© Ariadne van ZandbergenCurious hyena pup in a den
© Egil DrogeHyena pup
© Egil DrogeCheetah
© Ariadne van ZandbergenAntelopes in early morning mist
© Michael PolizaLion lying in a tree
© Michael PolizaFemale lion standing in a tree
© Michael PolizaHerd of buffalo at the river
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBuffalo resting
© Ariadne van ZandbergenMale puku
© Bas van de KampWildebeest
© Stefano MadamaBlue wildebeest
© Stefano MadamaLeopard
© Ryan PotterHerd of elephant
© Ryan PotterMale lion
© Egil DrogeLion on the bank of the Luangwa River
© Ariadne van ZandbergenWildebeest
© Egil DrogeRoan antelope suckling
© Ariadne van ZandbergenPuku
© Ariadne van ZandbergenPlains zebra on the Busanga Plains at sunset
© Ariadne van Zandbergen 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.