When is the Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe?

February is another wet month in Zimbabwe and like the other rainy months, it can feel hot in the midday heat. The rainy season months all tend to see heavy rainfall in the afternoons and the rest of the day is clear and sunny.

The rains are starting to dry up a little in March, although this is still considered a rainy season month. The rains have swelled the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls are ramping up to become spectacular as the water levels rise.

April usually marks the end of the rainy season. The temperatures are still warm and the land is green and lush. This is a wonderful time to visit Victoria Falls as the waterfalls are at their most spectacular after the summer rains. Crashing waters cause mist and spray meaning you have the best chances of seeing rainbows at this time of year.

May is one of the best months to witness Victoria Falls and combine this with good safari conditions too. Mana Pools will close for the rainy season to protect the land and so now, with this massive park open to explore it’s a great time to visit before the crowds arrive.

By June the winter is underway and nightimes and early mornings will feel chilly. The weather is now dry and the man-made watering holes in Hwange start pumping water to make sure the massive elephant herds have enough to drink. June is still just outside the peak busy season so it’s a great time to visit to go on safari.

Another wonderful month for safari in Zimbabwe. Dry conditions are great for Rhino tracking on foot in Matobo Hills and massive herds of elephants can be found at the limited water-sources in Hwange National Park.

Yet more great wildlife viewing conditions with hot daytime temperatures and cool nights. August is one of the peak months though so it's best to opt for camps in private reserves and concessions if you want to avoid the crowds. This is a great month to go white water rafting on the Zambezi as the water levels are low, exposing the rocks and rapids.

Very similar to August in terms of conditions although the temperatures are still climbing. September is also slightly less popular in terms of visitors so the national parks can feel quieter. September does mark an important event for Hwange National Park; the annual game count. The Hwange rangers spend time at the waterholes and count the number of animals passing through the park.

In terms of game viewing, October is a great month. It’s extremely dry now so expect massive concentrations of wildlife at the limited water sources. However, October is also one of the hottest months with temperatures sometimes climbing into the 40°Cs. Safari activities are now very much limited to the early mornings and evenings as it's simply too hot to move around in the midday heat and the wildlife hides in any shade it can find.

The rainy season should typically start in November coming as a tremendously welcome relief for wildlife and the parched land. However, November can be hard to predict. Sometimes the rains arrive late, if this happens November can be unbearably hot and dry. If the rain arrives in earnest, this can be a very wet month. November marks the start of the bird watching season, with hundreds of different resident and migratory bird species to spot.

December falls into the rainy season which means it's great for birdwatching and although safari is possible, wildlife can be tricky to spot and some tracks will become waterlogged, making it difficult to move around.