Climate and travel time

Zimbabwe is located on the edge of the tropical belt in south-east Africa and covers an area of around 390,000 square kilometers. From May to October, the weather is temperate, almost Mediterranean, with warm days, cool nights and absolute dryness.

Between November and April, rainfall is heavier in the higher areas than in the rest of the country (1000 - 1400 mm per year). Temperatures rise to over 30°C during the day. In the winter months of June and July, it is very cold in the evenings and at night, and there can even be night frost at high altitudes. the best months to travel are April and May or August to October.

Winter from May to August is considered the dry season. Daytime temperatures reach a pleasant 20-25° C, the days are sunny and the sky is bright blue. In the evenings, it cools down noticeably in higher regions, and temperatures can even drop to zero at night. This is the best time of year for game viewing, as the grass is low and the animals need to get to the waterholes to drink.

The summer from November to March is the rainy season and temperatures rise well above the 30°C mark. At night it can cool down to 15°C. It gets very humid in the subtropical and tropical areas of the country in the north towards Zambia and in the east towards Mozambique. Unpaved roads are often only passable with an off-road vehicle. Towards the end of the rainy season, the Zambezi River (and thus the Victoria Falls) carries the most water.

The months of April (fall) and September and October (spring) are transitional months that have advantages and disadvantages depending on the preferred activity. If you want to experience the Victoria Falls in their full splendor, you should travel in April or May. Those who want to enjoy good game viewing in pleasant temperatures should travel in September or October.