Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe

Two cities, two different answers

Zimbabwe's seasons are simple: a dry winter and a wet summer. But the best month depends on what you came for.

Harare, the capital, sits high up on a plateau, so it stays milder than you'd expect. April to September is the sweet spot. Days are sunny and dry, and evenings can feel cool. Victoria Falls is lower and hotter. Our pick there is May to July, when the air is comfortable for walking around the rainforest paths beside the falls.

The main seasons

The rains run roughly from November to March. January is the wettest month in both places, with Harare getting more (208 mm) than Victoria Falls (160 mm). Expect heavy afternoon downpours, green countryside and lots of cloud. The falls are at their most powerful a little after the rains, around April and May. You'll get soaked on the Zambezi side of the footbridge, so bring a poncho if you want to keep your camera dry.

October is the hottest month at both, with Victoria Falls reaching 37°C. It's dry and dusty before the rains, and the days can be hard going. It's good for wildlife, though. Animals gather at waterholes in Hwange National Park, so sightings are easier.

High season, holidays and crowds

High season is the dry winter, roughly May to September. Lodges around Victoria Falls and Hwange fill up, so you'll want to sort out your stay early. Low season is the wet summer. Prices tend to drop and crowds thin out, but some bush roads get muddy and slow.

If you want to see the falls at their fullest and still have sunshine, aim for May. If you love photographing dry-season wildlife, pick the later months.

Local holidays can affect your trip. Independence Day is 18 April, and Heroes' Day and Defence Forces Day fall in August. Buses and roads get busier around those dates. Christmas and Easter are busy with families travelling home, too.

Doing both cities? Late May or June works well. Harare will be crisp and clear, and the falls will still be thundering.