When is the best time to visit Zimbabwe

When is the best time to travel to the Zimbabwe? In general, it is recommended visiting the country between the months of March and November.  This is because at this time of year we can enjoy a warm and pleasant climate with a moderate amount of rain. Although in reality the climate of the country is good and suitable for travellers from other countries.

Best time to travel to the Zimbabwe

Summer takes place from November to the month of March and temperatures are usually in excess of 30ºC and there is also some rain.  Winter is dry and cool, and it is an ideal season for seeing animals that meet in the fresh water areas.  Between April and May the temperatures reach their highs, after the summer rains.  In the dry season, there is much less rain, although it is the best time to do sports such as rafting in the Zambezi river, which is characterised by the ferocity of its waters. Summarising, Zimbabwe’s climate is mild and very pleasant since it isn’t usually either too warm or too cold.  In terms of temperatures, the average high is of 31ºC in the month of October and 23ºC in June.

Zimbabwe has four different types of climate:

  • Semi-arid warm
  • Arid warm
  • Subtropical with dry winter and warm summer
  • Tropical dry or savannah

The average temperature throughout the year in Zimbabwe is 27ºC and the average annual rainfall is 1284 mm.  This means that for 183 days of the year it doesn’t rain.  The UV index is 6 and the percentage of average humidity is 64%.

This is the detailed information to know more accurately which is the best time to travel to the Zimbabwe.

January

During the month of January, there is 345 mm of rainfall, it rains for 27 days, so only 4 days are dry.  The maximum temperature is 26ºC and the minimum is 21ºC.

February

In February it rains for approximately 25 days so there are only 3 dry days. Rainfall reaches 208 mm. The maximum temperature is 27ºC and the minimum is 21ºC.

March

This month in Zimbabwe there are only 23 days of rain with 149 mm of rainfall.  We have 8 dry days and average temperatures of 20ºC as a minimum and 26ºC as a maximum.

April

In April there are 16 days of rain and the level of rainfall is 56 mm. During this month there are 14 dry days.  Average temperatures are 25ºC maximum and 18ºC minimum.

May and June

During the month of January, there is 19 mm of rainfall, it rains for 3 days, so only 27 days are dry. The maximum temperature is 24ºC and the minimum is 17ºC.

July

This month in Zimbabwe there are only 3 days of rain with 4 mm of rainfall. We have 28 dry days and average temperatures of 17ºC as a minimum and 23ºC as a maximum.

August

In August it only rains for 1 day in Zimbabwe, so the other 30 days are dry.  There is 1 mm of rainfall.  The maximum temperature is 26ºC and the minimum is 17ºC.

September

The maximum average is 30°C during the month of September in Zimbabwe and the minimum is around 21°C. This month has a total rainfall of 4 mm and it rains for around 3 days.  So there are 27 dry days.

October

During the month of October, there is 25 mm of rainfall, it rains for 8 days, so only 23 days are dry. The maximum temperature is 31ºC and the minimum is 24ºC.

November

In November it only rains for 19 day in Zimbabwe, so the other 11 days are dry. Rainfall increases to 125 mm.  The maximum temperature is 30ºC and the minimum is 24ºC.

December

The average maximum temperatures in December in Zimbabwe is 28ºC and the minimum is around 22ºC. It rains for approximately 26 days, reaching rainfall of 344 mm. There are only 5 dry days in this month.

When to travel to Victoria Falls

One of the main tourist attractions are the Victoria Falls, on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The weather in this region is what is known as a subtropical estuary, although it is tempered by the falls located between the city of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls.  This region is characterised by three climates instead of four as in the rest of the country.  The warm and rainy season takes place between the months of November and March. Between April and the start of August, it is the dry and cool season. And from mid-August to October, it is the warm dry season.  Summer is not the best season to visit Victoria Falls because the weather can be very humid.  In the dry cool season, night temperatures drop below 10ºC on average.  Nearly all of the rain in the waterfalls falls between December and February.  Between May and September there is hardly any rain.

We could summarise that the best time to travel to the Zimbabwe is between March and November, although during the rest of the months, and going well equipped, we can equally enjoy the wonders of this country.