When to go to Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s climate differs depending on the region. It is hard to pinpoint a ‘best time’ to visit this diverse country. Across the board, there are two distinct seasons in Zimbabwe: the wet summer and the dry winter. The most popular time to visit is in the dry season from April to September. With fresh mornings and a slight evening chill, the dry season also sees a thinning of flora which makes the wildlife viewing excellent. April and May are special times to go on safari as just after the yearly downpour, the wilderness is left verdant. In southerly and higher locations, the night-time temperatures start to drop, and the vegetation begins to dry. This pivotal point between the wet and the dry seasons is a fantastic time for wildlife excursions and trekking as the animals are joined by a lush emerald setting.

At the other end of the season, from September to October temperatures begin to rise. The further north you are, the earlier the precipitation arrives and the later it leaves. Lower-lying rift valleys such as Mana Pools can get very hot in October and weather begins to get unpredictable. The wet season takes place from November through to March. Despite being harder to spot animals, with the rain comes an excellent opportunity for bird watchers as thousands of migratory birds appear in the trees. Zimbabwe’s higher eastern areas usually receive more rainfall than the lower western ones, however the climate here is more temperate. From November to March temperatures can soar up to 40˚C during the day, and barely drop past 20˚C in the evenings, but in the dry season, temperatures drop to near freezing overnight with July and August as the coldest months.