Kafue National Park

Zambia

When to go

Believe it or not, there is a time of the year when there is no water, and the Victoria Falls are completely dry. On the other hand, there is a time when the water flow is so high that the whole area becomes inaccessible and popular activities like the Devil’s Pool are closed to tourists.

Before you get to Victoria Falls and experience one of these two unpleasant surprises, it is essential to understand what kind of seasons Victoria Falls has and when is the best time to visit.

Rainy season (November to March)

While November and March can be considered a coin toss, when it comes to rain, expect to have mostly cloudy days and days where it rains non-stop from morning till evening.

December, January, and February are even worst, as rains go on for several days, and it is common to have constant thunderstorms and cancellations of flights and activities. Helicopter and microlight flights won’t run on most days, and from January until March, the Devil’s Pool is closed due to floods on Livingstone Island.

It can be a time to get an excellent sight of the falls, but definitely not for doing any activity around it.

End of the Rainy Season (April – May)

Even though the constant rain has stopped, water from the catchment area upstream in Zambia arrives in Victoria Falls and overflows the whole area. This is when Victoria Falls is at its highest water flow, with an average of 500 million liters of water per minute.

The temperature is hot, and scenic flights highlight those who want to see Victoria Falls at its best. Activities like the Devil’s Pool and rafting might still be closed due to the high water levels, but most other activities are available for visitors.

Beginning of the dry season (June – July)

At this time of the year, the water levels in the Zambezi River drop. Some sections of the waterfall gorge become exposed, and temperatures in Victoria Falls significantly drop at night. Some call with the winter season and a fleece jacket can be helpful.

Usually, all activities in Victoria Falls are available to the public at this time of the year. It is a great season to visit. However, prices increase, and Zambia and Zimbabwe get crowded.

Dry season ( August to October)

The winter season slowly ends, and temperatures slowly rise. Expect to have warm days and cold nights. Almost every day has a blue sky, and rain is highly uncommon. The water levels at Victoria Falls drop the most in the year, and in unlucky years the waterfalls turn into a long dry gorge.It is considered the worst time to see the waterfalls, but one of the best times to try activities like bungee jumping, relaxing on a cruise ship, and going on the rapids.

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