Safari seasons in Zimbabwe

For safari planning purposes, Zimbabwe has three basic seasons:

• A cool to cold dry season from late April to August when temperatures can drop to freezing on higher ground at night - Hwange can get particularly cold.
• A hot dry season from the end of August through to mid November. During this time water becomes very scarce and the game congregates in big numbers at remaining sources. Temperatures in the Zambezi Valley become very uncomfortable in October and November before the rains start.
• The rainy season usually commences in mid November and lasts through the summer to early April. Game viewing generally deteriorates at this time of year - Matusadona is one notable exception where excellent game sightings can still be made on the Kariba shoreline.

The best game-viewing season is generally from late May until November. September sees the start of the inbound bird migrations and birding remains excellent throughout the wet season.

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Last updated 10 June, 2000