What is the best time to visit Mozambique?

Best Time to Visit Mozambique

The best time to travel to Mozambique is during the dry season (April to October) and the cooler season (November to March).

Dry Season in Mozambique

The dry season in Mozambique runs from April to October and is characterized by sunny days and little rain. This is the perfect time for beachgoers to enjoy the warm temperatures and clear waters of the Indian Ocean. The dry season is also the best time for game viewing in the country’s national parks, as the animals congregate around the few remaining waterholes. Visitors can also take part in the annual Mozambique Carnival in Maputo, which takes place in July.

Cooler Season in Mozambique

The cooler season in Mozambique runs from November to March and is characterized by mild temperatures and occasional rain. This is the perfect time for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. Visitors can also explore the country’s many cultural attractions, such as the historic churches in Ibo Island and the colonial architecture in Maputo. The cooler season also brings the annual Mozambique Music Festival in Maputo, which takes place in December.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Mozambique

Mozambique in January

Weather

January is the beginning of the dry season in Mozambique, with temperatures ranging from 18-31°C (64-88°F). The days are sunny and the humidity is low.

Events

• The first day of January marks the start of the New Year in Mozambique. It is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and traditional music.
• The Festival of Macuti is held in the city of Beira, Mozambique, in the middle of January. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Macuti people.
• The Mozambique International Trade Fair is held in Maputo in late January. The fair showcases the best of Mozambican culture, art, and products.
• The Mozambique National Arts Festival is held in the capital city of Maputo in late January. It is a celebration of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
• The Mozambique National Soccer Championship is held in Maputo in late January. It is a chance to see the best soccer teams in the country compete for the title.

Mozambique in January

Weather

January is the start of the dry season in Mozambique, with temperatures ranging from 25-30°C (77-86°F). Humidity is low and the skies are mostly clear, making it a great time to visit the country.

Events

• The Mozambique International Music Festival is held in Maputo in the first week of January. It features performances from local and international artists, as well as food stalls and art exhibitions.
• The Maputo International Marathon is held in the middle of the month. It is a long-distance running event that attracts thousands of participants from all over the world.
• The Mozambique Film Festival is held in Pemba in the last week of January. It showcases the best of local and international films, as well as workshops and discussions about the industry.
• The Mozambique National Day is celebrated on the 25th of January. It is a public holiday that marks the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975.
• The Mozambique International Trade Fair is held in Maputo in the last week of January. It is a great opportunity to discover the best of Mozambique’s products and services, as well as to network with industry professionals.

Mozambique in March

Weather

March is the start of the dry season in Mozambique. Temperatures are warm and pleasant, with average highs of 28°C (82°F) and lows of 18°C (64°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of only 5mm (0.2in).

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair is held in early March in the city of Maputo. This event is the largest trade fair in the country and attracts exhibitors from all over the world.
• The Gorongosa National Park hosts the Gorongosa Music Festival in mid-March. This event is a celebration of Mozambican music and culture, with performances from local and international artists.
• The Mozambican National Day is celebrated on the 25th of March. This event commemorates the day in 1975 when Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal.
• The International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March. This event is a celebration of women’s rights and achievements around the world.
• The Mozambique Tourism Fair is held in late March in the city of Maputo. This event is a celebration of Mozambique’s diverse tourism industry, with exhibitors from all over the country.

Mozambique in April

Weather

April in Mozambique is the beginning of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 33°C and humidity levels at around 70%. Rainfall is low, with an average of only 3-4 days of rain during the month.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair takes place in Maputo from April 2-6. This event showcases the best of Mozambican industry, with exhibitors from all over the country.
• The Festival of the Sea is held in Inhambane from April 7-9. This event celebrates the traditional culture of the coastal region, with music, dance, and traditional fishing competitions.
• The Mozambique National Day of the Environment is celebrated on April 22. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainable development.
• The Mozambique National Day of the Child is celebrated on April 25. This day is dedicated to promoting the rights of children and raising awareness about issues that affect them.
• The Mozambique National Day of Tourism is celebrated on April 28. This day is dedicated to promoting tourism in Mozambique, with special events and activities taking place throughout the country.

Mozambique in May

Weather

May is the beginning of the dry season in Mozambique, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. The days are typically sunny with occasional afternoon thunderstorms.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair is held in the capital city of Maputo in late May. This event showcases the best of Mozambican culture, art, and industry.
• The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus is celebrated on the 40th day after Easter. This is a religious holiday in Mozambique, with many people attending church services and participating in special activities.
• The Maputo Music Festival is held in May, featuring live performances from local and international acts.
• The Mozambique National Day of Agriculture is celebrated in May. This day is dedicated to the farmers and agricultural workers of Mozambique, and includes events such as parades, exhibitions, and competitions.
• The Mozambique International Film Festival is held in May, showcasing the best of Mozambican and international cinema.

Mozambique in June

Weather

June in Mozambique is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. The rainy season begins in November and lasts through April, so June is usually dry and sunny.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair takes place in June in Maputo. This event is a great opportunity to explore the country’s culture, cuisine, and products.
• The Mozambique National Music Festival is held in June in Maputo. This event features a variety of musical acts from around the country.
• The Maputo International Film Festival takes place in June. This event showcases the best of Mozambican and international films.
• The Mozambique International Marathon is held in June in Maputo. This event is a great way to explore the city and its surroundings.
• The Maputo International Food Festival takes place in June. This event features a variety of traditional and international cuisine.

Mozambique in July

Weather

July is the beginning of the dry season in Mozambique. Temperatures range from an average low of 17°C (63°F) to an average high of 26°C (79°F). The humidity is low, and rainfall is minimal.

Events

• Maputo International Fair: This annual fair takes place in the capital of Mozambique, Maputo. It is one of the largest events in the country, featuring a variety of activities, including music, art, and food.
• Mozambique Liberation Day: On July 25th, Mozambique celebrates the anniversary of its independence from Portugal. The day is marked with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• Gorongosa Music Festival: This music festival takes place in the Gorongosa National Park. It features a variety of musical acts, including local and international artists.
• Quirimbas National Park Festival: This annual festival celebrates the beauty of the Quirimbas National Park. It includes activities such as guided hikes, bird watching, and traditional music and dance performances.
• Mozambique International Trade Fair: This annual event takes place in the city of Beira. It features a variety of exhibitors, showcasing products from around the world.

Mozambique in August

Weather

August in Mozambique is typically hot and humid, with average temperatures ranging from 22°C (71°F) to 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is common during this month, with an average of 12 days of rain per month.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair (FACIM) is held in August in the city of Beira. This event is a great opportunity for local and international businesses to showcase their products and services.
• The Festival of the Black Jesus is celebrated in the city of Maputo in August. This festival is a celebration of the African culture, with traditional music and dance performances.
• The annual Mozambique Music Festival is held in the city of Nampula in August. This event features performances by local and international musicians, as well as workshops and seminars.
• The Mozambique International Film Festival is held in the city of Maputo in August. This event showcases the best of Mozambican and international cinema.
• The annual Maputo International Marathon is held in August in the city of Maputo. This event attracts runners from all over the world and is a great way to experience the city.

Mozambique in September

Weather

September in Mozambique is generally hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the low-30s Celsius (70s to 90s Fahrenheit). Rainfall is common during this time of year, with an average of about 12 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair is held in Maputo in early September. This event showcases the country’s products and services, as well as those from other countries. It is a great opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to network and explore new opportunities.
• The Festival of the Sea is held in the port city of Beira in mid-September. This event celebrates the country’s fishing industry, with traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Mozambique Music Festival takes place in the capital city of Maputo in late September. This event showcases the country’s diverse musical talent, with performances from both local and international artists.
• The Mozambique International Film Festival is held in Maputo in late September. This event showcases the best of Mozambican film and video, with screenings of both local and international films.
• The Mozambique National Day is celebrated on the 25th of September. This event marks the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975, and is celebrated with parades, concerts, and other festivities.

Mozambique in October

Weather

October is the beginning of the dry season in Mozambique, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius. Rainfall is minimal, with an average of only 2-3 days of rain during the month.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair is held in Maputo from October 10-20. This event showcases the best of Mozambique’s products and services, and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.
• The Mozambique Music Festival is held in Maputo from October 1-5. This event features live performances from some of Mozambique’s top musical acts, as well as international acts.
• The Mozambique Film Festival is held in Maputo from October 15-20. This event showcases the best of Mozambique’s film industry, with screenings of both feature films and short films.
• The Mozambique Art Festival is held in Maputo from October 25-30. This event features art exhibitions, workshops, and performances from some of Mozambique’s top artists.
• The Mozambique Book Fair is held in Maputo from October 10-15. This event celebrates the best of Mozambique’s literary scene, with book signings, readings, and panel discussions.

Mozambique in November

Weather

November is the start of the hot and dry season in Mozambique. Temperatures are generally warm, with highs ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius. Humidity levels are low, and rainfall is scarce.

Events

• The Mozambique International Trade Fair takes place in Maputo from November 8-17. It is the largest trade fair in the country, featuring a wide range of products and services from both local and international companies.
• The Maputo International Music Festival is held from November 15-17. It is a three-day event featuring music performances from local and international artists.
• The Mozambique National Day of Tourism is celebrated on November 25. It is a day to celebrate the country’s diverse culture and attractions.
• The Mozambique National Day of Education is celebrated on November 26. It is a day to recognize the importance of education in Mozambique and to promote access to quality education for all.
• The Maputo International Book Fair takes place from November 28-December 1. It is a four-day event featuring book presentations, workshops, and discussions.

Mozambique in December

Weather

December is the beginning of the hot, dry season in Mozambique. The average temperature is around 25°C (77°F), with highs of 30°C (86°F) and lows of 20°C (68°F). The humidity is generally low, and the sky is usually clear and sunny.

Events

• The Maputo International Fair is held in December, showcasing Mozambique’s culture, art, and music.
• The Nampula International Fair is held in December, featuring food, art, and music from Mozambique and other African countries.
• The Mozambique International Music Festival is held in December, featuring performances from local and international musicians.
• The Mozambique National Day is celebrated on December 25th, commemorating the country’s independence from Portugal.
• The Mozambique Film Festival is held in December, showcasing films from Mozambique and other African countries.