What is the best time to visit Zambia?

Best Time to Visit Zambia

The best time to travel to Zambia is during the dry season (May to October) and the green season (November to April).

Dry Season in Zambia

The dry season in Zambia runs from May to October and is the most popular time to visit the country. During this time, the weather is dry and sunny, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Wildlife viewing is especially popular during this time as animals congregate around the few remaining water sources. The temperatures are mild and comfortable, usually ranging from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. There are also a number of festivals and events taking place during the dry season, including the International Trade Fair in July and the Livingstone Cultural and Arts Festival in August.

Green Season in Zambia

The green season in Zambia runs from November to April and is the best time for bird-watching. During this time, the country is lush and green, with plenty of water sources for birds to flock to. Temperatures are mild and comfortable, usually ranging from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. The rains can be heavy at times, but they usually come in short bursts. There are also a number of festivals and events taking place during the green season, including the International Trade Fair in December and the Livingstone Cultural and Arts Festival in January.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Zambia

Zambia in January

Weather

January in Zambia is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 16°C (60°F) to an average high of 30°C (86°F). The rainy season is in full swing, with an average of 10-15 days of rainfall during the month.

Events

• The International Conference on African Development takes place in Lusaka, Zambia in early January.
• The Zambia Music Awards is held in January, celebrating the best of Zambian music.
• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Ndola in mid-January.
• The Zambia Open Golf Championship takes place in January.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in January in Livingstone.

Zambia in January

Weather

January in Zambia is usually hot and dry. Temperatures range from a low of 19°C (66°F) to a high of 28°C (82°F). The days are usually sunny with some afternoon thunderstorms.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Ndola in January. It is one of the largest trade fairs in the country, featuring products from a variety of industries.
• January is a popular month for music festivals in Zambia. The Ndola Music Festival is held in January and features local and international artists.
• The traditional New Year’s Day celebrations are held in January. This includes traditional dances, music, and feasting.
• The Zambia Open Golf Championship is held in January, attracting golfers from around the world.
• The Lusaka International Marathon is held in January. It is a popular event for runners from all over the world.

Zambia in March

Weather

March in Zambia is the beginning of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from a low of 16°C to a high of 27°C. The days are sunny and the nights are cool and pleasant.

Events

• The International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March in Zambia. It is a day to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in all spheres of life.
• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Lusaka in March. It is a platform for local and international businesses to showcase their products and services.
• The Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show is held in Ndola in March. It is an opportunity for farmers, entrepreneurs and investors to network and explore business opportunities.
• The Zambia Music Festival is held in Lusaka in March. It is a celebration of Zambian music and culture, featuring performances by local and international artists.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in Livingstone in March. It is a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Zambia in April

Weather

April in Zambia is the beginning of the dry season, with temperatures reaching up to 28°C (82°F). The days are generally sunny and dry, with occasional showers in the evening.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Lusaka in April, showcasing the best of Zambia’s products and services.
• The Zambia Music Awards are held in April, celebrating the best of Zambian music.
• The Great East Road Festival is held in April, celebrating the culture and heritage of the East Province.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in April, showcasing the best of Zambian film and television.
• The Zambia International Marathon is held in April, with runners from all over the world taking part.

Zambia in May

Weather

May is the start of the dry season in Zambia, with temperatures ranging from a low of 18°C (64°F) to a high of 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of 28mm (1.1in) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Ndola, usually in the first week of May. It is a great opportunity to explore the different cultures, products, and services that Zambia has to offer.
• The Livingstone Cultural and Arts Festival takes place in the second week of May. It is a celebration of the culture of the local people, with music, dance, and art performances.
• The Zambia Music Awards are held in Lusaka in the third week of May. It is a celebration of the best of Zambian music, with performances from some of the country’s top artists.
• The Zambia International Film Festival takes place in Lusaka in the fourth week of May. It is an opportunity to explore the best of Zambian film, with screenings of feature films, documentaries, and short films.
• The Lusaka Marathon is held in the last week of May. It is a great opportunity to explore the city of Lusaka and to raise money for charity.

Zambia in June

Weather

June in Zambia is generally warm and dry. Temperatures range from the low to mid 20s (Celsius) during the day, and can drop to the mid-teens in the evening. Rainfall is minimal, with the occasional thunderstorm.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Ndola in June. This event is the largest trade fair in the country, and showcases products from Zambia and other countries in the region.
• The annual Copperbelt Agricultural and Commercial Show is held in Kitwe in June. This event showcases the best of Zambian agriculture, and includes livestock shows, exhibitions, and competitions.
• The annual Choma Cultural Festival is held in June. This event celebrates the culture and traditions of the Tonga people of Southern Province.
• The annual Chisamba Cultural Festival is held in June. This event celebrates the culture and traditions of the Bemba people of Northern Province.
• The annual Ndola International Marathon is held in June. This event attracts runners from all over the world and is a great way to experience Zambian culture.

Zambia in July

Weather

July is the start of the dry season in Zambia, with temperatures ranging from 17-25°C (63-77°F) and very little rainfall.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in July in Ndola, showcasing the best of Zambian goods and services.
• The Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show is held in July in Lusaka, and is the largest agricultural show in the country.
• The Zambia International Music Festival is held in July in Livingstone, featuring local and international musicians.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in July in Lusaka, showcasing the best of Zambian film and video.
• The Zambia International Crafts Fair is held in July in Livingstone, showcasing the best of Zambian crafts and art.

Zambia in August

Weather

August in Zambia is generally hot and dry. Temperatures range from the mid-twenties to the mid-thirties Celsius, with some areas experiencing temperatures of up to 40°C. The humidity is also high, with the average relative humidity at around 70%. Rainfall is rare but possible, with the average rainfall for the month being around 10mm.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in Lusaka in August. It is one of the largest trade fairs in the country, and provides a platform for local and international businesses to showcase their products and services.
• The Zambia Music Awards are held in August. This event celebrates the best in Zambian music, with awards being given to the best artists, producers, and songwriters in the country.
• The Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show is held in August. This event showcases the best in Zambian agriculture, with farmers and producers from all over the country exhibiting their products and services.
• The International Conference on Education and Development is held in August. This event brings together experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in education and development in Zambia.
• The Zambia National Independence Day is celebrated in August. This event marks the anniversary of Zambia’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, and is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.

Zambia in September

Weather

September is the beginning of the dry season in Zambia. Temperatures range from a low of 16°C to a high of 30°C. Rainfall is low and humidity is generally low.

Events

• The Lusaka International Trade Fair is held in Lusaka from August 30th to September 15th. It is a great opportunity to explore Zambian culture and experience the local food, music, and art.
• The Zambia International Trade Expo is held in Lusaka from September 6th to 8th. It is a great opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services.
• The Zambia Music Festival is held in Lusaka from September 13th to 15th. It is a celebration of Zambian music and culture featuring local and international artists.
• The Zambia Agriculture Show is held in Lusaka from September 20th to 22nd. It is a great opportunity to learn about the latest agricultural technologies and products.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in Lusaka from September 27th to 29th. It is a great opportunity to watch the latest films from Zambia and around the world.

Zambia in October

Weather

October is the beginning of the dry season in Zambia, and temperatures are generally warm and sunny. Average temperatures range from a low of 16°C (60°F) to a high of 30°C (86°F). Rainfall is minimal, but occasional thunderstorms can occur.

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in October each year in Lusaka. This event is the largest trade show in the country, and attracts business people from all over the world.
• The annual Choma Agricultural Show is held in October in Choma, Southern Province. This event showcases the best of Zambia’s agricultural products and is a great opportunity to learn about the country’s farming industry.
• The Livingstone International Cultural and Arts Festival is held in October each year in Livingstone. This event celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Zambia and features traditional music, dance, and art.
• The annual Victoria Falls Marathon is held in October in Livingstone. This event draws runners from all over the world to compete in a half marathon, 10K, and 5K race.
• The Zambia International Tourism Expo is held in October each year in Lusaka. This event showcases the best of Zambia’s tourism industry and is a great opportunity to learn about the country’s attractions.

Zambia in November

Weather

November in Zambia is typically warm and dry. Average temperatures range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-30°C). Rainfall is low, with an average of 1-2 inches (25-50 mm).

Events

• The Zambia International Trade Fair is held in November in Ndola. This event showcases products and services from all over Zambia and the world.
• The Zambia Music Awards are held in November in Lusaka. This event celebrates the best in Zambian music and awards prizes to the best artists and albums.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in November in Livingstone. This event showcases films from all over the world and celebrates the art of filmmaking.
• The Zambia National Day is held in November in Lusaka. This event celebrates the independence of Zambia and is marked by parades, speeches, and other festivities.
• The Zambia National Soccer Tournament is held in November in Ndola. This event is a competition between teams from all over Zambia and is a great opportunity to see the best in Zambian soccer.

Zambia in December

Weather

December is the beginning of the hot and dry season in Zambia. Temperatures are generally warm, ranging from an average low of 15°C (59°F) to an average high of 29°C (84°F). The days are usually sunny and dry, with very little precipitation.

Events

• The International Trade Fair is held in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. This event showcases Zambia’s diverse culture and provides an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services.
• The Luangwa River Festival is held in the South Luangwa National Park. This event celebrates the beauty of the park and the wildlife that inhabits it. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including game drives, boat trips, and cultural performances.
• The Zambia Music Awards is held in Lusaka. This event honors the best in Zambian music and celebrates the country’s rich musical heritage.
• The Zambia International Film Festival is held in Livingstone. This event showcases the best of Zambian and international films.
• The Zambia Open Golf Championship is held in Lusaka. This event is the country’s premier golf tournament and attracts some of the world’s best golfers.