What is the best time to visit Zimbabwe?

Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe

The best time to travel to Zimbabwe is during the dry season from May to October and the cool season from November to April.

Dry Season in Zimbabwe

The dry season in Zimbabwe is from May to October. During this time, the weather is sunny and dry with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. This is the ideal time for outdoor activities such as safaris and game viewing. The country is lush and green during this season, and the days are long and pleasant. Tourists can also enjoy the vibrant festivals and events taking place throughout the dry season.

Cool Season in Zimbabwe

The cool season in Zimbabwe is from November to April. During this time, the temperatures are mild and range from 10°C to 20°C. This is the ideal time for sightseeing and exploring the country’s attractions. Tourists can also enjoy the beautiful wildflowers that bloom during this season. The days are shorter and the evenings are cooler, so visitors should pack warm clothes.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe in January

Weather

January in Zimbabwe is the start of the summer season. Temperatures range from the high 20s to the mid 30s Celsius (low to mid 80s Fahrenheit). Rainfall is low, with an average of only 4-5 days of precipitation.

Events

• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) takes place in Harare during the first week of the month. This festival celebrates music, dance, theater, and visual art from Zimbabwe and around the world.
• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is held in Bulawayo during the second week of the month. This event showcases the latest products and services from Zimbabwe and other countries.
• The Great Zimbabwe Marathon is held in Masvingo during the third week of the month. This race is a 42.2 km (26.2 miles) course that takes runners through the ruins of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe.
• The Kariba International Music Festival takes place in Kariba during the fourth week of the month. This event celebrates traditional and contemporary music from Zimbabwe and other African countries.
• The Chimanimani Arts Festival is held in Chimanimani during the last week of the month. This festival features performances from local and international musicians, as well as visual artists, dancers, and storytellers.

Zimbabwe in January

Weather

January is the hottest month of the year in Zimbabwe, with temperatures reaching an average high of 30°C (86°F) and an average low of 19°C (66°F). Rainfall is generally low, with an average of only 5-10mm of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Harare International Carnival is held in Harare during the first week of January. This is a vibrant celebration of Zimbabwean culture, featuring traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is held in Bulawayo in mid-January. This is a major event for the country, bringing together businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs from around the world.
• The Great Zimbabwe Marathon is held in Masvingo during the last week of January. This is a popular event for runners, with a course that takes them through the ruins of the Great Zimbabwe Monument.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival is held in Harare in late January. This is a celebration of the country’s film industry, featuring screenings of local and international films.
• The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards is held in Harare in late January. This is an awards ceremony honoring individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the nation.

Zimbabwe in March

Weather

March is the beginning of the dry season in Zimbabwe, with temperatures ranging from warm to hot. The average temperature is around 24°C (75°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of only 6-7 days of rain during the month.

Events

• The International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March in Zimbabwe. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and to raise awareness about gender equality.
• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is held in Bulawayo in March. It is the largest trade fair in the country, with exhibitors from all over the world.
• The Zimbabwe National Arts Festival is held in Harare in March. It is a celebration of the country’s culture, with performances of music, dance, theatre, and poetry.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival is held in Harare in March. It is a celebration of the country’s film industry, with screenings of local and international films.
• The Zimbabwe Music Awards is held in Harare in March. It is a celebration of the country’s music, with awards for the best artists and albums.

Zimbabwe in April

Weather

April is the beginning of the dry season in Zimbabwe, with temperatures ranging from a low of 17°C (63°F) to a high of 28°C (82°F). The days are sunny and the nights are cool.

Events

• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is held during the first week of April in Bulawayo. It is the largest trade fair in the country and features a variety of products, services, and entertainment.
• The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is held in Harare during the second week of April. It is the biggest agricultural show in the country and showcases the latest in farming technologies and techniques.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival is held in Harare during the third week of April. It is the largest film festival in the country and showcases the best of Zimbabwean and international films.
• The Zimbabwe International Music Festival is held in Harare during the fourth week of April. It is the largest music festival in the country and features a variety of genres from Zimbabwean and international artists.
• The Zimbabwe National Arts Festival is held in Harare during the fourth week of April. It is the largest arts festival in the country and showcases the best of Zimbabwean and international art.

Zimbabwe in May

Weather

In May, Zimbabwe is in the middle of its dry season. Temperatures are warm, ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 0.4 inches throughout the month.

Events

• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is held in Bulawayo at the end of May. It is the country’s largest trade show, featuring exhibitors from around the world.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) is held in Harare in mid-May. It showcases films from Zimbabwe and other African countries.
• The Zimbabwe Music Festival is held in Harare in early May. It features performances from local and international artists.
• The Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) is held in Harare in late May. It is a week-long celebration of the arts, featuring music, dance, theatre, and visual art.
• The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is held in Harare in mid-May. It is the country’s largest agricultural show, featuring competitions, exhibitions, and demonstrations.

Zimbabwe in June

Weather

June is the start of the winter season in Zimbabwe. Temperatures during this time of year range from lows of 10°C (50°F) to highs of 20°C (68°F). The days are generally warm and sunny, but nights can be quite chilly. Rainfall is low during this time of year, with an average of only 2-3 days of rain.

Events

• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is an annual event that takes place in the capital city of Harare. This festival features performances of music, dance, theatre, and visual art from both local and international artists. It typically lasts for 6 days, from the end of May to the beginning of June.
• The Great Zimbabwe Cultural Festival is held annually in the city of Masvingo. This festival celebrates the culture and heritage of the Shona people, who are the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. It features traditional music, dance, and storytelling, as well as art and craft exhibitions.
• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is an annual event that takes place in Bulawayo, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe. This event showcases the best of Zimbabwe’s industry and commerce, with exhibitors from all over the world. It typically lasts for 5 days, from the end of May to the beginning of June.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) is an annual event that takes place in Harare. This festival showcases the best of Zimbabwean and African cinema, with screenings of feature films, documentaries, and short films. It typically lasts for 8 days, from the end of May to the beginning of June.
• The Victoria Falls Marathon is an annual event that takes place in the town of Victoria Falls. This marathon is open to both professional and amateur runners, and features a course that takes runners through the spectacular Victoria Falls National Park. It typically takes place in the first week of June.

Zimbabwe in July

Weather

July is the coldest month in Zimbabwe, with temperatures ranging from 10°C (50°F) to 24°C (75°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, especially in the eastern highlands.

Events

• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is held in Harare during the first week of July. It is a celebration of the performing and visual arts, featuring music, theatre, dance, and visual arts from Zimbabwe and around the world.
• The Great Zimbabwe Marathon takes place in Masvingo in the first week of July. It is a 42.2 km marathon that takes runners through the ruins of the Great Zimbabwe Monument.
• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is held in Bulawayo in the second week of July. It is the largest trade fair in the country, featuring exhibitors from around the world.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) is held in Harare in the third week of July. It is a celebration of the best independent films from Zimbabwe and around the world.
• The Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) is held in Harare in the fourth week of July. It is a celebration of books and reading, featuring booksellers, publishers, authors, and readers from Zimbabwe and around the world.

Zimbabwe in August

Weather

August is the peak of the winter season in Zimbabwe. Temperatures are generally cool and dry, with daytime temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is low, with occasional showers in some parts of the country.

Events

• Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA): This annual event takes place in Harare and showcases the best of Zimbabwe’s performing and visual arts. It includes music, theatre, dance, film, literature, and more.
• Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF): This event takes place in Bulawayo and is one of the largest and most important trade fairs in the country. It showcases the best of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing, services, and agricultural sectors.
• National Heroes Day: This public holiday is celebrated on the 11th of August and honours the country’s heroes who fought for independence.
• Mashonaland Agricultural Show: This annual event takes place in Harare and showcases the best of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. It includes livestock competitions, agricultural displays, and more.
• August Moon Festival: This traditional festival is celebrated by the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It is a celebration of the harvest season and includes traditional music, dance, and food.

Zimbabwe in September

Weather

September in Zimbabwe is the start of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from a low of 15°C (59°F) to a high of 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of only 2mm (0.1 inches).

Events

• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is held in Bulawayo, typically in the first week of September. It is the largest trade show in the country, and features local and international exhibitors in a variety of industries.
• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is a six-day festival of music, theater, dance, film, and visual arts. It is held in the capital city of Harare in late September.
• The Great Zimbabwe Marathon is a 42km (26.2 mile) race held in Masvingo. It is typically held in the third week of September and attracts runners from all over the world.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival is held in Harare in late September. It showcases films from Zimbabwe and around the world, and includes workshops, seminars, and panel discussions.
• The Zimbabwe International Book Fair is held in Harare in late September. It is the largest book fair in the country, and features local and international authors, publishers, and booksellers.

Zimbabwe in October

Weather

October in Zimbabwe is typically warm and dry. Temperatures range from lows of 17°C (63°F) to highs of 29°C (84°F). October is the start of the dry season, so the days are sunny and the humidity is low.

Events

• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is held in Bulawayo in October. It is one of the largest trade fairs in the country and features a wide range of exhibitors from Zimbabwe and abroad.
• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is a six-day event held in Harare every October. It features performances from local and international artists, as well as workshops, seminars, and exhibitions.
• The Great Zimbabwe Marathon is held in Masvingo in October. It is a 42km race that takes place around the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, one of the country’s most famous historical sites.
• The Zimbabwe National Arts Festival is held in October in different cities across the country. It is a celebration of the country’s art, music, and culture.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) is held in Harare in October. It is a celebration of African cinema, featuring screenings of films from across the continent.

Zimbabwe in November

Weather

November is the start of the hot and dry season in Zimbabwe. Temperatures range from a low of 17°C (62°F) to a high of 33°C (91°F). Rainfall is low, averaging only 10mm (0.4in) throughout the month.

Events

• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is held in Harare in early November. This festival celebrates Zimbabwean culture and the performing arts, and features a variety of music, theatre, dance, and other performances.
• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is held in Bulawayo in mid-November. This fair is a showcase of Zimbabwean and international businesses, and features a variety of exhibitions, seminars, and networking events.
• The Great Zimbabwe Marathon is held in Masvingo in late November. This marathon is a 42km (26mi) race that takes runners through the ruins of the Great Zimbabwe monument.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) is held in Harare in late November. This festival celebrates Zimbabwean film and filmmakers, and features a variety of screenings, workshops, and other events.
• The Zimbabwe National Arts Festival (ZNAF) is held in Bulawayo in late November. This festival celebrates Zimbabwean culture and the performing arts, and features a variety of music, theatre, dance, and other performances.

Zimbabwe in December

Weather

In December, Zimbabwe is in the summer season. The average temperature is around 24°C (75°F), with the average high temperature around 28°C (82°F). The average low temperature is around 20°C (68°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of around 6.5 inches (165 mm).

Events

• The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is held in Bulawayo in December. It is a major trade event that attracts exhibitors from around the world.
• The Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) is held in Harare in December. It is a major film festival that showcases films from around the world.
• The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is held in Harare in December. It is a major arts festival that features performances from local and international artists.
• The Zimbabwe Open Golf Championship is held in Harare in December. It is a major golf tournament that attracts professional golfers from around the world.
• The Victoria Falls Marathon is held in Victoria Falls in December. It is a major running event that attracts runners from around the world.