> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.travel-info.co.zw/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Zimbabwe Weather by Month

> Zimbabwe weather month by month: average temperatures and rainfall for Victoria Falls, Hwange, Kariba, Harare, Bulawayo, Great Zimbabwe and the Eastern Highlands.

**Zimbabwe has a dry season from May to October and a rainy season from November to April.** Very little rain falls between May and September; only the Eastern Highlands get occasional showers. Winter nights (June and July) are cold, close to 5°C in Hwange, while October is the hottest month, reaching 33–35°C at Victoria Falls and Kariba. The rains usually start between November and early December.

**Written by [Bryan Fawcett](/about-this-guide).**

> [!NOTE]
>
> Temperatures and rainfall below are the official long-term averages (1961–1990 normals) published by the [World Meteorological Organization](https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/country.html?countryCode=113) from Zimbabwe's Meteorological Services Department. Individual years vary, and recent years have been hotter than these averages.

## The seasons at a glance

| Season | Months | What it's like |
| - | - | - |
| **Cool and dry** | May – August | Sunny days of 21–29°C and cool to cold nights (about 5–14°C, coldest inland in June and July). Almost no rain. Best for walking and comfortable safaris |
| **Hot and dry** | September – October | Very hot days, up to 33–35°C in the low-lying parks. Animals gather at water, so game viewing is at its best |
| **Early rains** | November – December | Hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms. The bush turns green and many animals give birth |
| **Main rains** | January – March | Warm, with the heaviest rain. Lush landscapes and good birding, but some roads and camps close |
| **End of the rains** | April | Rain tails off, the bush is green and Victoria Falls is close to full flow |

## Temperatures and rainfall by destination

**Victoria Falls**

Victoria Falls town, beside the falls (WMO station 962).

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 30°C | 18°C | 168 mm |
| February | 29°C | 18°C | 126 mm |
| March | 30°C | 17°C | 70 mm |
| April | 29°C | 14°C | 24 mm |
| May | 27°C | 10°C | 3 mm |
| June | 25°C | 6°C | 1 mm |
| July | 25°C | 6°C | 0 mm |
| August | 28°C | 8°C | 0 mm |
| September | 32°C | 13°C | 2 mm |
| October | 33°C | 17°C | 27 mm |
| November | 32°C | 18°C | 64 mm |
| December | 30°C | 18°C | 174 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 659 mm.

**Hwange**

Hwange National Park, Main Camp area (WMO station 965).

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 29°C | 18°C | 145 mm |
| February | 29°C | 18°C | 129 mm |
| March | 29°C | 17°C | 57 mm |
| April | 28°C | 13°C | 20 mm |
| May | 26°C | 9°C | 3 mm |
| June | 24°C | 5°C | 0 mm |
| July | 24°C | 5°C | 0 mm |
| August | 27°C | 7°C | 1 mm |
| September | 31°C | 12°C | 2 mm |
| October | 32°C | 16°C | 21 mm |
| November | 32°C | 18°C | 56 mm |
| December | 30°C | 18°C | 126 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 560 mm.

**Kariba and Mana Pools**

Kariba town, on the lake shore (WMO station 966). There is no official weather station at Mana Pools. The Zambezi Valley floor there is broadly similar to Kariba.

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 31°C | 22°C | 192 mm |
| February | 31°C | 21°C | 158 mm |
| March | 31°C | 21°C | 112 mm |
| April | 30°C | 18°C | 30 mm |
| May | 28°C | 14°C | 4 mm |
| June | 26°C | 11°C | 1 mm |
| July | 26°C | 11°C | 1 mm |
| August | 29°C | 14°C | 0 mm |
| September | 33°C | 19°C | 1 mm |
| October | 35°C | 23°C | 18 mm |
| November | 34°C | 23°C | 74 mm |
| December | 31°C | 22°C | 175 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 766 mm.

**Harare**

Harare (WMO station 263).

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 26°C | 16°C | 191 mm |
| February | 26°C | 16°C | 176 mm |
| March | 26°C | 14°C | 99 mm |
| April | 26°C | 12°C | 37 mm |
| May | 24°C | 9°C | 7 mm |
| June | 22°C | 7°C | 2 mm |
| July | 22°C | 6°C | 2 mm |
| August | 24°C | 8°C | 3 mm |
| September | 28°C | 12°C | 6 mm |
| October | 29°C | 14°C | 40 mm |
| November | 28°C | 16°C | 93 mm |
| December | 26°C | 16°C | 183 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 839 mm.

**Bulawayo and Matobo**

Bulawayo (WMO station 950), 35 km from Matobo National Park.

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 28°C | 16°C | 118 mm |
| February | 27°C | 16°C | 105 mm |
| March | 27°C | 15°C | 51 mm |
| April | 26°C | 13°C | 33 mm |
| May | 24°C | 10°C | 7 mm |
| June | 22°C | 7°C | 2 mm |
| July | 22°C | 7°C | 1 mm |
| August | 24°C | 9°C | 1 mm |
| September | 28°C | 12°C | 7 mm |
| October | 29°C | 15°C | 38 mm |
| November | 29°C | 16°C | 91 mm |
| December | 28°C | 16°C | 120 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 574 mm.

**Great Zimbabwe**

Masvingo (WMO station 961), about 27 km from Great Zimbabwe.

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 28°C | 17°C | 129 mm |
| February | 27°C | 17°C | 107 mm |
| March | 27°C | 15°C | 66 mm |
| April | 26°C | 13°C | 28 mm |
| May | 24°C | 9°C | 13 mm |
| June | 22°C | 6°C | 6 mm |
| July | 22°C | 5°C | 3 mm |
| August | 24°C | 8°C | 6 mm |
| September | 27°C | 11°C | 10 mm |
| October | 29°C | 15°C | 30 mm |
| November | 29°C | 16°C | 77 mm |
| December | 28°C | 17°C | 140 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 615 mm.

**Eastern Highlands**

Mutare (WMO station 954), the gateway to the Bvumba and Chimanimani. Nyanga sits higher and is cooler; there is no official weather station there.

| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
| - | - | - | - |
| January | 28°C | 18°C | 154 mm |
| February | 27°C | 16°C | 164 mm |
| March | 26°C | 16°C | 88 mm |
| April | 25°C | 14°C | 32 mm |
| May | 24°C | 11°C | 12 mm |
| June | 21°C | 8°C | 9 mm |
| July | 21°C | 8°C | 6 mm |
| August | 23°C | 9°C | 6 mm |
| September | 26°C | 12°C | 20 mm |
| October | 27°C | 15°C | 46 mm |
| November | 28°C | 16°C | 86 mm |
| December | 27°C | 17°C | 167 mm |

**Annual rainfall:** about 790 mm.

## Victoria Falls water levels through the year

The amount of water going over Victoria Falls depends on rain that falls far upstream in Zambia and Angola, so the falls run months behind Zimbabwe's own rainy season.

* **High water:** usually from about February to May, with operators reporting the peak around April. The spray can hide the falls, and you will get soaked on the rainforest walk.
* **Low water:** usually from about September to December, lowest around November. The Zambian side can run almost dry, but the Zimbabwean side still has water, and this is the season for Devil's Pool on the Zambian side.
* **On record:** the Zambezi River Authority measured its highest flow at Victoria Falls in March 1958, at 10,000 cubic metres a second. The long-term average is 1,100 cubic metres a second. In mid-October 2026 the river was running at 313.

Exact timing changes from year to year with the rains. See our [Victoria Falls guide](/destinations/victoria-falls) for what to see at each water level.

## Which month should you go?

* **For the best game viewing:** August to October, when the bush is dry and animals stay near water.
* **For Victoria Falls at its biggest:** March to May.
* **For walking safaris and comfortable days:** June to August. Pack warm layers for early mornings.
* **For lower prices, green landscapes and birding:** November to April, when many lodges offer green-season rates.

Read more in [when to visit Zimbabwe](/when-to-visit) and [weather by region](/essentials/weather-by-region).

## What to pack for the weather

* **June to August:** a warm fleece or jacket, a hat and gloves for morning game drives. It can be close to freezing in an open vehicle at dawn.
* **September to October:** light, breathable clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and plenty of sunscreen.
* **November to April:** a light rain jacket and quick-drying clothes. Malaria risk is higher in the rainy season, so take [health precautions](/essentials/health-and-safety).

See our full [packing guide](/essentials/packing-guide).

## Sources

* [World Meteorological Organization — World Weather Information Service, Zimbabwe (climate normals 1961–1990 from the Meteorological Services Department)](https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/country.html?countryCode=113), accessed 21 October 2026
* [Zambezi River Authority — river flows (Victoria Falls station)](https://www.zambezira.org/hydrology/river-flows), data to 19 October 2026
* [Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe — 2026/27 seasonal rainfall outlook](https://www.weatherzw.org.zw/documents/968/Zimbabwe_2026_27_SeasonalOutlook.docx.pdf), October 2026

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