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The best time for a safari in Zimbabwe is the dry season, from about June to October, and the peak for game viewing is August to October, when animals crowd around the last water. June and July are cooler and best for walking safaris. The green season, from November to April, is hotter and wetter, with lush landscapes, migrant birds and lower lodge rates, but game is harder to find and Mana Pools and Gonarezhou close for part of it. Written by Bryan Fawcett.
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026 against the World Meteorological Organization’s climate normals for Zimbabwe, the official ZimParks 2026 tariff and park pages, the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, the Save Valley Conservancy, Painted Dog Conservation and published 2026 lodge rates. Seasons shift from year to year. Check park opening dates with ZimParks or your lodge before you book.

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Dry season versus green season

What changes in the dry season: grass dies back and many trees drop their leaves, so you can see further into the bush. Seasonal pans dry up, and animals have to come to permanent water, often to the pumped waterholes in Hwange or the rivers and floodplains of the Zambezi Valley and the lowveld. What changes in the green season: the first storms usually arrive between November and early December. The bush turns green within days, and many animals give birth. Roads in remote parks get muddy or impassable, and some camps close.

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Month by month

Temperatures and rainfall below are the long-term averages for Hwange Main Camp (WMO station 965). Kariba and Mana Pools, in the Zambezi Valley, are hotter: daytime highs are about 2–3°C higher, and nights are much warmer. See weather by month for other areas.

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Park by park

ZimParks sets Mana Pools’ rainy-season closure each year. Confirm opening dates with the Mana Pools office before you plan a trip between November and April.

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Best time by interest

  • Big game and predators: August to October. See where to see the Big Five.
  • Painted dogs: the denning season, roughly May to September. See painted dogs.
  • Walking safaris: June to October, when the grass is short and visibility is good. See walking and canoe safaris.
  • Canoeing the Zambezi: trips run most of the year, but June to October is best for wildlife.
  • Birding: November to April, when migrant birds arrive and many residents breed. See birding in Zimbabwe.
  • Photography: the green season gives dramatic skies and green landscapes. The late dry season gives dust, golden light and animals at water.
  • Victoria Falls at full flow: March to May. A safari in May can combine both. See Victoria Falls.

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Prices and seasonality

Park fees don’t change with the seasons. The ZimParks 2026 tariff sets one conservation fee for each park all year, such as US$24 a day for international visitors at Hwange and Mana Pools. See park fees 2026. Lodge rates do. Private camps usually charge the most from about June to October and the least in the green season. As an example, the 2026 published rates for one tented camp in Hwange run from US$630** per person sharing per night in December to **US$1,390 from June to October, more than double. Rates and season dates vary by camp, so get quotes directly.
  • Book early for July to October. Small camps and popular ZimParks sites, such as Mana Pools’ Nyamepi riverfront and Chitake, fill up months ahead.
  • Shoulder months save money. April, May and November often bring lower rates than the peak, but check that your camp is open.
  • Green season deals suit repeat visitors, birders and photographers who don’t mind heat and rain.

Weather by month

Temperatures and rainfall across Zimbabwe.

Park fees 2026

Official ZimParks fees for every park.

Safari planning

Choosing a park, a safari style and a budget.

National parks and reserves

Compare Zimbabwe’s parks.

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Sources

Last modified on October 25, 2026