Kafue National Park

Weather & Climate

47 Kafue Safaris

Expert

By Philip Briggs

Philip is our Zambia expert and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

Climate Chart Kafue National Park – 1,002-1,299m / 3,287-4,262ft

Kafue National Park has a hot climate, with a Wet season and Dry season. The average temperature is quite uniform throughout the year, as the park is in the tropics. However, there is an increase in temperature in October, before the rains begin. The nights tend to be cooler from May to August.

Dry Season –May to October

There is very little rain in the Dry season. It is warm during the day, but cool at night and in the early morning. Warm clothing is essential for early morning game drives.

May – This is the start of the Dry season. The bush is still lush, and there is a lot of water around, but precipitation has become minimal.
June & July – The rain has completely stopped. These are the coolest months – daytime temperatures are around 24°C/75°F. It gets cold at night with average temperatures of around 8°C/46°F.
August & September – It is still completely dry. The bush is starting to look parched. It is warming up too, and September has an average daytime temperature of 30°C/86°F. Mornings are less cold at 16°C/61°F on average.
October – Temperatures keep increasing to an average of 31°C/88°F. Peak temperatures can be much higher. Mornings are comfortable with temperatures around 18°C/64°F. The first rain usually falls this month – temperatures will drop after the rain.

Wet Season –November to April

During the warm, Wet season, roads deteriorate, and many camps are closed. The Busanga Plains area is totally off-limits during these months. Afternoon showers are a regular event. The bush is green and lush.

November – It usually begins to rain in late October or November. The rain is a relief because the bush is very dry and hot. Daytime temperatures average 31°C/88°F. It doesn’t rain every day, but there might be thunderstorms some afternoons.
December, January, February & March – The wettest months bring rain most days, but rarely lasting the whole day. Daytime temperatures are around 31°C/88°F, while night and early morning temperatures average about 14°C/57°F.
April – This is a lovely month with less rain, but everything is lush and green. Although there isn’t much rain, the roads are still muddy.