Kasanka National Park

Weather & Climate

Kasanka Safaris

Expert

By Philip Briggs

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

Climate Chart Kasanka National Park – 1,173-1,267m / 3,848-4,157ft

Kasanka National Park has a distinct Wet and Dry season and a hot climate. Because it’s located in Africa’s tropical zone, the average temperature doesn’t change much from month to month – although in October temperatures do increase before the rains. Nights are generally cooler from May to August.

Dry Season –May to October

There is almost no rain in the Dry season. It is warm during the day, but cold at night and in the early morning. Warm clothing is essential for early morning game drives.

May – At the start of the Dry season, the bush is still thick, and there’s plenty of water around, but rainfall has become negligible.
June & July – Rainfall has ceased, and the bush is drying out. With daytime temperatures of around 24°C/75°F, the coolest months have arrived. Cold nights can be expected with temperatures averaging a paltry 9°C/48°F.
August & September – The lack of rainfall continues into these months. The vegetation is starting to wilt. The heat is increasing – September has an average daytime temperature of 28°C/82°F. Mornings are fairly mild at 15°C/59°F on average.
October – Rising temperatures average 30°C/86°F. Peak temperatures can be much higher, and the heat can become oppressive during the day. Mornings are mild with temperatures around 17°C/63°F. The first rainfall is normally experienced late October, and temperatures drop after the rain.

Wet Season –November to April

This time of year is warm and wet. It rains a lot and thunderstorms are often dramatic. The bush is lush, and when it’s not raining, there are clear skies.

November – If rain hasn’t begun in late October, it usually comes in November. The bush is tinder dry, so the rain is a relief. The average daytime temperature is 29°C/84°F. Rainfall mostly comes in the form of afternoon thunderstorms.
December, January, February & March – These are the wettest months, and it rains a lot, but there is often sunshine during the day as well. Daytime temperatures average 29°C/84°F, while night and early morning temperatures average 14°C/57°F.
April – This is a lovely month as the rain is winding down and the landscape is lush and green.