You’ll see lots of wildlife in Zambia during the middle and end of the Dry season (May to October). This will fit in nicely with a visit to Victoria Falls, which is at its best from June to August. A Wet season safari (November to April) is much more challenging, as most parks and camps shut down because of heavy rain. The exception is the Mfuwe section of South Luangwa National Park, which has a small circuit of all-weather roads.
Animals are easier to spot
There’s hardly any rain, and there are fewer mosquitoes
June through August is the best time to see Victoria Falls
October gets very hot, especially in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi
Morning game drives in winter are chilly, so bring warm clothing
The landscape is green
January and February are good months to see Victoria Falls
You can see newborn animals
This is the best time for birding, with migrants present
The rain mostly falls as short showers in the late afternoon
It’s low season, which means lower rates
Most parks and camps close down – but South Luangwa remains open
Animals are harder to find because they no longer rely on rivers and waterholes to drink
From October to December, Victoria Falls might just be a trickle on the Zambian side
For the best wildlife viewing in the main parks (South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi), visit in the dry winter months (July to October). This coincides with the best opportunities for great photos of Victoria Falls – from June to August. Most camps close in the rainy season and washed-out roads make travel difficult. However, the landscape is beautiful and bird watching is superb at this time.
$10,886 to $12,498 pp (USD)
$2,765 to $3,945 pp (USD)
$2,240 to $2,655 pp (USD)