Zambia

Best time to visit the South and North Luangwa National Park

The best time to go to South Luangwa National Park is the period between middle of June and October when the park is at its driest and the days are warm with plenty of sun. The game viewing by vehicle and foot, is the most reliable during these months as the animals concentrate around the rivers for their primary water source. The drier the season, the easier it is to spot the wildlife as the vegetation and bushes are grazed down. The wet season outside these months make certain areas of the park extremely difficult, or impossible to access. This is because Luangwa’s infamous black cotton soil becomes extremely sticky and wet, making the roads simply impassable, even for safari 4x4’s! Some camps open during the ‘emerald’ season, which lights up the park with vibrant green tones and it is a particularly good time to visit for those interested in birdlife as the park is filled with a beautiful blend of endemic and migratory birds.

Best time to visit the Lower Zambezi National Park

Similar to other areas in Zambia, the best time to visit the Lower Zambezi National Park is in the dry season between June to October. This is when the bush is thinner, the park is drier and the wildlife congregates around the river. During these months, all of the activities are offered including river cruises, canoe trips, fishing and night and day game drives.

The period outside of this window (November to March), is the rainy season. The weather during this time is very hot and humid and as the bush is greener and fresher, mosquitos’ numbers are much higher. The roads become bad and sometimes impassable so the scheduled flights into the park stop operating, and the majority of the camps close during this period. That said, this period, also referred to as the ‘emerald season’ has much fewer visitors and for camps that remain open, the rates are usually very low.

Best time to visit Kafue National Park

The best time to visit Kafue is the July to October window which is the height of the dry season. The game viewing is at its best, and most reliable during this time as the animals gather around the remaining water sources. The Busanga Plains, in the northwest area of the park are best visited in the dry season also, perhaps between the months of August and October. The Busanga Plains become completely inaccessible during the wet season.

Best time to visit Liuwa Plain National Park

The period between November to December is the wet season but this is the regarded the best season to travel as the animal’s migration to the plain during this time (the opposite to the wildlife pattern in most other parks). Many of the animals give birth during this time so there are plenty of newborns and the birding is exquisite. The plains are inaccessible between January and April and game drives are not permitted, so this is a time to avoid. The period from May to October is good as the plains begin to dry up and the conditions for wildlife are good. That said, October can be very hot!

Best time to visit the Victoria Falls

The mighty Victoria Falls marks the boundary between Botswana (just), Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is the place where the waters of the Zambezi River cascade over 100 meters into the “boiling pot” below. A visit to the falls is really a fantastic adventure and something really worth making the effort to do. Again, as with many of the more famous sites in Africa, there is a strong argument to say that you should think of staying away from the busiest areas and benefit from the peace and tranquillity of being further upstream. There is no doubt that a visit to the mighty Victoria Falls at any time of the year will blow you away – the noise, the heat, the moisture, the splash and the overall unique display - but it is worth noting the difference in water volume throughout the months so that you can plan your visit based on the experience it offers.

December to March - The summer period and the height of the rainy season. The weather is hot and as the humidity builds up, thunderstorms often arrive in the afternoon. The Victoria Falls water levels are high and slowly increasing, so activities such as white-water rafting and visiting Livingstone Island Devil’s Pool are usually closed due to safety.

April to June - Many would say that the best time to visit the Falls is the period between April and June which is directly after the area’s summer rains. As a result, the falls have the greatest volume at this time so the amount of water flowing down is simply breath-taking! Visibility from some lookouts can be limited by the abundance of spray and mist so the local name ‘The Smoke That Thunders’ is definitely recognised during this time! Because of high water levels, it is worth noting that white water rafting and Livingstone Island/ Devil’s Pool are closed during these months. A visit to the falls during these months will guarantee to get you soaked… so a poncho or waterproof is a must!

July to August - The water levels of Victoria Falls are lower during these months and as such, the spray is not as intense which gives you greater visibility of the actual falls. At this time, Livingstone Island and the rafting season begins to open as soon as the water drops to a safe level. The only thing to bear in mind is that July and August are peak seasons at Victoria Falls (and Africa in general) due to the summer holidays across the UK and Europe, so be prepared for crowds and high visitor numbers.

September to November - This period is the end of the dry season when the falls water level is at the lowest. On the Zambian side, the falls may almost completely dry up so whilst the visibility is excellent, the experience will definitively be less intense and you certainly will not be wet! From an activity point of view, this period is a great time to visit as white-water rafting is at its peak and Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool at the edge of the falls are open.