Best Times to Travel in Zambia

Botany:

Zambia’s vegetation forms a patchwork of grassland, woodland and swamp. Within these broad categories are numerous distinct plant communities, the most dominant of which is miombo woodland.

Covering nearly 3 quarters of Zambia, this deciduous woodland thrives on the generally poor, acid soils of the plateau. One of its distinctive trees is Brachystegia which produces rich, autumnal colours in early spring (September) before the new leaves gradually turn yellow and then green.

Regions of Zambia:

Lusaka has a pleasant climate with warm summers, mild winters and plenty of sun. The months October to November can get fairly hot in Lusaka. The best times to visit the Lower Zambezi and Lake Kariba is from June to September. Game viewing by boat is possible year round, although from late October, temperatures can become unbearably hot.

Angling in Lake Kariba is best from September to October when Tiger fish are more active. Bird watching, although excellent year round is particularly rewarding from December to April.

Kasanka National Park which is in the Bangweulu Region is open year round. Bird watching is particularly good during the wet season when the migrants are around, which is from November to March and game viewing is best from May to October.

Climate:

The general height of the land gives Zambia a more pleasant climate than that experienced in most tropical countries. There are 3 seasons - cool and dry from May to August, hot and dry from September to November, warm and wet from December to April.

Only in the Valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa is there excessive heat, particularly in October and, in the wet season, a high humidity. In the warm wet season, frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms occur, followed by spells of bright sunshine.

Plants grow profusely and rivers and streams fill up almost overnight. During the cool dry season, night frosts may occur in places sheltered from the wind. The countryside dries up gradually and grass fires, fanned by high winds are a feature of this time of the year.

In depressions, radiation occurs on cloudless nights. Temperatures rise high during the hot, dry season but new leaves appear on the trees before the start of the rains and new grass brightens the countryside. The main growing period of woody vegetation is between August and November.