AU
Level 1Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautions
When to go · Climate guide
Zambiawhen to go
Zambia's national averages run from 25 °C in July to 33 °C in October, with rainfall between 0 mm in August and 283 mm in January and 4.9–9.9 hours of sun a day. Against the default preferences (under 2.7 mm of rain a day, at least 6 hours of sun), the strongest months are April, May and June. Its 10 regions span 27–29 °C in annual mean temperature, so the national figure hides a good deal.
- Capital
- Lusaka
- Region
- Africa
- TZ
- Africa/Lusaka
- Area
- 752,773 km²
Best months to visit
When Zambia shines
Climate at a glance · 10-year ERA5
A decade of weather, in one page
— daytime high— overnight low▬ typical range
View data table
| Month | Average daytime high (°C) | Average overnight low (°C) | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.0 | 19.2 | 18.1 | 29.3 |
| February | 27.8 | 19.2 | 18.4 | 31.0 |
| March | 27.8 | 18.9 | 17.8 | 30.5 |
| April | 27.4 | 17.7 | 15.4 | 29.8 |
| May | 26.8 | 15.0 | 12.2 | 29.1 |
| June | 25.3 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 28.6 |
| July | 25.3 | 12.1 | 9.9 | 28.8 |
| August | 28.5 | 14.4 | 11.5 | 31.6 |
| September | 31.7 | 17.8 | 14.4 | 34.3 |
| October | 32.9 | 20.1 | 17.2 | 35.5 |
| November | 30.7 | 20.2 | 18.8 | 34.4 |
| December | 28.5 | 19.5 | 18.3 | 32.6 |
View data table
| Month | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| January | 283 |
| February | 216 |
| March | 177 |
| April | 64 |
| May | 6 |
| June | 1 |
| July | 1 |
| August | 0 |
| September | 1 |
| October | 17 |
| November | 121 |
| December | 225 |
View data table
| Month | Sunshine hours (hr / day) |
|---|---|
| January | 4.9 |
| February | 5.8 |
| March | 6.0 |
| April | 6.9 |
| May | 8.4 |
| June | 8.5 |
| July | 8.5 |
| August | 9.4 |
| September | 9.9 |
| October | 9.5 |
| November | 7.8 |
| December | 6.3 |
— average▬ typical range
View data table
| Month | Average wind speed (km/h) | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.1 | 5.3 | 10.1 |
| February | 6.6 | 5.0 | 9.0 |
| March | 7.3 | 4.8 | 11.0 |
| April | 9.4 | 5.8 | 12.7 |
| May | 10.0 | 7.4 | 13.2 |
| June | 10.2 | 7.4 | 13.9 |
| July | 10.7 | 7.8 | 14.6 |
| August | 10.9 | 8.0 | 14.8 |
| September | 11.5 | 8.2 | 15.8 |
| October | 11.2 | 7.3 | 15.6 |
| November | 8.5 | 5.8 | 12.5 |
| December | 7.2 | 5.4 | 9.5 |
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Snow depth
Snow depth for Zambia is part of the Premium map and its district-level detail. See what Premium includes.
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Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature for Zambia is part of the Premium map and its district-level detail. See what Premium includes.
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Heat index
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Humidity
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What’s open · year round
Things to do in Zambia
Zambia closes something in January–August; nothing below runs the whole year.
- ClosedDevil's Pool, Livingstone Island
Closed January–August · at its best October–November
Sources: mtembezisafaris.com, wildhorizons.co.za
- LimitedVictoria Falls
Limited October–December · at its best March–May
Sources: wildhorizons.co.za, travelbutlers.com
- LimitedWalking safaris in South Luangwa
Limited December–April · at its best June–October
Sources: go2africa.com, greensafaris.com
Opening seasons are checked by hand against the operators and parks themselves, not derived from the climate figures on this page. Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Dates move — confirm before you book.
Safety · 4 governments
What the governments say about Zambia
Combined advisory · most-cautious-wins
Exercise increased caution
Highest level across 4 governments · Advisory last changed
See breakdown by countryHide breakdown
DE
Level 1Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautions
NL
Level 2Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased caution
US
Level 1Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautions
Parts of Zambia carry a higher advisory — up to level 3, "Reconsider travel". The governments concerned name a region rather than a boundary, so the carve-out is not drawn on the map and is not reflected in the combined level above. Follow the source links for where it applies.
Month by month
A year in Zambia, in order
- JanJanuary27.0°C · 283 mm · 4.9 hr/day
Around 27 °C with 283 mm of rain and 4.9 hours of sun a day.
Around 27 °C with 283 mm of rain and 4.9 hours of sun a day.
- FebFebruary27.8°C · 216 mm · 5.8 hr/day
Around 28 °C with 216 mm of rain and 5.8 hours of sun a day.
Around 28 °C with 216 mm of rain and 5.8 hours of sun a day.
- MarMarch27.8°C · 177 mm · 6.0 hr/day
Around 28 °C with 177 mm of rain and 6.0 hours of sun a day.
Around 28 °C with 177 mm of rain and 6.0 hours of sun a day.
- AprApril27.4°C · 64 mm · 6.9 hr/day
Around 27 °C with 64 mm of rain and 6.9 hours of sun a day.
Around 27 °C with 64 mm of rain and 6.9 hours of sun a day.
- MayMay26.8°C · 6 mm · 8.4 hr/day
Around 27 °C with 6 mm of rain and 8.4 hours of sun a day.
Around 27 °C with 6 mm of rain and 8.4 hours of sun a day.
- JunJune25.3°C · 1 mm · 8.5 hr/day
Around 25 °C with 1 mm of rain and 8.5 hours of sun a day.
Around 25 °C with 1 mm of rain and 8.5 hours of sun a day.
- JulJuly25.3°C · 1 mm · 8.5 hr/day
Around 25 °C with 1 mm of rain and 8.5 hours of sun a day.
Around 25 °C with 1 mm of rain and 8.5 hours of sun a day.
- AugAugust28.5°C · 0 mm · 9.4 hr/day
Around 28 °C with 0 mm of rain and 9.4 hours of sun a day.
Around 28 °C with 0 mm of rain and 9.4 hours of sun a day.
- SepSeptember31.7°C · 1 mm · 9.9 hr/day
Around 32 °C with 1 mm of rain and 9.9 hours of sun a day.
Around 32 °C with 1 mm of rain and 9.9 hours of sun a day.
- OctOctober32.9°C · 17 mm · 9.5 hr/day
Around 33 °C with 17 mm of rain and 9.5 hours of sun a day.
Around 33 °C with 17 mm of rain and 9.5 hours of sun a day.
- NovNovember30.7°C · 121 mm · 7.8 hr/day
Around 31 °C with 121 mm of rain and 7.8 hours of sun a day.
Around 31 °C with 121 mm of rain and 7.8 hours of sun a day.
- DecDecember28.5°C · 225 mm · 6.3 hr/day
Around 28 °C with 225 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
Around 28 °C with 225 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
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