Weather & when to go in Zimbabwe

Except in the lowland regions, the tropical conditions normally associated with Zimbabwe are tempered, because most of the country sits on highveld (high grassland) and middleveld (lower altitude grassland) plateaus. With temperatures around 25°C (77°F) during the day, it's never particularly hot, and the nights are cool. During the summer (Nov-Apr), it does get a little hotter, while it cools off during winter (May-Oct). The nicest time of the year is near August, when the dry season peaks, resulting in a very pleasant balance of sunshine, heat and humidity. The month of November is hot and humid.

Most popular time to visit:

Mid-Apr-mid-May; mid-Jul-mid-Sept; Dec-early Jan: During South African & Namibian school holidays. The national parks are most crowded during this time.

Good time to visit:

May-Oct: The dry winter months. Even though night-time temperatures can fall below zero, the days are best for wildlife viewing, because the animals tend to gather close to the waterholes, making them easier to spot.  

Nov-April: The hotter & wetter summer season. The landscapes are very green during this time.

Best time to go rafting:

Best time for viewing Vic Falls:

Best things to do in Zimbabwe

1. Every adrenaline junky has to go white-water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, and top it off with a sundowner and snacks on a Zambezi Booze Cruise.
2. Of course, it’s sacrilege to not go and see the Victoria Falls when in Zimbabwe. Get a better view from the top by soaring above it. 
3. If you’d like to get a taste of what it was like in your granma’s time, it’s well worth taking afternoon tea at the classic, historical Victoria Falls Hotel. Follow that up with an African meal in a boma, and you’ve just created some memorable times for yourself in Zimbabwe.
4. Enhance these times, by adding canoeing around Mana Pools, tiger fishing on Lake Kariba, and walking with the rhinos to your list.

Areas of interest in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls need no introduction, as anyone who’s not heard about it, must’ve been locked up in some basement somewhere since 1855 when Livinstone named it after his English queen. Locally, it’s also known as a few other names, the most popular as Chinotimba in Nambya, meaning “the smoke that thunders”.

At 108m (330ft) it’s one of the world's most spectacular plunges. You can actually see the spray 50km (31mi) away on clear days.

Victoria Falls is an adrenaline junky’s paradise. The activity menu is chock and block full of crazy activities, such as bungee jumping, white-water rafting, jet-boating, abseiling, river-boating, and a whole bunch of airborne activities. Try and time your visit so that it coincides with the full moon, because then the park stays open later so that you can witness the magical lunar rainbow over the falls.

Mana Pools National Park

At Mana Pools National Park, you can summon up the courage and make use of a special privilege not many parks give their guests: you can go wandering around on foot from dawn to dusk.

The Mana Pools lie in a relatively remote area in the park, and you get a sense of wildness and naturalness when here. The word 'mana' means four, names after the four pools around the park headquarters, namely Main, Chine, Long and Chisambik.

Except in the heat of the middle of the day, Long Pool can get very busy, with hippos, crocodiles, zebras, elephants and antelopes coming to the party.  

Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Lost City

Old stone ruins and winding corridors are the fascinating remains at Great Zimbabwe, the greatest medieval city in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides evidence that prehistoric Africa reached a level of civilisation not suspected by early scholars.

These ancient stone structures are the biggest in Africa south of the Egyptian pyramids. The most well-known structure is the elliptical Great Enclosure, which is at nearly 100m (330ft) across and 255m (840ft) in circumference, the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa. The legendary walls are 11m (36ft) high and are 5m (16ft) thick in some places. Most scientists believe that it was used as a royal compound.

Hwange National Park

Located on the edge of the Kalahari sands, Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest national park, covering 14000 square km – the same size as Wales in the United Kingdom. It lies in western Zimbabwe on the border with Botswana and is famous for its huge herds of up to 20 000 elephant that migrate across to Chobe National Park in Botswana. The Big Five also roams around here.

One of the greatest things about Hwange, is that it’s uncrowded by tourists.  

Desert sands, to sparse woodland, as well as grasslands and granite outcrops make up the park’s landscape and provide a sanctuary for over a massive 100 species of mammal. Along with the Big Five, you’ll also spot some zebra, eland, kudu, giraffe, and the wild dog. These wild dogs were at a time almost extinct, but thanks to conservational efforts in supporting a breeding program, these wild creatures are finally starting to get more. The landscape’s shallow pans make it easy to see the animals.

Bird lovers will love this place. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded here.

Because Hwange has no permanent water sources, there are 60 man-made waterholes in order to make sure the animals don’t keel over during the dry season. All of them have viewing platforms, and because of these waterholes, Hwange is one of the few African parks where game viewing is consistently good all year round.

Lake Kariba

Covering 282km² of the Zambezi Valley, Lake Kariba is an artificial inland sea, and Zimbabwe’s third largest dam.

It attracts massive quantities of game, both big and small, which include huge Nile crocodiles and elephant. Not-to-be-missed sunsets and the bleached skeletal trunks and bare branches of dead trees that were drowned in the dam years ago, are what makes this place so magical. The best and most peaceful way to see Lake Kariba is from a houseboat.

On the souther shores of Lake Kariba, you’ll find Matusadona National Park. It’s here where a frozen tidal wave of mountains serve as a majestic backdrop to the numerous islands and fertile flood plains.

The town of Kariba has become a very popular resort. It now has its own airport, harbour, marinas, and lakeside hotels and lodges, offering a long list of water-sports.

Recent history of Zimbabwe

When the Zimbabwe elections were pending in 2002, the European Union (EU) appointed election observers to oversee the process. Because most of the media coverage wasn’t exactly positive, parliament passed a law restricting media liberties.

Not long after that, the EU team leader was sent home, so the EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, joining the World Bank and IMF in their concerns over the disintegrating conditions.

Despite all this, Mugabe was re-elected, in an election that was controversial and marred by scandal. International condemnation was widespread, leading to Zimbabwe getting suspended from the Commonwealth. When the suspension carried on in 2003, Zimbabwe decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth once and for all, and this further alienated the country.

Shortly after this drama, the 2005 elections took place. Since 2000, Mugabe and his security and propaganda networks spent the next five years readjusting the playing field by coercing, manipulating and bribing their way to victory in these elections, which ended up being a dark, disturbing circus.

During the time leading up to these elections, they put Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai through two treason trials. At the end, Mugabe managed a two-thirds majority vote, giving him the power to change Zimbabwe's constitution and pave the way for a successor of his choice.

Part of the changes Mugabe made in the constitution was to create a senate, who had to review their opposing division and decide whether or not they could take part in the elections or not.

Unsurprisingly, mass protests are continually planned against the government, but, understandably so, people appear more concerned with feeding their families than fighting the well-armed state.

Tourism is of great importance to the economy, which otherwise relies on farming and mining for export earnings. Having suffered greatly during the droughts of the early 1990's, Zimbabwe is still finding its way out of the economic doldrums with unemployment being high and the question of land ownership still being an emotional issue.

Highlights of Zimbabwe

1. Every adrenaline junky has to go white-water rafting on the mighty Zambezi
2. Have a sundowner on a Zambezi Booze Cruise.
3. Soar above the mighty Vic Falls. 
4. Having high tea at the historical Victoria Falls Hotel. Relive your granma’s era.
5. Walking with the lions

Quick facts of Zimbabwe

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English (official); Shona (other)

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Money matters

Never use credit cards

Medical matters

1. Cholera
2. Malaria
3. Rabies
4. Yellow fever
5. HIV/AIDS
6. Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia)

Getting there

You can either fly directly to the Victoria Falls, or fly into Livingstone in Zambia, and get a taxi or transfer

Safety in Zimbabwe

Political unrest has recently rocketed in Zimbabwe. Particularly in Harare, demonstrations have been met with increasing violence by the police, and the broader security situation appears to be getting worse. The national economy is still in limbo.

That’s why when you visit this country, be very careful and make use of common sense to bypass obvious dangers. Also, respect any local advice regarding safety. Especially steer clear of demonstrations and large public gatherings as they almost always turn violent. Try not to travel by yourself, and avoid remote areas.

Fortunately, Victoria Falls has largely been unaffected by the country’s troubles, because it’s value as an income source is recognised. Just be aware of pick-pocketing.