Last updated October 2026

Zimbabwe's seasons

• Cool and dry, about May to August. Sunny days and cold nights, especially in the bush and the Eastern Highlands. A popular time to visit.
• Hot and dry, about September to October. The hottest months before the rains. Wildlife gathers at water, so game viewing is often at its best.
• Rainy season, about November to March. Warm with afternoon storms. The landscape turns green, birdlife is excellent and prices can be lower, but some remote roads and camps close.
• April is a green, fresh shoulder month as the rains end.

Victoria Falls through the year

The Zambezi River is fullest after the rains, roughly February to May. The Falls are thundering then, but the spray can be so heavy that it hides the view and soaks you on the paths. From about June to August the flow is still strong and the views are clearer. By October and November the water is at its lowest; the Zimbabwe side keeps more water than the Zambian side, and some activities, such as swimming at the lip of the Falls on the Zambian side, depend on low water.

Wildlife and safaris

The dry months, about July to October, are usually the best for seeing animals in parks such as Hwange, Mana Pools and Gonarezhou, because the bush thins out and animals stay close to water. The rainy season brings newborn animals and migratory birds. Some camps, particularly in Mana Pools and Gonarezhou, close for part of the rainy season.

Other destinations

• Lake Kariba is warm all year, and hot from September to November.
• The Eastern Highlands are cooler and greener, with misty mornings in winter.
• Great Zimbabwe and Matobo are pleasant to explore in the cooler dry months.

Each destination guide has its own plan-your-visit page with more detail on its seasons; see Plan by destination. Malaria risk is higher in the rainy season. See Health and safety.

Public holidays

Zimbabwe's public holidays are set by the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act, and the government can add more. Expect government offices and banks to close, and check opening times for museums and attractions. Roads and accommodation get busier around Easter, Heroes' Day and Christmas, so book early for those weekends.

• New Year's Day: 1 January.
• Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day: 21 February, a holiday since 2018.
• Easter: Good Friday, the Saturday after it, and Easter Monday. The dates change each year.
• Independence Day: 18 April.
• Workers' Day: 1 May.
• Africa Day: 25 May.
• Heroes' Day and Defence Forces Day: the second Monday in August and the Tuesday after it.
• Munhumutapa Day: 15 September, a holiday from 2026.
• National Unity Day: 22 December.
• Christmas Day and Boxing Day: 25 and 26 December.

When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday after it is usually a holiday too, and the government sometimes declares extra days. Check the dates for the year you travel.