Weather by month for central Zambia, the best months to go and how Zambia's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
May, Jun, Jul, Aug
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 25°C to 28°C · 1 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 27°C to 32°C · 0–24 rain days
Nov
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs 33°C · 10 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C / 20°C | 24 days (269 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 6.4/10 |
| February | 28°C / 21°C | 21 days (186 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| March | 27°C / 20°C | 17 days (110 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 6.3/10 |
| April | 27°C / 18°C | 8 days (39 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 8.1/10 |
| Best month: May | 26°C / 16°C | 1 day (4 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 9.7/10 |
| Best month: June | 25°C / 14°C | 1 day (3 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 9.9/10 |
| Best month: July | 25°C / 13°C | 1 day (3 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 9.8/10 |
| Best month: August | 28°C / 15°C | 1 day (2 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 8.9/10 |
| September | 32°C / 19°C | 0 days (0 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 7.1/10 |
| October | 34°C / 21°C | 2 days (9 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 4.2/10 |
| November | 33°C / 22°C | 10 days (66 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 3.2/10 |
| December | 30°C / 21°C | 19 days (182 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 5.1/10 |
Figures for central Zambia; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
27°C / 20°C · 24 rain days · 9.0 h sun
January sits in the heart of the rainy season, with highs of 27.2°C and rain on about 24 days, bringing 269mm total. Expect frequent downpours and lush, green landscapes. It scores 6.4, a good verdict, suiting travellers who don't mind getting wet. New Year's Day falls on the 1st.
28°C / 21°C · 21 rain days · 9.9 h sun
February stays wet, with 20.9 rain days and 186mm of rain, though highs reach 27.7°C. The season is slightly drier than January but still humid and green. It scores 6.2, rated good, fine for those comfortable with regular showers.
27°C / 20°C · 17 rain days · 10.8 h sun
Rain starts easing in March, with 17 rain days and 110mm total, while highs hold at 27.4°C. Sun hours rise to 10.8, hinting at drier days ahead. The month scores 6.3, a good verdict. Youth Day falls on 12 March and International Women's Day on 9 March.
27°C / 18°C · 8 rain days · 10.6 h sun
April marks a real shift: rain days drop to 7.7 and rainfall falls to just 39mm, with highs of 26.7°C. Landscapes stay green while skies clear, earning a top score of 8.1, rated best. Easter falls in April, from Good Friday on 3 April to Easter Monday on 6 April, plus Kenneth Kaunda's Birthday on 28 April.
26°C / 16°C · 1 rain days · 10.9 h sun
May is dry, with just 1 rain day and 4mm of rain, and a comfortable high of 26.2°C. Nights cool to 15.6°C. This is one of the best months to visit, scoring 9.7. Labour Day is 1 May.
25°C / 14°C · 1 rain days · 10.5 h sun
June brings Zambia's driest, coolest stretch: highs of 24.5°C, lows of 13.5°C, and only 0.7 rain days. Clear skies and 10.5 sun hours make this the top-scoring month at 9.9, rated best.
25°C / 13°C · 1 rain days · 10.5 h sun
July stays dry and cool, with highs of 24.8°C, lows of 13.1°C, and barely 1.1 rain days. Sunshine holds at 10.5 hours. It scores 9.8, rated best. Heroes' Day falls on 6 July and Unity Day on 7 July.
28°C / 15°C · 1 rain days · 11.2 h sun
August warms up again, with highs of 28°C and lows of 15.2°C, while rain stays minimal at 0.7 days. Sun hours peak at 11.2. The month scores 8.9, still rated best. Farmers' Day is 3 August.
32°C / 19°C · 0 rain days · 11.6 h sun
September turns hot and dry, with highs climbing to 31.7°C and almost no rain at all, just 0.1 days. Sun hours reach 11.6, among the highest of the year. It scores 7.1, a good verdict, as the heat starts building before the rains return.
34°C / 21°C · 2 rain days · 11.5 h sun
October is the hottest month, with highs of 34°C and lows of 21.3°C, though rain stays light at 1.7 days and 9mm. The heat is intense and dry, dropping the score to 4.2, rated ok. Independence Day falls on 26 October and the National Day of Prayer on 19 October.
33°C / 22°C · 10 rain days · 11.3 h sun
November brings the first real rains back, with 9.5 rain days and 66mm, alongside high heat of 32.9°C. The mix of heat and building humidity makes conditions tough, giving the lowest score of the year at 3.2, rated avoid.
30°C / 21°C · 19 rain days · 10.3 h sun
December settles into the wet season proper, with 19.1 rain days and 182mm of rain, though highs ease slightly to 29.9°C. Expect regular storms and humid air. It scores 5.1, rated ok. Christmas Day falls on 25 December.
By trip type
City sightseeing
May to August bring highs of 24-26°C and almost no rain, with just 1-4mm a month. These dry, mild conditions make walking around towns and markets comfortable, without the heat spikes of later months.
Hiking & nature
May through August is the driest stretch, with under 4mm of rain and only 0.7-1.1 rain days a month. Cooler lows of 13-16°C mean less sweat on the trail, and over 10.5 hours of daily sunshine keeps trails dry and visibility good.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: International Women's Day (9 Mar), Youth Day (12 Mar)
Public holidays: Good Friday (3 Apr), Holy Saturday (4 Apr), Easter Sunday (5 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr), Kenneth Kaunda's Birthday (28 Apr)
Public holidays: Labour Day (1 May), African Freedom Day (25 May)
Public holidays: Heroes' Day (6 Jul), Unity Day (7 Jul)
Public holidays: Farmers' Day (3 Aug)
Public holidays: National Day of Prayer (19 Oct), Independence Day (26 Oct)
Public holidays: Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. August scores 8.9 out of 10 and falls in the best period. It has almost no rain, with just 0.7 rain days and 2 mm for the month, and 11.2 hours of sun a day. Highs reach 28°C and lows sit at 15.2°C, so days are warm and nights are cool.
No, November is the lowest-scoring month at 3.2 out of 10. Rain picks up fast, with 9.5 rain days and 66 mm falling, after months of near-zero rainfall. Highs still reach 32.9°C, so it feels hot and increasingly humid as the rains build.
January works but is not peak season, scoring 6.4 out of 10. It sits in the middle of the wet season, with 23.6 rain days and 269 mm of rain, the wettest month in the data. Sun hours are also lowest here, at 9 hours a day, and highs reach 27.2°C.
The best months are May, June, July and August, all scoring 8.1 or higher. June scores highest at 9.9, with only 0.7 rain days and 3 mm of rain. These months have the least rain and the most sun hours, between 10.5 and 11.2 a day, with cooler lows of 13 to 16°C.
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