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 is the wettest month, with 23.6 rain days and 269 mm of rain. Highs reach 27 °C and lows 20 °C. It still scores 6.4, rated good, but expect rain on most days and plan for wet conditions.
28°C / 21°C · 21 rain days · 9.9 h sun
February stays wet, with 20.9 rain days and 186 mm of rain. Highs are around 28 °C. The score is 6.2, rated good, though it is the lowest of the good months. Pack for daily showers.
27°C / 20°C · 17 rain days · 10.8 h sun
Rain eases in March to 17 rain days and 110 mm. Highs are 27.4 °C, and you get about 10.8 hours of sun a day. It scores 6.3, rated good. Still, expect rain on more than half the days.
27°C / 18°C · 8 rain days · 10.6 h sun
April marks the switch to dry weather. Rain days drop to 7.7 and rainfall to 39 mm, with highs of 26.7 °C. It scores 8.1 and starts the best period of the year.
26°C / 16°C · 1 rain days · 10.9 h sun
May is almost dry, with just 1 rain day and 4 mm of rain. Highs are 26.2 °C, and nights cool to 15.6 °C. With a score of 9.7, it is one of the best months to go.
25°C / 14°C · 1 rain days · 10.5 h sun
June has the top score of the year, 9.9. Rain is rare, with 0.7 rain days, and highs are a mild 24.5 °C. Nights are cool at 13.5 °C, so bring a warm layer.
25°C / 13°C · 1 rain days · 10.5 h sun
July scores 9.8 and is almost as good as June. Expect 1.1 rain days, 3 mm of rain and highs of 24.8 °C. Lows of 13.1 °C make it the coolest month at night, so pack warm clothes for the evenings.
28°C / 15°C · 1 rain days · 11.2 h sun
August stays dry, with 0.7 rain days and 11.2 hours of sun a day. It gets warmer, with highs of 28 °C and lows of 15.2 °C. It scores 8.9 and is the last of the best months.
32°C / 19°C · 0 rain days · 11.6 h sun
September is the driest month, with 0.1 rain days and 0 mm of rain. Heat builds, with highs of 31.7 °C. It scores 7.1, rated good, so it still works if you can handle warm days.
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. Rain stays low at 1.7 rain days. It scores only 4.2, rated ok. Go only if you cope well with strong heat.
33°C / 22°C · 10 rain days · 11.3 h sun
November is a bad time to go. It has the lowest score of the year, 3.2, rated avoid. Highs are still 32.9 °C, and rain returns with 9.5 rain days and 66 mm. You get heat and rain together.
30°C / 21°C · 19 rain days · 10.3 h sun
December is fully back in the rainy season, with 19.1 rain days and 182 mm of rain. Highs drop to 29.9 °C. It scores 5.1, rated ok. Expect wet days and keep your plans flexible.
By trip type
City sightseeing
May to August suit city trips best. Daytime highs stay between 24.5°C and 28°C, and each month gets only 2–4 mm of rain on about 1 day. Skip October, when highs reach 34°C.
Hiking & nature
June and July are the best hiking months, with highs near 25°C and cool nights of about 13°C. May and August also work, with almost no rain. Avoid January, which brings 269 mm of rain over about 24 days.
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. June is the top-rated month, with a score of 9.9 out of 10. It is almost completely dry, with 0.7 rain days and 3 mm of rain on average. Days are warm at 24.5°C and sunny for 10.5 hours. Nights are cool at about 13.5°C, so pack a warm layer. May, July and August are also rated best.
Only if you can handle strong heat. October scores 4.2 out of 10 and is rated just ok. It is the hottest month, with average highs of 34°C and lows of 21.3°C. Rain is still low, at 1.7 days and 9 mm. The heat is the main problem. For a cooler dry-season trip, choose May to August.
Yes, November is the weakest month, with a score of 3.2 out of 10. It combines heat and the start of the rains. Highs average 32.9°C and nights stay warm at 22.2°C. Rain days jump to 9.5, from 1.7 in October, with 66 mm of rain. In December the rain rises again, to 19.1 days and 182 mm.
It is rated good, at 6.4 out of 10, but expect a lot of rain. January is the wettest month. It has 23.6 rain days and 269 mm of rain on average. Temperatures are mild, with highs of 27.2°C and lows of 20.4°C. You still get about 9 hours of sun a day. If you want dry weather, go from May to August instead.
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