Weather by month for central Zimbabwe, the best months to go and how Zimbabwe'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 22°C to 26°C · 2–4 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 25°C to 31°C · 3–18 rain days
Nov, Dec
No months with tough weather, but these are only average.
Highs 30°C to 31°C · 10–16 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 / 18°C | 18 days (179 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 6.3/10 |
| February | 28°C / 18°C | 15 days (145 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| March | 27°C / 17°C | 12 days (69 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 7.3/10 |
| April | 25°C / 14°C | 7 days (39 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 8.5/10 |
| Best month: May | 24°C / 11°C | 2 days (8 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 9.5/10 |
| Best month: June | 22°C / 9°C | 4 days (15 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 9.3/10 |
| Best month: July | 22°C / 8°C | 3 days (10 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 9.3/10 |
| Best month: August | 26°C / 11°C | 2 days (6 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 9.6/10 |
| September | 29°C / 14°C | 3 days (10 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| October | 31°C / 16°C | 5 days (22 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| November | 31°C / 18°C | 10 days (67 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 5.7/10 |
| December | 30°C / 19°C | 16 days (158 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 5.1/10 |
Figures for central Zimbabwe; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
27°C / 18°C · 18 rain days · 10.0 h sun
January is hot and wet, with highs around 27.4°C and rain on about 18.4 days, the most of any month. Expect 179mm of rainfall and only 10 hours of sun a day, so roads and trails can be muddy. The score is 6.3, a good month, but pack rain gear. New Year's Day falls on 1 January.
28°C / 18°C · 15 rain days · 9.8 h sun
February stays warm at 27.6°C with rain on roughly 14.9 days and 145mm of rainfall. Sun hours sit at 9.8, slightly less than January. The score is 6.2, still rated good, as the wet season continues but storms are a touch less frequent. Robert Mugabe National Youth Day is marked on 21 February.
27°C / 17°C · 12 rain days · 10.1 h sun
March brings a clear drop in rain, down to 11.6 rain days and 69mm, while highs stay near 26.8°C. Sun hours rise slightly to 10.1. The score climbs to 7.3, a good month, as the landscape is still green from the wet season but skies clear more often.
25°C / 14°C · 7 rain days · 9.8 h sun
April turns drier fast, with only 7.4 rain days and 39mm of rain, and highs ease to 25.3°C. Sun hours hold at 9.8. The score jumps to 8.5, the start of the best-rated stretch. Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Monday and Independence Day all fall this month.
24°C / 11°C · 2 rain days · 10.1 h sun
May is dry and mild, with just 2.4 rain days and 8mm of rain, plus 10.1 hours of sun daily. Highs sit at 23.9°C and lows drop to 11°C, cool enough for a jacket at dawn. The score is 9.5, the top-rated month of the year. Worker's Day is 1 May and Africa Day is 25 May.
22°C / 9°C · 4 rain days · 9.3 h sun
June is Zimbabwe's coolest month, with lows of 9°C and highs of 21.7°C. Rain is rare, just 3.5 days and 15mm, and sun hours dip slightly to 9.3. The score stays high at 9.3, best-rated, though mornings and evenings need warm layers.
22°C / 8°C · 3 rain days · 9.4 h sun
July is similarly cool and dry, with highs of 21.8°C, lows of 8.4°C, and only 3.3 rain days. Sun hours pick up a little to 9.4. The score holds at 9.3, best-rated, making this a reliable month for clear skies despite the chill.
26°C / 11°C · 2 rain days · 10.3 h sun
August warms up again, with highs of 25.8°C and lows of 10.9°C, while rain stays minimal at 2.2 days and 6mm. Sun hours climb to 10.3, among the highest of the year. The score peaks at 9.6, the best-rated month overall. Heroes' Day is 10 August and Defence Forces Day is 11 August.
29°C / 14°C · 3 rain days · 10.5 h sun
September gets hotter, with highs of 29°C and still almost no rain, just 3.3 days and 10mm. Sun hours reach 10.5. The score is 7.8, still best-rated, though the heat is building ahead of the wet season.
31°C / 16°C · 5 rain days · 10.6 h sun
October is the hottest month, with highs of 30.6°C and lows of 16.1°C. Rain starts creeping back, with 4.7 days and 22mm, and sun hours stay high at 10.6. The score drops to 6.8, a good month, but the heat can feel intense with little rain to cool things down.
31°C / 18°C · 10 rain days · 10.5 h sun
November brings the wet season back in force, with 10.1 rain days and 67mm of rain, while highs stay near 30.5°C. Sun hours hold at 10.5 despite more cloud cover. The score falls to 5.7, an ok month, as humidity and storms increase.
30°C / 19°C · 16 rain days · 10.3 h sun
December is hot and increasingly wet, with 15.6 rain days and 158mm of rain, plus highs of 29.8°C. Sun hours drop to 10.3 as cloud builds most afternoons. The score is 5.1, an ok month overall. Unity Day falls on 22 December, followed by Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day.
By trip type
City sightseeing
May to August works best for city visits. Rain drops to 6-15mm a month with only 2-4 rain days, highs sit between 22-26°C, and sun hours stay above 9, making it easy to walk around Harare or Bulawayo without getting caught in storms.
Hiking & nature
May through August suits hiking. Rainfall is low, at 6-15mm per month with just 2-4 rain days, and daytime highs of 22-26°C keep trails dry and comfortable. Mornings can be cool, with lows down to 8-11°C, so pack a warm layer.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Robert Mugabe National Youth Day (21 Feb)
Public holidays: Good Friday (3 Apr), Holy Saturday (4 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr), Independence Day (18 Apr)
Public holidays: Worker's Day (1 May), Africa Day (25 May)
Public holidays: Heroes' Day (10 Aug), Defence Forces Day (11 Aug)
Public holidays: Unity Day (22 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec), St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes, August is one of the best months, with a score of 9.6. It has only 2.2 rain days, 6mm of rain, 10.3 hours of sunshine and a comfortable high of 25.8°C. Dry roads and clear skies make it a strong choice for wildlife viewing, since animals gather around rivers and waterholes.
December scores 5.1, rated 'ok' rather than ideal. It sits in the wet season, with 15.6 rain days and 158mm of rain. Highs of 29.8°C add humidity on top of the rain. This is green season: landscapes turn lush and birdlife is active, but expect frequent showers and muddier game-drive tracks.
May, June, July and August are the top months, all scoring 9.3 or higher. These months fall in the dry season, with rain days dropping as low as 2.2–3.5 and highs between 21.7°C and 25.8°C. Low rainfall and clear skies make travel and wildlife spotting easier across this stretch.
January scores 6.3, a 'good' rating but not the best. It's the wettest month, with 18.4 rain days and 179mm of rain, plus a high of 27.4°C. Expect warm, humid conditions with regular downpours. Many travellers still come for January, drawn to the full rainy-season scenery and fewer crowds.
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