WEATHER

Being in the Southern Hemisphere Zambia’s seasons are hot and wet during November through to March, October and November being the hottest months, while it is cooler though still warm during the dry season from April to September with little rainfall. It is a country largely covered in desert or semi-desert and mostly receives little rain except in Northern Zambia even in the rainy season receives little rain.

January to March

Often the heaviest rainfall occurs during January. The Luangwa River rises as the sandy tributaries bring the storm waters down from the plateau and floods to fill the ox-bow lagoons.

Temperatures between showers are refreshing, but can be humid during the build up of rain. The trees and bushes are a luxurious green. Elephants are plentiful in the riverine areas where they are attracted to the lush grass. During March, many of the migrant birds begin to depart.

The rains ease off during April, though occasionally there are late showers in May. From an exclusive diet of grass, elephants turn to mopane trees and the popular marula trees, laden with fruit. During May, the mornings become cool and you will need a jersey when on game drives from now until August.

July to August

Some of the shallower ox-bow lagoons begin to dry up. Breeding herds of buffalo, several hundred strong, return to the riverine area where water is more easily available. Several species of trees come into bloom. Carmine bee-eaters begin to gather prior to excavating their nesting tunnels in the sandy river banks. Mornings and evenings are cool, while the days are pleasantly warm.

The height of the dry season, when the visibility is good and grass is trampled down. The temperature begins to rise, reaching 40C in October. More types of trees and plants come into flower and many trees burst into new leaf in expectation of the arrival of the rains in October or November.

Possibly the most dramatic time of the year when the animals are concentrated around permanent water supplies and the predators too are more conspicuous now.

The dry season ends and the rainy season starts. Impala and other antelope species start to drop their young during early November. Migrant birds begin to arrive.

By December, the rainy season is well established, though rarely is it a continuous downpour which can spoil a day.