Season guide · Victoria Falls · Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls in the spring (low water)
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Hot and dry with low water, the best rafting and Devil's Pool, and thinner falls, especially on the Zambian side. Expect highs up to 34°C (93°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 9 rainy days across September–November.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 34°C (93°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 9
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the spring (low water)
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 32°C (90°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 0 | 12 h | 4/5 |
| October | 34°C (93°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 2 | 12.5 h | 3/5 |
| November | 33°C (91°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 | 13 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 33°C (91°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 9 of the year's roughly 60 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Batoka Gorge
White-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge
Rafting trips run the rapids of the Batoka Gorge below the falls, with a steep hike down into the gorge and back out at the end.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Architecture · Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge
Victoria Falls Hotel and Stanley's Terrace
Come for high tea in the late afternoon and walk down the garden path to the bridge view afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Views
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Nature · Upper Zambezi riverfront
The Big Tree
A giant, centuries-old baobab stands beside Zambezi Drive a few kilometres upstream of town, once a meeting point for early traders and settlers crossing the river.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
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Nature · Upper Zambezi riverfront
Zambezi National Park
Book an early-morning drive, when animals are most active and the light is soft.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Livingstone riverfront (Zambia)
Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island
On the Zambian side, guided boat trips go to Livingstone Island on the lip of the falls, where David Livingstone first saw them in 1855.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
Day trips in the spring (low water)
- Hwange National Park (About 2.5–3 hours by road) — Zimbabwe's largest national park is known for big elephant numbers, lions, wild dogs and dozens of waterholes that concentrate wildlife in the dry season.
- Chobe National Park (Botswana) (About 1 hour 15 minutes by road, plus border formalities) — Chobe is famous for its large elephant herds.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the spring (low water) a good time to visit Victoria Falls?
It is a trade-off: Hot and dry with low water, the best rafting and Devil's Pool, and thinner falls, especially on the Zambian side. The best months overall are May–August.
+What is the weather like in Victoria Falls in the spring (low water)?
Highs of up to 34°C (93°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 9 rainy days over the season.