Season guide · Victoria Falls · Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls in the summer (rains)
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SpringbokSam, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Hot with afternoon storms, green landscapes and rising water; lower prices and fewer visitors. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 41 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 41
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the summer (rains)
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C (86°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 15 | 13.1 h | 2/5 |
| February | 30°C (86°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 | 12.7 h | 2/5 |
| December | 31°C (88°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 | 13.2 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 41 of the year's roughly 60 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in the summer (rains)
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- December: Victoria Falls Carnival — music festival (usually around New Year)
Good choices for the summer (rains)
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
Day trips in the summer (rains)
- Chobe National Park (Botswana) (About 1 hour 15 minutes by road, plus border formalities) — Chobe is famous for its large elephant herds.
- Livingstone and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Zambia) (About 20 minutes by taxi, plus border formalities) — Across the bridge, the Zambian side of the falls offers the Knife-Edge Bridge and the Boiling Pot, while Livingstone town has the Livingstone Museum with David Livingstone's letters and maps.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the summer (rains) a good time to visit Victoria Falls?
It is a trade-off: Hot with afternoon storms, green landscapes and rising water; lower prices and fewer visitors. The best months overall are May–August.
+What is the weather like in Victoria Falls in the summer (rains)?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 41 rainy days over the season.