Best Time to Visit Victoria Falls

The best time to visit Victoria Falls depends on what you want to see. From March to July the Zambezi is in flood and the falls are at their most powerful, but the spray can hide the view. From August to December the water drops, the gorges come into view and Devil's Pool and the full rafting run open. June to August is the favourite compromise.

Victoria Falls month by month

January and February: the river is rising after the local rains, the air is hot and humid, and the falls are filling out. March to May: peak flood. The full 1.7-kilometre curtain is in flow and the spray rises hundreds of metres; on the rainforest path you will be soaked and photographs can be veiled. June and July: still high water, with clearer views as the spray eases, cool mornings and dry weather. August and September: a balance of good water, clear views and excellent safari conditions nearby. October and November: the lowest water and the hottest months; parts of the Zambian side can dry to bare rock while the Zimbabwe side keeps flowing. December: the first rains arrive and the river begins to rise again.

High water: March to July

Choose high water if the spectacle is the point of your trip. The roar and the spray are overwhelming, rainbows hang over the gorge in the sun, and on full-moon nights the lunar rainbow is at its strongest. A helicopter flight is the best way to see the full shape of the falls when the spray is heavy. Bring quick-dry clothes and a waterproof pouch for your phone.

Low water: August to December

Choose low water for activities and photographs. Devil's Pool on Livingstone Island usually opens from about mid-August, the Batoka Gorge offers the full white-water rafting run, and the rock walls of the chasm become visible. In October and November, see the Zimbabwe side, where the water lasts longest. Read Zambia or Zimbabwe? for which side to choose.

Weather at Victoria Falls

The dry season runs from about May to October. June and July are the coolest months, with chilly early mornings and warm days. September to November is hot, often well above 30°C in October. The rainy season, from about November to March, brings heavy afternoon storms and green landscapes. Note the twist: the falls are fullest after the rains have ended, because the flood takes weeks to travel down the Zambezi from Angola and western Zambia.

Combining the falls with a safari

The best game viewing in nearby Chobe and Hwange is in the dry season, from about July to October, when animals gather at the rivers and waterholes. That is why many travellers choose July to September: good water at the falls and excellent wildlife. See our Victoria Falls and Chobe safari and the full month-by-month water calendar.