Livingstone, gateway to Victoria Falls, enjoys a subtropical climate with hot, wet summers and warm, dry winters. The city experiences significant seasonal contrasts, from lush green landscapes during the rainy season to clear skies and abundant wildlife in the dry months. Its year-round warmth and dramatic river scenery make Livingstone a top destination for adventure and nature travel.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Livingstone’s climate features three main seasons: a hot, rainy season (November to April), a cool, dry winter (May to August), and a hot, dry period (September to October). The wet season brings lush greenery, high humidity, and frequent thunderstorms, with January and February seeing the heaviest rainfall – over 170 mm per month and average highs of 30–31°C. Nights remain warm, typically 19–20°C, and the Zambezi River swells, making Victoria Falls most powerful from March to May. The rain transforms the landscape, but some adventure activities may be limited due to high water levels and misty conditions.
The dry season, from May to October, is marked by clear skies, low humidity, and cooler nights. Daytime highs range from 25–29°C in winter (June–August), with chilly nights dropping to 7–11°C. July is the coolest month, but frost is rare. Wildlife viewing is at its best as animals gather at water sources, and activities like white-water rafting and Devil’s Pool become possible as river levels fall. October is the hottest month, with highs reaching 34–36°C before the rains return. Livingstone enjoys 7–10 hours of sunshine daily, with the sunniest months in late winter and spring. Winds are generally light to moderate, occasionally gusty during storms or in the transition seasons.
| Average climate data for Livingstone, Zambia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 34 | 36 | 34 | 31 | 36 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 11 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 126 | 106 | 66 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 102 | 459 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 22 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 113 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 73 | 77 | 73 | 62 | 51 | 49 | 44 | 30 | 23 | 28 | 45 | 64 | 52 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 38 | 38 | 32 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 21 | 32 | 18 |
| Average UV index | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
The best time to visit Livingstone is from May to September, during the cool, dry season. This period offers clear skies, comfortable temperatures, excellent wildlife viewing, and the widest range of adventure activities as water levels recede. It’s also the best time to experience Victoria Falls with manageable mist and optimal photographic conditions.
The least favourable time to visit is from January to March, when heavy rains, high humidity, and muddy conditions can disrupt travel and limit outdoor activities. While Victoria Falls is spectacularly full, the mist can obscure views, and some adventure tours may be closed for safety reasons.
Livingstone has a subtropical climate with hot, wet summers (November–April) and warm, dry winters (May–October). Temperatures range from 25–36°C, with the hottest months in September and October, and the coolest nights in June and July.
The best time is from May to September, when the weather is dry and sunny, wildlife viewing is excellent, and most adventure activities are available. The falls are still impressive, but mist is less likely to obscure views.
Livingstone receives about 650–800 mm of rain annually, mostly from November to April. January and February are the wettest months, with over 170 mm each. The dry season from May to October sees almost no rain.
Summer highs in Livingstone reach 30–36°C, with October being the hottest month. Nights remain warm, but humidity is high during the rainy season, making it feel hotter.
Winters (June–August) are mild during the day (25–29°C) but can be chilly at night, with lows of 7–11°C. Frost is rare, but early mornings can feel cold, especially near the river.
Yes, the dry season (May–October) is best for safaris, as animals gather at water sources and vegetation is sparse. Game drives, river cruises, and walking safaris are popular during this time.
Pack light, breathable clothing for the day, layers for cool nights, sun protection, a hat, mosquito repellent, and waterproof gear if visiting in the rainy season. Comfortable shoes are essential for exploring parks and trails.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is October (35.6 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (25.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 29.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is November (22.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (11.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 17.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is January (126.1 mm). The driest months, with the least amount of precipitation, are June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 458.5 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is December (22.3 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (0.2 days). Over the whole year there are 113.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is February (76.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is September (22.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 51.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is October (12.1 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is December (8.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (38.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (1.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 18.1 %.
The months with the longest days, so the most daylight, are January and December (Average daylight: 13 h). The months with the shortest days, so the least daylight, are June and July (Average daylight: 11 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is October (Average sunshine: 12 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is May (Average sunshine: 7.1 h). Over the whole year there are 9.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is October (UV index: 8). The month with the lowest average UV index is June (UV index: 5). Over the whole year the average UV index is 6.2.
