Best Time to Visit Victoria Falls: A Month-by-Month Guide

Victoria Falls changes completely through the year. The same viewpoint can be a wall of roaring spray in April and a dramatic cliff of dark basalt in November. There’s no single “best” time, only the best time for what you want to see and do. Here’s how the seasons work, from our team on the ground in Victoria Falls.

How the Zambezi’s seasons work

The Falls are fed by rain that falls far upstream in Zambia and Angola between roughly November and March. That water takes months to arrive, so the Falls peak after the local rains, usually from around March to May. The flow then drops steadily until the lowest levels, around October and November.

High water: February to June

This is Victoria Falls at its most powerful. The roar is deafening, the spray rises hundreds of metres, and walking the rainforest trail feels like standing in a tropical storm. At the very peak (around April) the spray can hide the Falls from some viewpoints, which is why this is the best time to see them from the air. Our helicopter flights are spectacular in high water.

• Great for: sheer power, rainbows, lush green scenery, helicopter flights.
• Limited: Livingstone Island may close at peak flood, and rafting runs a shorter section or pauses.

The sweet spot: July and August

Flow is still strong but the spray has eased, so views from the Zimbabwe side are superb. Days are sunny and cool, nights are cold, and the dry season is starting to push wildlife towards rivers, which makes this a brilliant time to combine the Falls with a Chobe day trip.

Low water: September to December

As the river drops, the rock face of the gorge is revealed and the Falls split into separate cascades. On the Zambian side sections can run nearly dry by November. For many visitors this is the most exciting season. Devil’s Pool is open, the Zambezi rafting is at its best, and game viewing in Chobe and Hwange peaks. It’s hot, especially in October.

Victoria Falls month by month

• January: the river rises, the scenery is green and some rafting sections run.
• February and March: flow builds fast and the views are dramatic with heavy spray.
• April and May: peak flow, with enormous spray and the best helicopter views.
• June: still very high, and the clearest skies of the year begin.
• July and August: an excellent balance of flow and visibility, with cool days.
• September: lower water, Devil’s Pool opens and rafting is superb.
• October and November: lowest flow, dramatic rock faces, hot, and peak wildlife.
• December: the rains return, the river begins to rise and the bush turns green.

Our advice

If you want to feel the full force of the Falls, come from March to June and bring a raincoat. If you want to swim at the edge, raft the big rapids and see the most wildlife, come from August to December. If you want a bit of everything, July and August are hard to beat.

Whatever month you choose, we’ll build your days around the conditions. Browse our Victoria Falls activities or ask us what’s best for your dates.