MONTH BY MONTH
GREEN SEASON - JANUARY TO MARCH
Why we love it!
Livingstone is a premier destination in the Green/Emerald season
1. The Zambezi is Rising!
As the seasonal rains arrive, the Zambezi River and its tributaries begin to rise, and Victoria Falls comes back to life changing on a daily basis once again. By late February to March, the Falls are almost in their full, majestic power. The tremendous noise and swirling mist give rise to its Tonga name, “The Smoke That Thunders.”
As the water levels rise, the sheer volume of water creates massive spray, often obscuring parts of the Falls from view, and when visitors can truly experience the Zambezi shower—a full sensory immersion in the mist and spray! While this is prime viewing time, the high water levels mean that certain water-based activities like white water rafting and swimming in the Devil’s Pool may be suspended for safety reasons. Nonetheless, the spectacle of Victoria Falls during the high-water season is unforgettable, offering a dramatic encounter with one of nature’s greatest wonders.
2. Baby Animals Galore!
'Tis the season of renewal - and the bush teems with life. You’ll witness adorable scenes of newborn animals exploring their world - perfect for wildlife lovers and photographers alike.
3. Bird watchers Utopia
Migratory birds arrive in droves, donning their vibrant breeding plumage. It’s a paradise for birdwatchers eager to spot rare and colorful species.
4. Light Tourism Footprint
With fewer tourists, you can enjoy Victoria Falls, game drives and the luxury of having large sections of the Zambezi River by Chundukwa River Lodge with few, if any other boats, making the experience truly magical.
5. A Photographer’s Paradise
Golden Light & Moody Skies! The Green Season delivers some of the best lighting conditions for photography! Soft, golden hues of sunlight are complemented by dramatic grey clouds. It's quite something!
6. Lower rates and fantastic offers
7. Great temperatures from 16-31 degrees celcius. Perfect temperatures that are not too hot or too cold.
8. Spectacular thunderstorms and sunsets make for fantastic photography
JANUARY
Liuwa Plain Camp closes from mid January to end of March depending on flooding. Herds of thousands of wildebeest and their calves are found.
The central wildlife viewing areas of both the South Luangwa and the Kafue National Park are open, as are a couple of the Lower Zambezi options. The rains have cleared the dust from the dry season making the air very clear and perfect for photography. Birding in January is excellent as many of the migrants have arrived and are in breeding plumage and song.
FEBRUARY TO MARCH - River Journeys in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is a magical 7-night safari that takes place during the Emerald Season when the Luangwa River is at its fullest, thus giving rise to some exceptional boating.
“The Luangwa Valley is at its most dramatic in the Emerald Season, with the Luangwa River now flowing over into the brimming lagoons. Boating into these lagoons, flooded ebony groves and flowing channels gives you a view of the Valley which is normally inaccessible during this season“.
The Luangwa River is one of the last remaining major rivers in Africa, and even in the world, that has not been damned for hydropower. This vast river still annually rises, floods into lagoons and channels, changes course and resulting in new lagoons and in so doing creates a rich flood plain river system. To be in the heart of the park, at peak flood time, staying at the first camp built in Zambia (Nsefu) with the river being your only access, is quite an experience.
APRIL - In the Liuwa Plains the flood waters recede leaving pools of water and the park is full of birdlife, predators, plains game and wildebeest.
APRIL TO JULY - The Best Time to See Lunar Rainbows - for those hoping to witness a lunar rainbow, the best time to visit is during a full moon phase in the Zambezi River’s high-water season, from February to August. The optimal months for spotting a moonbow are April to July. This rare and magical phenomenon occurs when the spray from the falls is high, and the sky is clear with minimal cloud cover. Romantics, nature enthusiasts, and photographers alike will relish the opportunity to capture this breathtaking sight, which is visible only when these specific conditions align. The Victoria Falls Rainforest reopens in the evening for special tours, offering visitors the rare chance to experience the moonbow in all its glory. As one of the few places on Earth where this natural wonder can be seen with such ease, Victoria Falls offers a unique and unforgettable experience for those lucky enough to be there during the right time.
FEBRUARY TO JUNE - The best time to visit Victoria Falls is from February to June, directly after the summer rains, when you'll see the world's largest sheet of falling water flowing at its greatest volume. BUT the dry months offer another amazing view of the Falls so the best time is debatable. The Zambian side has the best activities like Devils pool, swimming under the Falls, views from the knife edge Bridge and Zimbabwe has a bigger spray in the dry season.
JUNE TO AUGUST - Temperatures from 10-30 degrees, bush dries up and winterthorn forests flourish and perfect for walking safaris.
MAY TO MID JUNE - In Liuwa as the waterholes start drying out the wildebeest begin to head north in search of nutritional grasses; the effect of natural fires having made room for new growth.
MAY TO DECEMBER - Bangweulu Wetlands Bangweulu means “where the water meets the sky”
The park is one of the best places to view the rare and prehistoric-looking shoebill as well as over 400 hundred other bird species.
February to April, the park comes alive with birdlife and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. As the plains are wet, sightings can be done by boat, while a number of walks are also available.
May to July, the plains are drier and the weather is much cooler. This is the perfect time to see lechwe and shoebills while walking and driving in the park.
August to December is the real dry season, and during this period the conditions are ideal for game drives and camping. The dry season is also the best time to see shoebill nests.
JUNE - a great month for all safaris at discounted rates and just before the peak season. Visit Bangwelu to see a shoebill stork.
JULY TO NOVEMBER - Considered the best time for game viewing as the dry season progresses.
SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER - In Liuwa Plain the wildebeest begin to migrate towards the southern portions of the park to make use of short grasses and pans
AUGUST TO OCTOBER - The carmine bee-eaters arrive in the Luangwa and Lower Zambezi and start building nests in the vertical sand banks.
Carmine Bee-eater colonies :
AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER - As water levels over the Victoria Falls have reduced, Livingstone Island and the Devil’s Pool open again.
SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER - Unique Activities Unlocked by Low Water Levels
World-Class White-Water Rafting
Regarded as the world’s best one-day white-water rafting trip, the Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls offers adrenaline-packed adventures, especially prominent during the low water season. The reduced water levels expose more rapids, increasing the intensity and excitement of the rafting experience. Rapids with names like “The Terminator,” “Oblivion,” and The Devil’s Pool - Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island Tours
Credit social media for turning what was once just an enigmatic swimming hole enjoyed by fearless locals and a few opportunistic fishermen to now being an international tourist phenomenon. Today, Devil’s Pool is undoubtably a highlight when visiting the Victoria Falls yet oftentimes people don’t realise it is only accessible when the Zambezi River is at its lowest.
Kayaking the Zambezi
For white-water kayaking enthusiasts, the Zambezi River becomes a thrilling playground of high-volume, warm-water rapids during Adventure Season. However, before you enter his watery lair, be sure to pick up a locally crafted carving of Nyami-Nyami, the revered Tonga river god, as a unique memento of your journey.
OCTOBER TO DECEMBER - The Southern Kafue has REVEALED an astonishing secret. Unbeknownst to many, a variety of antelope species have been gathering in their HUNDREDS on a daily basis to make the most of a very seasonal feeding bonanza.
With the Musa River and the headwaters of Lake Itezhi-tezhi in the far western sectors of the lake having receded through the season, it has left behind nutrient rich and highly fertile shorelands which, when combined with the sunny days and the first rains, produces new grass growth of the highest quality. The antelope know this and gather in huge numbers.
They are followed by arguably Zambia’s greatest density of all the apex predators in one area – namely, lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. Although we see these predators through the year, they really move in for the months of October, November and December.
OCTOBER TO DECEMBER - Kasanka National Park has the worlds biggest mammal migration. This spectacle of over 8 million fruit bats is a world wonder.
OCTOBER TO DECEMBER - Liuwa Plain and the start of the green season signals a time of plenty. Sprawling carpets of wildflowers fill the plain and the wildebeest drop their young – predators often seizing the moment for easy prey.
OCTOBER TO JANUARY - The elephants of Mfuwe Lodge are very active at this time as they come to eat the pods of the acacia tree although they are often in the lodge throughout the year.
SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER - Temperatures from 20-40 degrees, plenty of predator/prey action, best time of year for fishing. the bush is very dry.
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