In Mozambique, a country located in south-east Africa, very extended in latitude, the climate is tropical, with a hot and rainy season from November to March, and a dry season from May to October, during which there is a cooler period from mid-May to mid-August. In inland areas, especially in the north-central, there are highlands and mountain ranges, where the altitude tempers the climate, but in the lowlands, for example in the Zambezi Valley, the heat can be intense in the hot and rainy summer period, and even more so in the period preceding the rainy season (September to November). Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Mozambique has reversed seasons compared with Europe or North America.
During winter, the south-east trade winds bring a pleasant and sunny weather, although in the southernmost provinces (Gaza, Maputo, Inhambane), sometimes the temperature can drop, because of air masses from South Africa, so that it can be cold at night, especially in inland areas. From June to October, it rains very little almost everywhere, although some brief showers are possible along the central part of the coast, from Quelimane to Beira.
During summer, the north-west monsoon prevails, at least in the centre and north, which are affected by humid currents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, while in the south the trade winds still prevail, which, however, unlike in winter, are able to bring rainfall, because temperature and humidity provide sufficient energy for the formation of thunderclouds, even though here these rains are less intense than in the centre-north.
The rains occur primarily in the form of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, so even in the rainy season, the amount of sunshine is not low, except in northern mountainous areas, where the sky is often cloudy.
The most arid regions of the country are the Limpopo National Park in the south-west, where precipitation drops below 500 mm (20 in) per year, and the Zambezi Valley, in the west, in the Province of Tete. In Tete, 630 millimetres (25 inches) of rain per year fall.
Here is the average precipitation in Tete.
Average precipitation - Tete

Tete	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Tete	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	165	140	95	15	6	4	3	2	1	10	45	140	630
Prec.(in)	6.5	5.5	3.7	0.6	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0	0.4	1.8	5.5	24.8
Days	11	9	7	2	1	1	1	0	0	1	4	10	48

Tete is also one of the hottest cities in the country, so much so that the temperature can reach 45 °C (113 °F) in October and November, while it can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) from December to April. Here are the average temperatures of Tete.
Average temperatures - Tete

Tete	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tete	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	23	23	23	21	18	16	16	17	20	23	24	24
Max (°C)	34	33	33	33	31	29	29	31	34	36	36	35
Min (°F)	73	73	73	70	64	61	61	63	68	73	75	75
Max (°F)	93	91	91	91	88	84	84	88	93	97	97	95

In Tete, the sun shines more often in the dry season, from April to November, than in the rainy season, when in any case it does not shine rarely.
Sunshine - Tete

Tete	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tete	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sun (hours)	6	7	8	8	8	8	8	9	9	9	8	7

The wettest areas are the central coast (see Beira, Quelimane), and the north-west inland area, ie the mountainous areas south-east of Lake Malawi (or Niassa) and near Mount Chiperone and Mount Namuli: in both areas, precipitation is around 1,400/1,600 mm (55/63 in) per year, or even more.
Here is the average precipitation in Quelimane.
Average precipitation - Quelimane

Quelimane	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Quelimane	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	250	300	275	140	85	50	45	40	25	40	110	230	1595
Prec.(in)	9.8	11.8	10.8	5.5	3.3	2	1.8	1.6	1	1.6	4.3	9.1	62.8
Days	11	13	12	8	7	7	8	5	3	5	7	10	97

Mozambique offers many potential attractions which so far are little known and not explored by many tourists, therefore still pristine. In the Niassa National Reserve there are elephants, zebras and other animals of the savanna. There are also coral islands and marine parks such as the Quirimbas National Park in the north, located in the Quirimbas archipelago, where the island of Matemo is found, and the Bazaruto National Park, in the southern Bazaruto archipelago. On the contrary, the Gorongosa Park was damaged during the civil war that ended in 1992, and is now undergoing redevelopment.
Being located in the southern part of the coast, the Bazaruto National Park is a bit cool in the winter months.
Average temperatures - Bazaruto

Bazaruto	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bazaruto	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	24	23	23	21	17	15	15	16	18	20	22	23
Max (°C)	31	31	31	29	28	26	25	26	27	28	29	30
Min (°F)	75	73	73	70	63	59	59	61	64	68	72	73
Max (°F)	88	88	88	84	82	79	77	79	81	82	84	86

From July to September, in the Mozambique Channel you can watch humpback whales, which come to breed before returning in colder seas.



The capital Maputo is located in the far south, on the coast, and has an average temperature ranging from 26 °C (79 °F) in January, to 19 °C (67 °F) in July. Although the maximum temperature in January and February is on average around 30 °C (86 °F), sometimes it can get uncomfortably hot, reaching 40 °C (104 °F). Here is the average temperature.
Average temperatures - Maputo

Maputo	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maputo	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	22	22	22	19	17	14	14	15	17	18	20	21
Max (°C)	30	30	29	28	26	25	24	25	26	27	27	29
Min (°F)	72	72	72	66	63	57	57	59	63	64	68	70
Max (°F)	86	86	84	82	79	77	75	77	79	81	81	84

On average, 815 mm (32 in) of rain per year fall, most of which from November to March. The rainiest month is January. However, the rains are quite erratic and may be more abundant during some years. Here is the average precipitation.
Average precipitation - Maputo

Maputo	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Maputo	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	170	130	105	55	30	20	20	15	45	55	80	85	815
Prec.(in)	6.7	5.1	4.1	2.2	1.2	0.8	0.8	0.6	1.8	2.2	3.1	3.3	32.1
Days	8	8	7	4	3	2	2	2	3	6	8	8	60

In Maputo the sun shines for a good number of hours even in the rainy season, from November to March.
Sunshine - Maputo

Maputo	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maputo	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sun (hours)	7	7	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	7

The sea temperature in this southern part of the coast is high enough for swimming all year round, however, it decreases to 23 °C (73 °F) from July to September.
Sea temperature - Maputo

Maputo	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maputo	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sea (°C)	27	28	27	27	25	24	23	23	23	24	25	26
Sea (°F)	81	82	81	81	77	75	73	73	73	75	77	79

Pemba, the starting point for the national parks located in the north of the country, such as the Quirimbas National Park, lies on the northeastern coast, and its position near the equator is evidenced by the fact that it remains warm even in winter: the average temperature goes from 27 °C (81 °F) in January, to 23 °C (73 °F) in July.
Average temperatures - Pemba

Pemba	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pemba	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	24	24	23	23	21	19	19	20	20	22	23	24
Max (°C)	31	32	31	31	30	29	28	29	30	31	31	32
Min (°F)	75	75	73	73	70	66	66	68	68	72	73	75
Max (°F)	88	90	88	88	86	84	82	84	86	88	88	90

The rainfall amounts to 870 mm (34 in) per year, including more than 100 mm (4 in) from December to April, and a maximum of 200 mm (8 in) in March.
Average precipitation - Pemba

Pemba	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Pemba	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	145	155	200	120	30	15	10	8	2	10	40	125	860
Prec.(in)	5.7	6.1	7.9	4.7	1.2	0.6	0.4	0.3	0.1	0.4	1.6	4.9	33.9
Days	11	10	13	9	3	2	2	1	1	1	4	8	65

In Pemba the sunniest period goes from September to November, ie at the end of the dry season, while the least sunny is the wettest, from January to March.
Sunshine - Pemba

Pemba	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pemba	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sun (hours)	6	6	6	7	8	8	7	8	9	9	9	8

The sea temperature in this northern part of the coast is high enough for swimming all year round, however, it decreases to 25/26 °C (77/79 °F) from July to September.
Sea temperature - Pemba

Pemba	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pemba	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sea (°C)	29	29	29	29	28	27	26	25	26	27	28	28
Sea (°F)	84	84	84	84	82	81	79	77	79	81	82	82

Mozambique is located in the area affected by tropical cyclones, which hit the east coast, after passing over Madagascar. The official cyclone season in the south-west Indian Ocean runs from November 15 to May 15, but the period in which they are most likely runs from late December to mid-April. The most intense cyclones can be destructive, with their load of gale force winds and torrential rains.


The best time to go to Mozambique, for safaris and excursions or for visiting cities, goes from mid-May to August, because it's the coolest, driest and sunniest. However, it is worth while to recall that in this period, in the interior it can get cold at night, while in the highest peaks, above 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), there may be slight frosts. In September and October it's definitely hot in inland areas located at low altitude (see Tete and the Zambezi Valley), while the rainy season, as well as being hot and sultry, poses the risk of cyclones.
For those who don't like the heat can keep in mind that in inland areas the months of June and July are the coolest: from mid-August, the temperature starts to rise, and the first hot days may occur in the interior.
For a beach holiday, in the south September and October are preferable, because from June to August it can get a little cool, while in the centre-north you can go from mid-May to October inclusive.


In winter (June to August): for the central and southern coast (Maputo, Bazaruto, Beira), spring/autumn clothes, light for the day, sweater and light jacket for the evening; for the north coast (Pemba, Mozambique Island), light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening, a scarf for the breeze. For mountainous areas, spring/autumn clothes during the day, sweater, jacket and hat for the evening.
For the reef, equipment for snorkeling, water shoes or rubber soled shoes.

In summer (December to February): throughout the coast and inland areas at lower altitudes (Zambezi valley, Limpopo National Park), tropics-friendly, loose fitting clothing, light shirts and pants of natural fibres (cotton, linen), sun hat, a light sweatshirt for the evening, light raincoat or umbrella. For mountainous areas, spring/autumn clothes, jacket, raincoat, sun hat, hiking shoes.
For the reef, equipment for snorkeling, water shoes or rubber soled shoes.