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Climate in Zimbabwe


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Zimbabwe

Map - Zimbabwe

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In Zimbabwe, the climate is generally sub-tropical, with a hot, humid and rainy season from mid-November to March, and a dry season from April to mid-November.
Within the dry season, there is a cool period from mid-May to mid-August, and a progressively hotter period from September to mid-November, before the rains, which is the hottest of the year, even though the air is still dry.
Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, is a country located in southern Africa, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, and almost entirely occupied by a plateau, at an altitude between 1,000 and 1,500 meters (3,300 and 4,900 feet), which tempers the climate.
The temperature in Zambia varies according to altitude and latitude.
In much of the country, rainfall is from relatively low to moderate, in fact it ranges from 550 to 900 millimeters (21.5 to 35.5 inches). The rains occur primarily in the form of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The wettest regions are the north and the east.
This kind of climate, with a long dry season, produces almost everywhere a savannah landscape.
However, in the highest mountains, forests are found. The highest peak is Mount Nyangani, 2,592 meters (8,504 feet) high, located in the east, in the Nyanga National Park.

The climate in detail


  • The lowlands - Kariba
  • The plateau - Victoria Falls, Harare
  • Cyclones
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The lowlands



The driest region is the south, in the Limpopo Valley, on the border with South Africa, where rainfall drops below 400 mm (16 in) per year (see Beitbridge).
In the latter region, the altitude drops to around 500/600 meters (1,600/2,000 feet), while in the south-eastern strip, at the border with Mozambique, where the Gonarezhou National Park is found, it goes down to around 200/300 meters (650/1,000 feet).

Kariba

Climate chart - Kariba
Another area where the altitude drops to around 500 meters (1,600 feet) is found in the north and is that of Lake Kariba. It goes without saying that the areas where the altitude is lower are also the hottest, in fact, in October and November, highs can reach 40 °C (104 °F).
In Kariba, located near the lake of the same name, and at 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, the maximum temperatures in October and November are of 35/36 °C (95/97 °F).

The plateau



On the plateau, the night temperature from May to August drops a lot, becoming very cool, and sometimes even cold.

Victoria Falls

Climate chart - Victoria Falls
The famous Victoria Falls are located in the north-west, in the Zambezi River, about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level. Here, the minimum temperatures drop below 10 °C (50 °F) from June to August.

Victoria Falls

The Hwange National Park is located in the south-west, it covers nearly 15,000 square kilometers (6,000 sq mi), and it's home to a large number of animals of the savannah such as lions, elephants and cheetahs.

Harare

Climate chart - Harare
The capital, Harare, is located in the northeast of the country, at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, and has a temperate climate. It is warm from September to March, with highs around 27/29 °C (80/84 °F), even though there's a bit of sticky heat at the height of the rainy season, ie from December to March.
The dry season, from May to August, is cooler, with highs around 21/24 °C (70/75 °F) and lows around 8/10 °C (46/50 °F). In the coldest nights, the temperature can approach freezing (0 °C or 32 °F). The coolest period, however, is also the sunniest.
In October and November, it can be hot during the day, but not as much as in the lowlands, below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
In Harare, 840 mm (33 in) of rain fall in an average year, of which more than 150 mm (6 in) fall from December to February, while it almost never rains from May to September.
In Harare, and in general in Zimbabwe, the sun regularly shines in the dry period, while in the rainy season, the sun alternates with the clouds.

Tropical cyclones



Sometimes, Zimbabwe can be affected by tropical cyclones, which originate in the Indian Ocean, and after passing over Mozambique, they can reach the eastern regions of the country. Typically, they lose strength when penetrating the mainland, but they are still able to bring a good amount of wind and rain.
Some cyclones that hit the country in the past were: Leon-Eline in late February 2000, Japhet in early March 2003, Dineo in mid-February 2017, and Idai in march 2019.
The cyclone season runs from mid-November to May, but they are most likely from late December to mid-April. This is one more reason to avoid the rainy and sultry season.

When to go



The best time to visit Zimbabwe runs from mid-May to August, in fact, it is the coolest and sunniest, and with almost no rain, even though it can get cold at night, especially above 1,500 meters (5,000 feet).
Usually, by mid-August, the temperature begins to rise, and cold nights become less likely.
In September and October, the heat can be intense during the day, although nights remain cool at high altitude.
The rainiest and muggiest period, and therefore the least advisable, runs from December to February.

What to pack



In winter (June to August): pack light clothes for the day, but also a sweater, a jacket, and a hat for the evening.
In summer (December to February): pack light clothes for the day, and a sun hat; a sweatshirt and a spring jacket for the evening, especially above 1,000 meters (3,300 feet); a light raincoat or an umbrella.

Climate data - Zimbabwe


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Beitbridge (470 meters)
Beitbridge, location on the map
Beitbridge, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222221171310101216192122
Max temp.343433312927262831333334
Precip.555535251050015305055
Prec. days543211001255
Humidity59%58%58%57%53%54%53%47%46%49%53%56%
Day length133128122115110108109114120126132135
Sun hours888898898887

Bulawayo (1.350 meters)
Bulawayo, location on the map
Bulawayo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1717161411981014161717
Max temp.292928272623232630313029
Precip.1201057035500054090120
Prec. days10863110014810
Humidity63%63%63%56%47%47%46%37%34%39%49%62%
Day length132127122116111109111115120126131133
Sun hours88889991010987

Chipinge (1.100 meters)
Chipinge, location on the map
Chipinge, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171716141210101113141616
Max temp.272626242322202326272726
Precip.21020514560301520202555105210
Prec. days1212105443446911
Humidity78%78%78%73%66%64%65%59%57%63%68%74%
Day length132127122116111109111115120126131133
Sun hours877888899887

Chiredzi (430 meters)
Chiredzi, location on the map
Chiredzi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.212019161210101115182020
Max temp.323231302826262831333333
Precip.1251156025151055152575115
Prec. days101084332235810
Humidity67%69%69%65%60%61%58%52%50%52%55%60%
Day length132128122116111109110114120126131134

Gweru (1.450 meters)
Gweru, location on the map
Gweru, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.16151411855710131515
Max temp.272726252422212428292827
Precip.140125553010000103595160
Prec. days121073110014912
Humidity71%71%69%65%55%55%53%45%40%45%56%69%
Day length131127122116112110111115120126130133

Harare (1.500 meters)
Harare, location on the map
Harare, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171616131088912151617
Max temp.272727252422212428292827
Precip.19017510035500554095185
Prec. days17141052101151016
Humidity73%72%71%65%58%56%53%46%41%46%57%70%
Day length131127122117113111112115120125130132
Sun hours77889991010986

Hwange National Park (1.000 meters)
Hwange National Park, location on the map
Hwange National Park, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.19181713966813171818
Max temp.293030292725242832333230
Precip.1501357030500052560145
Prec. days1614941000141015
Humidity72%67%66%57%50%50%47%40%33%37%50%64%
Day length131127122116112110111115120126130133

Kariba (500 meters)
Kariba, location on the map
Kariba, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222222191512121520242423
Max temp.323232312928273034363533
Precip.19016011530500002075175
Prec. days1613103100002714
Humidity73%72%71%64%59%60%53%46%37%36%47%64%
Day length130126122117113112113116120125129131

Karoi (1.250 meters)
Karoi, location on the map
Karoi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1717161411981013161717
Max temp.272627262523222528302927
Precip.18019011040500052075175
Prec. days1716114210013915
Humidity78%80%77%69%63%60%55%49%42%46%57%71%
Day length130126122117113111112116120125129131
Sun hours66789991010976

Masvingo (1.090 meters)
Masvingo, location on the map
Masvingo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.18171613866812151717
Max temp.282928262523222528303029
Precip.130105653015555103075140
Prec. days10863221113710
Humidity70%69%71%67%59%60%57%49%45%49%58%67%
Day length132127122116112109111115120126131133
Sun hours878898899887

Mutoko (1.265 meters)
Mutoko, location on the map
Mutoko, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1817171411991113161717
Max temp.272727272523222427292928
Precip.19016585351055052575175
Prec. days151484211012814
Humidity74%73%72%64%59%59%54%49%43%46%54%68%
Day length130126122117113111112116120125129132

Rusape (1.430 meters)
Rusape, location on the map
Rusape, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.16161512866710131516
Max temp.262626242321202327282826
Precip.1651508035105551040105170
Prec. days131084221114912
Humidity72%72%72%67%61%61%58%49%45%48%58%70%
Day length131127122116112110111115120125130132

Victoria Falls (900 meters)
Victoria Falls, location on the map
Victoria Falls, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191817141076914181919
Max temp.292930292825252832343330
Precip.1751408025500002570170
Prec. days1614930000041116
Humidity73%72%66%56%47%46%45%37%30%33%47%65%
Day length131127122117113111112115120125130132
Sun hours77891010101010987



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Beitbridge
 Bulawayo
 Chipinge
 Chiredzi
 Gweru
 Harare
 Hwange National Park
 Kariba
 Karoi
 Others (expand)
 Masvingo
 Mutoko
 Rusape
 Victoria Falls

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