Climate in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, summer is from October to April. Days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunder storms. Day temperatures reach about 30C and night temperatures drop to 14C – 16C. I can also be considerably warmer all year round in the low-lying areas such as Kariba, Victoria Falls, and Zambezi Valley. The rainy season from November to March, although the Eastern Highlands are damp for most of the year. Winter is from May to September, days are dry, sunny and cool to warm (20C) while evening temperatures drop sharply (5C). Exceptionally cold spells can occur so it its recommended to bring appropriate clothing, just in case.
In Zimbabwe the seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. Summer is at its hottest over Christmas while winter lasts from May to August. It is considerably warmer in low-lying areas such as Kariba, Victoria Falls, Hwange, Gonarezhou and the Zambezi Valley. Winter days are generally dry and sunny with temperatures averaging 15-20 degrees Centigrade. In summer, temperatures range from 25-30 degrees Centigrade during the day. The hottest month is October when temperatures often exceed 32 degrees Centigrade. The sun can be very harsh and it is advisable to wear a hat and sunblock. The rainy season runs from November to March.
Related Travel Information
Weather and Climate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is south of the equator, so the seasons are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere - winter in New York is summer in Harare. But seasons aren't extreme - overall, the climate is very similar to that of southern California. Because of the elevation (averaging 3,000 ft/915 m), it rarely gets above 90 F/33 C or lower than about 45 F/7 C. The best time to go is a matter of splitting the difference between comfort and optimum game viewing. The weather is most comfortable just after the rainy season, in May and June,
Zimbabwe: Chizaria National Park
This national park in western Zimbabwe is one of the country's most remote and least-developed reserves. The park sits astride the dramatic Zambezi Escarpment and is filled with steep cliffs and river gorges. The wildlife, particularly in the Busi Valley, is abundant. There are a few camps in the park, but the Chizaria Wilderness Lodge, just outside the park is the lodging of choice if you can afford it. Be aware that there are no facilities within the park, so you'll need to take along your own supplies. 200 mi/320 km west of Harare.
Burkina Faso : Climate
average temperature in Ouagadougou is 41°C (106°F); humi dity is only 12% to 16%. The harmattan, a dry east wind, brings with it spells of considerable heat from March to May. From May to October, the climate is hot and wet, and from November to March, comfortable and dry. Average rainfall varies from 40 inches in the south to less than 10 inches in the extreme north and northeast. The rainy season lasts a maximum of five months, from May to October.
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Kwe Kwe (Que Que)
A small town in central Zimbabwe, Kwe Kwe is best known for its nearby privately owned wildlife reserves and proximity to other sights (see also Gweru Midlands). Cabergeigh Estates, the best of the bunch, includes of a picturesque game lodge set amid 20,000 acres/8,100 hectares of mopane trees and water holes. Open-top all-terrain vehicles make it easy to spot large herds of elephants, wildebeests and impala, while sable, giraffes, eland, nyala, waterbucks, zebras and crocodiles are also common. Licensed hunting is possible in the park. 110 mi/180 km southwest of Harare.
Shopping in Zimbabwe
Shop for wood carvings (including giraffe carvings that can be up to 20 ft/6 m tall), copper wall plaques, jewelry, minerals, dolls, floppy woven hats, wooden spoons, beads, baskets, spears and other native weapons, safari clothing, thumb pianos (they're called mbiras), stone sculptures made of native verdite (very heavy, but impressive) and snuffboxes (made of everything from dried gourds to animal horns). Even though Zimbabwe has one of the few controlled ivory trades, keep in mind that you cannot import any ivory into many countries.
