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Where is the country of Zimbabwe located? The Republic of Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa and was formerly known as Rhodesia. The landscape of Zimbabwe consists of four relief levels. Centrally located in Zimbabwe is the Highveld of the Highlands of Matabele. The capital Harare is located in this zone, which lies at an altitude between 1200 and 1500 meters. Surrounding the Hoogveld is the Midfield, which has an altitude of 900 to 1200 meters. In the Lageveld, which lies on the borders of Zimbabwe, are the basins of the Zambezi, the Sabi and the Limpopo. To the southeast are the Matobo Hills, which form the highest area in Zimbabwe. About one-eighth of the area is the popular nature reserve Matobo National Park. Zimbabwe has a mix of subtropical climates. The southwest and the lowest parts in the southeast have a warm steppe climate.

Dry season

Zimbabwe has a distinct dry season, which is almost parallel to the climatic winter. From May to mid-October, the chances of precipitation in large parts of Zimbabwe are small to very small. Only in the eastern area, which borders Mozambique, does some rain fall during the winter. Locally, the average precipitation figures are around 3 to 5 precipitation days per month, with a total monthly precipitation sum of approximately ten to twenty millimeters. In the rest of Zimbabwe it is almost completely dry. The period from mid-October to April is the wet season. In the wettest months, the monthly amount of precipitation rises to or even exceeds two hundred millimeters.

Temperatures

The summer months (our winter) are the hottest months in Zimbabwe. In most places in Zimbabwe, the average maximum temperature rises quickly once winter is over. When Zimbabwe comes under the strong influence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the chance of precipitation increases considerably and it rains on average about half of the days. Due to the precipitation and the decreasing number of hours of sunny weather, the temperature is slightly tempered. Only as soon as winter (our summer) is approaching, does the thermometer drop further, which is especially noticeable in the nighttime hours.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Zimbabwe

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Zimbabwe? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of Zimbabwe is located in the south of Africa and has several climatic zones. The altitude partly determines the weather in Zimbabwe. Much of the country is located at an altitude of between 1200 and 1600 meters above sea level. This tempers the temperatures somewhat. You notice this clearly in the lower Lageveld, where it is warmer than elsewhere in the country. Zimbabwe has three seasons: the hot and wet rainy season that starts in mid-November and lasts until around April. This is followed by the dry season, which lasts until about mid-August. The third season is the hot period at the end of the dry season. This lasts until the rainy season starts in November.

Best months

The best time to travel for a holiday in Zimbabwe is from mid-May to August. This is the driest period. The temperatures are mostly pleasant: the maximums are on average between 21 and 30 degrees, while it cools down quite a bit at night, eventually reaching minimum temperatures of about 6 to 14 degrees. The chance of rain is small during the local winter. If you are going to travel during this period, you should take into account significant changes in temperature. So don’t forget to bring clothes that you can wear in layers. Temperatures skyrocket towards the end of August. In the last two months of the dry season, temperatures of 33-35 degrees are quite normal in the lower areas. Sometimes it gets even warmer, which makes traveling significantly less pleasant.

Zimbabwe in the summer

During the local summer, which coincides with our winter, it is wet and warm to very hot in Zimbabwe. The rainfall creates a high relative humidity, which leads to muggy weather. The maximum temperatures from December to April are around or just below thirty degrees. However, the perceived temperature is almost continuously a few degrees higher. During this period, roads may become impassable due to rainfall. This is therefore not a recommended travel period for a round trip.

Safari in Zimbabwe

Those who want to go on safari in Zimbabwe choose the best for the months of July and August. That is good for us Western Europeans because it coincides with the summer holidays. Anyone who is bound by the legally established school holidays can therefore travel to Zimbabwe for a safari during the longest school holidays. There is one drawback and that is that this is the high season. This results in higher prices for airline tickets, accommodations and fully arranged tours to Zimbabwe.