What's on in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Rule

  Two countries, two park entries

  1 Jan – 31 Dec

  The falls are split between Zimbabwe and Zambia and each side charges its own park fee at its own gate. Most people cross the bridge to see both, which is a border formality; the shared KAZA visa covers it for many nationalities. Source ↗

Still on: Devil's Pool opens (15 Aug – 15 Jan (usually)), Malaria season (1 Nov – 31 May (usually)), Green season (15 Nov – 31 Mar)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Peak flow

  15 Feb – 31 MayHigh waterRisk

  The Zambezi crests around April and the spray goes several hundred metres up, visible from a long way off. The catch is that the spray is also all you can see of the falls from the viewpoints, and you will be soaked.

• Nature

  Lunar rainbow nights

  15 Feb – 15 Jul · usuallyDark-sky seasonBook early

  On the three nights around each full moon while the river is up, both parks open after dark and the spray throws a moonbow. Separate ticket, limited numbers, and you will be soaked. Source ↗

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Malaria season (1 Nov – 31 May (usually)), Green season (15 Nov – 31 Mar)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Peak flow (15 Feb – 31 May), Lunar rainbow nights (15 Feb – 15 Jul (usually)), Malaria season (1 Nov – 31 May (usually)), Green season (15 Nov – 31 Mar)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Peak flow (15 Feb – 31 May), Lunar rainbow nights (15 Feb – 15 Jul (usually)), Malaria season (1 Nov – 31 May (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Peak flow (15 Feb – 31 May), Lunar rainbow nights (15 Feb – 15 Jul (usually)), Malaria season (1 Nov – 31 May (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Lunar rainbow nights (15 Feb – 15 Jul (usually))

Busy — Dry-season game viewing, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Dry-season game viewing

  15 Jul – 31 OctDry seasonCrowded

  The bush thins out and animals concentrate on the river and the pumped waterholes in Hwange and Zambezi park, which is why the safari operators price these months highest. October is hot enough to be hard work.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Lunar rainbow nights (15 Feb – 15 Jul (usually))

Busy — Dry-season game viewing, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Low-water rafting season

  1 Aug – 31 DecDry season

  August to December is the full run through the gorge, starting at the first rapid below the falls. As the river rises the put-in moves downstream, and at the flood peak in April and May the operators stop running altogether. Source ↗

• Opening

  Devil's Pool opens

  15 Aug – 15 Jan · usuallyDry seasonBook early

  The rock lip on the Zambian side is only swimmable when the river is low, roughly mid-August until the water comes back up after New Year. Access is through one operator on Livingstone Island and slots sell out. Source ↗

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-season game viewing (15 Jul – 31 Oct)

Busy — Dry-season game viewing, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Low water at the falls

  1 Sep – 15 DecDry season

  By October the Zambian side can be bare rock and photographs of an empty cliff do the rounds every year. The Zimbabwean side keeps the deeper main channel flowing, so which country you stand in matters most in these months.

• Season

  Suicide month

  20 Sep – 10 Nov · usuallyExtreme heat

  The local name for the weeks before the rains break, when the valley bakes and the bush is grey. Game viewing is at its best and everything else is done before nine or after five.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-season game viewing (15 Jul – 31 Oct), Low-water rafting season (1 Aug – 31 Dec), Devil's Pool opens (15 Aug – 15 Jan (usually))

Busy — Dry-season game viewing, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-season game viewing (15 Jul – 31 Oct), Low-water rafting season (1 Aug – 31 Dec), Devil's Pool opens (15 Aug – 15 Jan (usually)), Low water at the falls (1 Sep – 15 Dec), Suicide month (20 Sep – 10 Nov (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Hazard

  Malaria season

  1 Nov – 31 May · usuallyInsect season

  Risk in the Zambezi valley runs with the rains and the mosquitoes that follow them. Prophylaxis is advised year-round here and matters most in these months; the lodges hand out repellent at dusk. Source ↗

• Season

  Green season

  15 Nov – 31 MarMonsoon

  Afternoon storms refill the river, the bush closes in and the migrant birds arrive. Lodges discount hard, game viewing gets harder, and the falls spend the whole period climbing back towards their April peak.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Low-water rafting season (1 Aug – 31 Dec), Devil's Pool opens (15 Aug – 15 Jan (usually)), Low water at the falls (1 Sep – 15 Dec), Suicide month (20 Sep – 10 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Two countries, two park entries (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Low-water rafting season (1 Aug – 31 Dec), Devil's Pool opens (15 Aug – 15 Jan (usually)), Low water at the falls (1 Sep – 15 Dec), Malaria season (1 Nov – 31 May (usually)), Green season (15 Nov – 31 Mar)