Summer
From mid-November to mid-March, it is summer in Zimbabwe. The days are mild, but rarely very hot (22 to 28°C on average), due to the rains that fall in showers at the end of the day. As the access roads become impassable, some bush camps close their doors to await better days, especially around Mana Pools. The bush becomes more colorful and the dirt roads stand out better against the lush vegetation. The ponds and dam lakes are covered with migratory birds and attract a flock of professional and amateur birders. The air is pleasant and fragrant, the sunsets admirable and the rhythm of the nights intoxicating (concerts of frogs, locusts, exotic birds and mammals in heat). As puddles form everywhere in the bush, the animals are more difficult to see, but the landscapes are much more beautiful.
Fall
From mid-March to mid-May, it is autumn and the end of the rainy season. Little by little, the sky is adorned with an azure blue that no clouds come to taint. The migratory birds gather and leave for their long journey. The leaves of the trees take on golden hues and nature shines with a thousand colors. The Victoria Falls reach their highest flow and offer a grandiose spectacle.
Winter
From mid-May to mid-August, it is winter and also the dry season. The average temperature is between 15 and 20 °C. However, they can drop below 10 °C (Eastern Highlands) or reach 28 °C in low-lying areas (Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls, Gonarezhou Reserve or Zambezi Valley). The days are mild and the nights very cool, especially from the end of May to mid-July, so it is advisable to pack one or two sweaters. As water becomes scarce, animals tend to congregate around the same ponds, lakes or rivers, and safaris become very rewarding. The number of tourists increases proportionately as it is the school vacations in most countries of the world, but also for Zimbabweans and South Africans. Holidaymakers fill almost every bush camp from July to mid-August. The grass turns into savannah, the trees lose their last leaves and the landscape becomes very dry.
Spring
From mid-August to mid-November is spring and the hottest period. As there is no rain to cool the air, temperatures can reach 40°C in the lower regions. The nature seems scorched by the sun and offers a desolate spectacle, but the safaris are particularly exceptional. All the animals are now grouped around the last bodies of water and each trip by 4WD or boat allows the observation of dozens of different species. This is the best time for wildlife photography, especially in September, when temperatures are still mild.
