Climate guide for Livingstone, Zambia

Best Time to Visit
Livingstone

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Livingstone

Livingstone is a nature and wildlife destination in Zambia. Plan around the drier Southern Hemisphere months for more reliable conditions, then drill into monthly scores when you need finer timing for nature travel. Use the monthly scores to plan outdoor time around temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and sunny days.

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Travel Tips

Timing & weather
Check Livingstone's monthly climate scores before locking flights - tropical_sh patterns shift comfort for nature trips across the year.
Getting around
In Livingstone, pair a walkable core day with one transit or transfer buffer - crowds and traffic vary by season in Zambia.
Tickets & access
Reserve popular museums and day trips from Livingstone ahead in peak months; shoulder seasons are more flexible.
Pack for the profile
Bring broken-in footwear, a rain layer, and offline maps for Livingstone. Check trail, road, and weather conditions before setting out, because outdoor access can change quickly.

Things to do in Livingstone

Livingstone, Zambia. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Livingstone: the short answer

The best time to visit Livingstone is May, followed by July, August. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: May averages 21°C with 2 mm of rain and about 24 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, November. If budget matters more than perfect weather, October is the strongest of the low-rate months at 6.6/10.

Across the year Livingstone swings from 18°C in July to 28°C in October, a 10-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 0 mm in August to 193 mm in January. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Livingstone is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 3.8 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: October (28°C). Coolest: July (18°C). Driest: August (0 mm). Wettest: January (193 mm).

Livingstone month by month

January in Livingstone — reliably good (8th best month)

Good · 7.3/10

January averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 193 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 24 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 7.3/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 2.4 points higher on the same scale.

February in Livingstone — reliably good (6th best month)

Good · 8/10

February averages 25°C (76°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 62 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 sunny days and 12.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 8/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.

March in Livingstone — reliably good (9th best month)

Good · 7.1/10

March averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 121 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 29 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 7.1/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 2.6 points higher on the same scale.

April in Livingstone — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.9/10

April averages 23°C (74°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 40 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 25 sunny days and 11.6 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Livingstone at 8.9/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

May in Livingstone — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.7/10

May averages 21°C (69°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 2 mm for the month, with about 24 sunny days and 11.2 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Livingstone at 9.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

June in Livingstone — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.3/10

June averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 19 sunny days and 10.9 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Livingstone at 9.3/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

July in Livingstone — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.5/10

July averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 21 sunny days and 11 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Livingstone at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

August in Livingstone — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.5/10

August averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 28 sunny days and 11.4 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Livingstone at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

September in Livingstone — reliably good (7th best month)

Good · 7.7/10

September averages 25°C (78°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 30 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 7.7/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 2 points higher on the same scale.

October in Livingstone — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.6/10

October averages 28°C (83°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rain is a non-issue at 3 mm for the month, with about 31 sunny days and 12.4 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 6.6/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 3.1 points higher on the same scale.

November in Livingstone — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.5/10

November averages 28°C (82°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rainfall runs 69 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 30 sunny days and 12.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.

December in Livingstone — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.9/10

December averages 27°C (80°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

At 164 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 31 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 5.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Livingstone — 3.8 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Livingstone, Zambia?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Livingstone are May, July, August, June, April. May is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.7/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Livingstone year-round?
Livingstone has a climate profile suited to nature and wildlife travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 18°C in July to 28°C in October, with Ideal Weather scores between 5.9 and 9.7 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Livingstone?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Livingstone are December (5.9/10), November (6.5/10), October (6.6/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Livingstone?
January is the wettest month in Livingstone, averaging about 193 mm of rainfall. August is the driest, at roughly 0 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Livingstone?
October sees the most sun in Livingstone, with about 31 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Livingstone a good destination for nature and wildlife travel?
Livingstone is well suited to nature and wildlife travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (May, July, August, June, April) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Livingstone calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Livingstone: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for nature and wildlife travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Livingstone

Tickets & experiences