Weather

The climate is generally sub-tropical with light rainfall. Droughts are frequent. Summer (October-March) can be very hot, and the evenings also remain warm. Temperatures in winter (April-September) can drop quite dramatically at night and in the early mornings, but daytime temperatures are pleasantly warm. The table below is a good indicator of weather patterns though most of Botswana’s regions.

As the central point of all these regions, and therefore a good indicator of weather patterns throughout, the tables below reflect Maun’s average annual climate.

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
66/89	66/87	64/87	57/87	48/82	43/77	42/77	48/82	55/91	64/95	66/93	66/89

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
4.1	3.7	3.2	1.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.7	3.2

Kenya’s diverse geography means that temperature, rainfall, and humidity vary widely. There are effectively four distinct zones:

• The plateau of western Kenya has rainfall throughout the year, the highest volumes being in April and lowest in January. Here temperatures range from a minimum of 57°F to a maximum of 97°F throughout the year.
• The temperate Rift Valley and Central Highlands have rainfall in essentially two seasons, the “long rains” (March-early June) and the “short rains” (October-November). Temperatures vary from 50°F to 80°F.
• The semi-arid bushlands of northern and eastern Kenya have rainfall in the form of violent storms, with July being the driest month and November the wettest. Temperatures vary from up to 104°F during the day to less than 68°F at night.
• The consistently humid coast region has rainfall that is dependent on the monsoon which blows from the northeast from October to April and from the southwest for the rest of the year. Temperatures vary little during the year, ranging from 71°F to 86°F.

The below tables show temperature and rainfall for Nairobi.

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
52/77	52/79	55/77	57/75	55/73	52/72	50/70	50/70	50/75	55/77	55/73	55/73

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1.8	2.0	4.0	8.1	6.3	1.8	0.7	1.0	1.0	2.1	4.3	3.2

Mozambique has two main seasons, one wet and one dry:

• The wet season (November-March) has a monthly average temperature between 79°F and 84°F with cooler temperatures in the interior uplands.
• The dry season (April-October; June-July) has temperatures averaging 64°F to 68°F.
• The average annual rainfall is greatest (approximately 56 inches) over the western hills and the central areas and is lowest in the Zambezi lowlands averaging 16 to 32 inches.

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
77/88	77/88	75/87	72/85	67/82	63/79	62/78	64/80	67/82	71/85	74/87	76/88

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
9.8	11.8	10.8	5.5	3.3	2	1.8	1.6	1	1.6	4.3	9.1

Namibia’s climate is typically semi-desert with hot days and cool nights. During the winter months (May-September), however, it can get very cold at night and in the early morning, particularly when on safari. The average rainfall is less than two inches along the coast, about 14 inches in the central interior, and 27.5 inches in the Caprivi. Mid-summer temperatures may rise to over 104°F. Along the coast, fog prevails from late afternoon until mid-morning.

Below is a rough guideline to understanding Namibian weather patterns, with the towns mentioned being a general indication of temperatures and rainfall in the country.

WDH = Windhoek   SWP = Swakopmund

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

WDH

63/86

63/84

59/81

55/77

48/72

45/68

45/68

46/73

54/79

57/84

61/84

63/88

SWP

54/72

57/73

54/73

48/72

46/72

46/72

45/70

43/66

45/66

46/66

50/70

52/72

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
WDH	1.7	2.1	2.2	1.1	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.4	0.9	3.7
SWP	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.0

The Republic of Congo lies on the Equator, so temperatures vary little year-round. The seasons can be divided into two green seasons and two drier seasons.

Green Seasons: March-May and September-November

Rainfall during this period means that the air is clearer, and the humidity is higher. Daytime temperatures are typically higher, and November can be very wet.

Dry (Transition) Seasons: December-February and June-August

With limited rain during this period, the air can be relatively hazy, with a white film of clouds covering the sky most days. Daytime temperatures are typically cooler, and humidity tends to be lower than in the green season.

Below is a rough guideline to understanding Congolese weather patterns, with the towns mentioned being a general indication of temperatures and rainfall in the country.

BZV = Brazzaville    ODZ = Odzala National Park

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

BZV

70/86

70/88

70/90

70/88

70/88

86/77

68/84

68/84

68/85

68/86

68/86

70/86

ODZ

66/84

66/86

66/88

66/88

66/86

64/82

64/81

64/81

66/84

66/84

64/84

64/84

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
BZV	6.1	5.5	6.4	7.9	6.9	3.0	1.1	5.1	8.9	10.0	7.7	5.0
ODZ	3.5	4.9	6.8	6.8	6.8	3.5	1.6	2.4	7.8	9.8	4.3	4.3

Rwanda has a “temperate tropical highland climate,” with lower temperatures than are typical for equatorial countries because of its high elevation. Kigali is emblematic of the country as a whole as it is in the center of the country and has little variation through the year. Altitude has the largest impact on local temperatures, with the mountainous west and north generally cooler than the lower-lying east. The country has two rainy seasons and two dry season each year. The rainy seasons tend to be from March to April and October to November, but this varies in different areas and it can rain any time of year, especially in the gorilla parks areas. Travel can be slower—and gorilla tracking muddier!—in the rainy season, but the views are often better.

The below tables show temperature and rainfall for Kigali.

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
60/80	60/81	60/80	61/79	61/79	60/80	59/81	61/82	61/83	61/81	60/79	60/80

 
Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
3.0	3.6	4.5	6.1	3.5	0.7	0.5	1.2	2.7	4.2	4.4	3.0

The islands enjoy a pleasant tropical climate year-round, and, as they are situated outside the cyclone belt, there are no weather extremes. The temperature seldom drops below 75ºF or rises above 90ºF. Globally changing climate conditions make it difficult to predict exact weather patterns. From October to March, the islands are affected by the northwest trade winds. This is when the sea is generally calm with warm tropical water. From May to September, the islands are affected by the southeast trade winds and weather is generally drier and cooler, characterized by choppy seas on the southeastern coast. The wettest months are December and January.

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
76/85	76/86	77/87	78/88	78/86	77/84	75/83	76/83	76/84	76/85	76/86	76/86

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
15.5	10.7	6.8	7.3	5.1	2.6	3.3	4.0	5.0	8.4	8.8	11.5

 

The weather in South Africa has two main biomes: The Cape, and the rest of the country. The Cape is rainy and cool in the winter months (April-September), and dry and warm during summer months (October-March). The remainder of the country is dry and cool during the winter months, but wet and warm during the summer months!

JHB = Johannesburg, DBN = Durban, CPT = Cape Town, KRU=Kruger National Park

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

JHB

52/86

51/84

47/82

41/78

35/73

29/69

29/70

31/76

35/83

41/85

45/85

49/86

DBN

72/81

73/82

72/81

67/77

61/73

61/74

59/73

61/73

63/73

66/74

70/78

71/79

CPT

60/82

60/84

57/80

53/77

49/71

45/67

43/65

46/67

47/69

51/74

55/76

59/80

KRU

27/81

29/79

25/77

23/73

20/68

16/61

17/63

18/64

21/70

23/73

24/75

26/79

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
JNB	5.1	3.9	3.7	2.2	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.2	1.1	0.3	0.5	4.2
DBN	5.5	4.6	5.2	3.0	2.4	1.1	1.6	2.5	3.0	0.4	0.4	4.2
CPT	0.6	0.7	0.9	1.7	2.8	3.8	3.4	3.2	1.7	0.1	0.0	0.7
KRU	4	3.9	2.6	1.3	0.6	0.2	0.4	0.3	0.7	1.5	2.9	3.6

Tanzania’s climate is predominantly tropical. For the whole country, the hottest months are from October to February and the coolest from June to August. There are two rainy seasons: the long rains (mid-March-May) and the short rains (November-January). In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro, temperatures can fall below freezing. Coastal areas are hot and humid, with an average daytime temperature of about 85°F. Sea breezes make the climate very pleasant from June to September.

Temperatures and rainfall can vary widely based on the specific location within Tanzania’s diverse terrain, but below are the averages for Arusha = ARU, Serengeti National Park = SGTI, and Zanzibar = ZANZ.

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

ARU

50/84

51/84

53/81

57/77

52/72

48/70

49/69

48/72

47/76

51/80

51/81

50/81

SGTI

59/81

59/81

61/81

61/79

61/77

57/77

55/75

55/77

57/81

59/82

59/81

61/82

ZANZ

73/90

73/91

73/90

75/86

73/84

72/84

70/84

68/84

68/86

70/88

72/88

73/88

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
ARU	2.3	3.3	7.0	14.5	8.3	1.3	0.6	0.8	0.8	1.4	4.4	4.0
SGTI	3.6	3.8	5.2	5.0	2.4	1.1	0.5	1.0	1.1	1.5	3.5	4.1
ZANZ	3.3	2.2	5.9	15.2	10.0	2.8	2.0	2.0	2.0	3.7	8.5	7.3

 

In the summer (October-April), days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunderstorms. Low-lying areas such as Lake Kariba, Livingstone, the Luangwa Valley, Lower Zambezi National Park, Lake Tanganyika, Kafue National Park, and the Zambezi Valley can also be considerably warmer all year round. The rainy season is from November to March.  While the weather starts to dry up a bit, April can still bring showers. Winter lasts from May to September with dry and sunny days, that are cool to warm, while evening temperatures will drop. October and into November can be exceptionally hot until the first rains break.

LVI = Livingstone   LUA = South Luangwa

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

LVI

66/86

66/86

64/86

59/86

50/82

44/78

43/78

49/83

58/91

66/91

66/91

66/87

LUA

68/90

68/88

66/90

64/90

66/88

54/86

52/84

54/86

59/95

68/104

72/99

72/91

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
LVI	8.0	7.0	4.0	2.0	0.2	0.1	0.0	0.1	0.2	0.8	3.9	7.5
LUA	7.7	11.3	5.5	3.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.9	4.3	4.3

Generally, days are bright and sunny and the nights clear and cool. November to April are the summer months (which is also the rainy season) while winter is from May to August (which usually brings dry weather). September and October are very hot and very dry. The winter months from May to August inclusive, can bring freezing temperatures (below 0°C sometimes) in the early morning and evenings.

VFA = Victoria Falls

Temperature (ºF) – These are the average lows and highs:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

VFA

63/89

63/86

64/88

57/84

50/84

44/77

43/77

46/82

57/91

64/93

64/87

63/87

 

Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and your location:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
VFA	8.5	7.3	3.9	1.7	0.2	0.1	0.0	0.1	0.2	0.8	3.9	7.5