Zaria has a hot semi-arid climate typical of the Nigerian savanna belt. The dry season runs from November to April, with cooler harmattan winds from December to February bringing hazy skies but very comfortable temperatures. This is the best time to visit for sightseeing; the heat is manageable and the roads are passable. March and April grow intensely hot before the rains arrive.
The rainy season (May to October) brings relief from the heat but also muddy roads, flooded tracks around the old city, and the risk of disrupted travel. Heavy downpours in July and August can make the earthen lanes of the old walled city difficult to navigate.
The Durbar festival is the single most spectacular reason to time a visit. Held during the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha, the Durbar sees hundreds of elaborately costumed horsemen — many in chain mail and embroidered robes — parade before the Emir in front of his palace. Zaria's Durbar is one of the grandest in the north, second only to Kano's. Dates shift with the Islamic calendar each year.