Zimbabwe's climate divides neatly into two seasons, and when you visit depends entirely on what you want to see.
The dry season (May to October) is the best time for wildlife viewing. As water sources shrink, animals concentrate around rivers and waterholes, making them much easier to spot. This is peak season for Hwange, Mana Pools and Gonarezhou. Days are warm and sunny, nights can be surprisingly cold — especially in June and July when temperatures in the highveld drop close to freezing. This is also the most popular time for tourists, so book accommodation well ahead for Victoria Falls and the major national parks.
The wet season (November to April) transforms the landscape into lush green. Birdwatching is superb, with migratory species arriving from Europe and central Africa. The Eastern Highlands are at their most beautiful, with waterfalls running full and wildflowers blooming. Victoria Falls reaches peak flow between February and May — the spray column can reach 400 metres and the thunder is audible from kilometres away. The downside: afternoon thunderstorms are almost daily, dirt roads become impassable, and some safari camps close entirely.
The shoulder months of April-May and October-November often offer the best of both worlds — decent wildlife viewing, manageable heat, and fewer crowds. October is the hottest month and can be brutally hot in the lowveld, but the desperate concentration of animals around the last remaining water makes it exceptional for game viewing.