Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa and is a landlocked country as it has no access to the sea. It borders east and north with Mozambique, south with South Africa and southwest with Botswana. The north-western border is the Zambezi. The entire area of the country can be compared to the size of Belgium or Germany. Zimbabwe is mostly known for the safaris and the Victoria Falls, which are on the border with Zambia.
Numerous rivers have their source in the mountainous highlands of Zimbabwe and the main mountain range is found on the eastern border, which lies with Mozambique. The mountain range is around 350 km long and the highest point is around 2,500 meters and is called Mount Inyangani.
The country is a dry savannah and is dominated by Mopane and Miombo forests. In the dry season, the grass in the savannah withers, but in the rainy season it can reach a height of around two meters and is therefore an important livelihood for animals. Shrimacias, baobab and liver sausage trees can also be found in the savannah.
The population in Zimbabwe is over 16 million, but the once strong population growth has fallen sharply due to the difficulties in the country. The population is divided between the Shona, who make up the largest part. Among others there are the Chewa and Ndebele and several small peoples like the Tsonga, Venda and Tonga.
There are 16 official languages in Zimbabwe, which are regarded as equal. Furthermore, the country has a semi-presidential system of government, which means that the country is ruled by a president.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Zimbabwe.
Climate in Zimbabwe
As one of countries with Z according to COUNTRYAAH, Zimbabwe is located between the subtropics and the tropics, so the seasons are mainly determined by the constant alternation of dry and rainy seasons. The dry season usually begins in April and continues into September, whereas the rainy season prevails from October to March.
Due to its altitude, Zimbabwe has a surprisingly low annual average temperature. Daily temperatures of over 28 degrees are usually only to be expected in September and October. Only in lower parts of the country, such as the outer north of the Zambezi and the southeast, there are hotter temperatures on some days.
When is the best time to visit Zimbabwe?
The best time to visit Zimbabwe is during the dry season, which takes place from April to October. The animals on the safari are best observed during this time. The best time to travel is therefore shortly before the rainy season in April or afterwards in September / October. The temperatures at this time are rather bearable, but it can happen that it gets too hot in September or October. It is also dry from May to August, but temperatures can drop uncomfortably low, especially at night.
It is therefore very difficult to travel during the rainy season, as the temperatures are very high and it rains a lot. Many roads are not well paved that you have problems even with an all-round vehicle. However, the Victoria Falls are very impressive in the rainy season because they have a lot of water.
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Zimbabwe).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Harare | April, May, June, July, August and September |
| Victoria Falls | March, April, May, June, July, August and September |
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Harare (Zimbabwe)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 25 ° C | 23 ° C | 21 ° C | 21 ° C | 24 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 27 ° C | 26 ° C |
| Night temperature | 16 ° C | 16 ° C | 15 ° C | 12 ° C | 9 ° C | 6 ° C | 6 ° C | 7 ° C | 11 ° C | 13 ° C | 15 ° C | 16 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 187 | 157 | 96 | 38 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 34 | 96 | 171 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 14 |
| Hours of sunshine | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Sunrise | 5:35 | 5:50 | 6:00 | 6:05 | 6:15 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:15 | 5:50 | 5:25 | 5:10 | 5:15 |
| Sunset | 18:35 | 18:30 | 18:10 | 17:45 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:35 | 17:45 | 17:50 | 17:55 | 18:10 | 18:25 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Harare is 18.4 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is November (21.2 ° C), coldest month of July with averages of 13.4 ° C.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 805 mm on 71 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. The January is considered the rainy season, since in this month are expected to more than 175 mm of rainfall. You cannot expect snow in any month in Harare.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, September is the sunniest month with an average of 9.8 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines for 8.2 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Cities nearby
The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Chitungwiza, Goromonzi and Epworth.
Sights and attractions in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has numerous beautiful attractions and the country is a very exciting travel destination, especially for safari lovers. The most famous nature reserve in the country is the Mana Pools National Park, which became world famous for walking safaris. The Hwange National Park is also back on the tourist map after a few difficult decades with a lot of poaching and has recently been flourishing.
Most holidaymakers come to Zimbabwe primarily because of another natural spectacle, namely the breathtaking Victoria Falls on the shared border with Zambia. While the Zambia side of the falls is significantly wilder, Simmbabwe gives you the better views and photo opportunities. Numerous great accommodations such as Zimbabwe’s venerable The Victoria Falls Hotel also offer every imaginable comfort.
