Best time to visit
When to come depends on what you want to do.
High water gives you a tropical-rainstorm spray and a thunderous Falls. Low water gives you crystal-clear views of the 108-metre drop and the most intense rafting on Earth. Pick a month to see what’s on.
July
ShoulderHigh water — rafting often starts further downstream from Rapids 11-23 as the initial rapids become too dangerous. Less technical but faster, with huge rolling waves.
White Water Rafting · Travel Advice
Chobe Day Trip dry season — animals congregate along the river in massive numbers. Best time for the day trip.
Chobe Day Trip · Travel Tip
Zambezi National Park dry season — animals congregate along the river in massive numbers. Peak game viewing.
Zambezi National Park · Travel Advice
Bushtracks Express: bring a warm jacket or pashmina. The observation car is open-sided and temperatures drop significantly after sunset.
Bushtracks Express · Travel Tip
Year-round
One thing that’s only on a full moon.
If your visit falls during a Full Moon, you can book a special "Lunar Rainbow" tour at night, one of the few places on Earth where this phenomenon occurs.
The two seasons in one paragraph
High water · Feb-May
The Falls are at their loudest. Spray is so intense it feels like a tropical rainstorm. Rafting starts further downstream from Rapids 11-23 and may be closed entirely in April or May at peak flood.
Low water · Sep-Dec
The spray clears, offering crystal-clear views of the rock formations and the 108-metre drop. Rafting begins right below the Falls covering Rapids 1-19 — the ultimate one-day rafting experience.