Zambia in January

Zambia in January

By Diane Du Plessis

Safari Travel Planner

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January is a poor month for game viewing in Zambia, but in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, wildlife viewing isn’t generally impacted by the seasons.

Only two Big Five—elephants and buffalo—are housed here. Giraffes, hippos, zebras, and wildebeests are also present.

Elephants are commonly seen roaming the grounds even during a wet month like January.

Hyenas also occur here, although they are rare to spot.

Some other wildlife you can look forward to seeing includes crocodiles, vervet monkeys, and chacma baboons.

Birding is also at its prime this month, and some of the birds you can expect to see here are the collared pratincole, Meves’s starling, trumpeter hornbill, water thick-knee, and white-fronted bee-eater.

Given the presence of rain, it is the perfect time for a photographic safari and the opportunity to capture dramatic imagery, especially of the fierce Victoria Falls!

Weather in January

Zambia experiences a hot climate throughout the year, which gets particularly extreme during the wet season.

Temperatures reach a high of at least 27 degrees Celsius in January.

With the rain present, Victoria Falls is an excellent place to see at its most dramatic, and the calving season is prevalent in the wet season, which can be especially special for seeing animals with their young.

Highlight Park to Visit

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is famous for its two-part locations. These are the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site and the Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park.

When visiting this location, you can expect to see unique game life since it’s home to Zambia’s only white rhinos, which makes a safari exciting here.

A walking safari is exciting as you get to see animals up close.

Activities to do in January

• Birding
• Photographic safari
• Game drives
• Spa treatments
• Yoga classes
• Walking safari