February is when Victoria Falls starts to look like the postcards again. The river rises fast through the month, the Zambian side fills in, and spray climbs above the gorge. It is still the rainy season in Livingstone, but storms usually start to ease in the second half. Devil's Pool is closed, rafting is on its high-water trip, and the town is at its quietest of the year.
Water level and spray
In a normal year, February has the steepest climb of the whole cycle. You can see the difference between your first and last day if you stay a week. Flow at the end of the month is often two to three times what it was at New Year, though still short of the March to April peak.
On the Zambian side, the Eastern Cataract and the stretch below Livingstone Island usually join into a near-continuous curtain by mid to late February. Spray is noticeable at the Knife-Edge Bridge but you can still see across to the falls. On the Zimbabwean side the main falls are thundering, and the viewpoints opposite Main Falls start to get properly wet. For many people this is a sweet spot: plenty of water, and you can still take a photograph that shows it.
Weather
Typical highs are about 30°C with lows of about 19°C. Rain averages about 140 mm over 13 or so days, falling mostly as afternoon and evening storms. Humidity is high, usually around 75–80%, and the air feels close until a storm clears it. Late February often brings longer dry spells, although this varies a lot from year to year.
Mornings are generally the best time for outdoor plans. Build some slack into the afternoons.
What's open
- Devil's Pool. Usually closed. Some years Angel's Pool runs into February, and the Livingstone Island tour continues while the water allows. Check with the operator close to your date; see Livingstone Island for what the trip involves.
- Rafting. Operators usually run the high-water trip, which starts lower in the gorge and skips the first ten or so rapids. In a very wet year, rafting can pause altogether for a while. Rapids are bigger but there are fewer of them, and the hike out is the same steep climb.
- Lunar rainbow. Possible around the February full moon, especially later in the month and on the Zimbabwean side, but not reliable. The Zambian rainforest usually needs more spray.
- Flights. A good month for a helicopter flight over the falls: the curtain is wide and the plume is building, but not yet so tall that it hides the gorge. Fly in the morning when the air is clearest.
- Bungee, gorge swing, cruises. Run as normal, weather permitting.
Wildlife and birding
The bush is dense and green, and animals are spread across the country rather than gathered at the river. Game viewing in the parks is harder than in the dry season, but the river is still the most reliable place to see wildlife: hippos in pods, crocodiles on the banks, and elephants along the islands now and then.
Birding stays excellent. Summer migrants are still around, many weavers and bishops are in breeding plumage, and the water birds on the upper river are busy. African fish eagles are a constant along this stretch of the Zambezi and easiest to photograph from a boat in early light. If birds are a priority, take a slow morning boat trip on the upper river rather than a sunset cruise with drinks and a crowd.
Crowds and rates
February is usually the quietest month of the year in Livingstone. Most lodges charge green-season rates, flights from Johannesburg can be cheaper, and you rarely need to book activities more than a day ahead. Some smaller businesses take staff leave in this period, so check that anything specific you want is running.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or light poncho, which doubles as spray protection at the falls.
- Breathable, quick-drying clothes; laundry dries slowly.
- Shoes with grip for wet basalt paths.
- Insect repellent and long sleeves for the evenings. Mosquito numbers are high, so get malaria advice from a travel clinic before you go. Our health and malaria page covers the basics.
- A dry bag for camera gear on boats.
Go if, skip if
Go if you want the falls looking full without being drowned in spray, you like having the place to yourself, or you are watching the budget. It also suits birders and photographers who like stormy light.
Skip if Devil's Pool or the full low-water rafting run is the reason for your trip; those return from about mid-August. Skip, too, if you struggle with heat and humidity together.
Planning the rest of the trip
Short, intense storms mean it pays to stay somewhere you are happy to sit out an hour of rain. A lodge on the upper river gives you boat trips without driving anywhere; Zambezi Dusk's experiences page lists what can be arranged from there, including visits to the falls and rafting through partner operators.
For the year as a whole, read Victoria Falls weather by month and the best time to visit Victoria Falls. Before February comes Victoria Falls in January; after it, Victoria Falls in March.
