March is high-water season at Victoria Falls. The river is near the top of its annual rise, the spray reaches several hundred metres into the air, and anyone walking the Zambian rainforest path gets wet. Meanwhile the local rains are tailing off, so you get more dry days than in January or February. Devil's Pool is closed, rafting may or may not be running, and the first lunar rainbows of the year usually appear.
Water level and spray
In most years the Zambezi is close to its peak flow by late March, though the top often arrives in April. The whole width of the falls is a single curtain of water on both sides. The difference from the dry season is hard to overstate: in March the flow is roughly ten times what it was in November.
From the Zambian side, the main viewpoints opposite the Eastern Cataract and the Knife-Edge Bridge are inside the spray. On a windy morning it feels like a heavy shower. You hear the falls more than you see them, and gaps in the cloud last a few seconds. The Zimbabwean side gives better views across the gorge, especially from the western viewpoints near Devil's Cataract, but the paths opposite Main Falls are still drenched.
The plume is visible from tens of kilometres away, including from the river upstream at sunset.
Weather
Highs are usually about 31°C and lows about 18°C. Rainfall drops to about 75 mm over about 8 days, and the gaps between storms get longer as the month goes on. Humidity is still high, usually around 70–75%, but less oppressive than in February. The bush is fully green and the light after a storm is very clear.
What's open
- Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island. Devil's Pool is closed. Angel's Pool sometimes runs early in the high-water period, and island tours continue until the water gets too high, often some time between March and May. Check current status.
- Rafting. In some years operators run the high-water trip through March; in others they stop when the level passes their safety limit. If rafting is the main reason for the trip, March is not the month.
- Lunar rainbow. This is the start of the season. On the night of the full moon and a night or two either side, the rainforest on both sides opens after dark for a separate fee, and the moonlit spray often produces a pale arc. Cloud from late storms can spoil it, so April onwards is more reliable.
- Flights. One of the best months to fly. From a helicopter or microlight you can see the whole 1.7 km width and the shape of the gorges, which the spray hides from the ground. See helicopter flights over Victoria Falls.
- Bungee, gorge swing, bridge tours. Running as normal. From the Victoria Falls Bridge you look straight at the plume rising out of the gorge.
Wildlife and birding
Game viewing on land is still hard because the grass is tall and water lies everywhere. The upper river is the reliable option: hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds and the occasional elephant on the islands. Most summer migrant birds are still present early in the month, and some begin to leave towards the end. Look for the African finfoot along overhanging banks, a bird birders come specifically to the upper Zambezi for.
Crowds and rates
Most lodges are still on green-season or low-season rates for March. Easter falls in March or April depending on the year and brings a short busy spell, mostly regional visitors from South Africa and Zambia. Outside that weekend, things are quiet.
What to pack
- A proper rain jacket or a poncho, plus a spare set of clothes in the car. Rentals at the entrance work but are often damp and short.
- A waterproof phone pouch and a dry bag for cameras. Spray gets into everything.
- Sandals or shoes with grip that can be soaked.
- Insect repellent, and malaria advice from a travel clinic before you go.
- A light layer for evenings, which begin to cool slightly by late March.
Go if, skip if
Go if you want the raw power of the falls, a flight over the full curtain, or a chance at the lunar rainbow before the winter crowds. Go if you are happy to get soaked and see it as part of the visit.
Skip if you want to photograph the falls from the Zambian paths, swim at the edge, or raft the full gorge. For clearer views with plenty of water, June and July are a better bet.
Making a plan
A good March itinerary splits the falls across two days: the Zambian side for the soaking, the Zimbabwean side for the view, with a flight in between. Our 3-day Livingstone itinerary shows how that fits. The upper river is calm compared with the gorge, and evening boat trips from riverside lodges are pleasant now the storms are fewer; you can see the tents, chalets and villa at Zambezi Dusk if you want a base on that stretch.
For month-by-month numbers, see Victoria Falls weather by month and the best time to visit Victoria Falls. The neighbouring months are February and April.
