October is the hottest month at Victoria Falls and one of the lowest for water. On the Zambian side, much of the face can be reduced to thin streams and bare basalt; on the Zimbabwean side, the main falls keep flowing. That makes October a poor month for the classic view from Zambia but a good one for nearly everything else: Devil's Pool, the full rafting run, tiger fishing and some of the best game viewing of the year along the river.
Water level and spray
The Zambezi is approaching its annual low, which usually comes in November. On the Zambian side you look across at a cliff face over 100 m high with water in a few places, most of it near Livingstone Island and the western end. The Eastern Cataract is often dry or close to it. You can see the full depth of the gorge, the layered basalt and the cracks along which the falls have cut their way back over thousands of years. Some visitors are disappointed; others find it the most interesting view of the year.
From Zimbabwe, Main Falls and Devil's Cataract still look like a waterfall, though with less weight than mid-year. If you are only visiting one side in October, choose Zimbabwe. Our Zambia or Zimbabwe guide covers the crossing.
In a drought year, such as 2019, the low is more extreme and the Zambian side may be almost entirely dry.
Weather
Highs average about 34°C, and runs of 38–40°C are not unusual. Lows are about 19°C, so nights stay warm. Rainfall averages about 20 mm, mostly from the first storms late in the month, though in many years October is completely dry until the end. Humidity starts low, around 30%, and creeps up as the rains approach. Haze from bush fires is common.
The heat shapes the day. Get out at sunrise, rest through midday, and go out again in the late afternoon.
What's open
- Devil's Pool. Open, usually all month. The swim is a welcome relief in this heat. Tours run in small groups and still book out. See Livingstone Island.
- Rafting. The full low-water run. The rapids are technical and the water is warm, though the climb out of the gorge in the midday heat is hard work. Drink more than you think you need.
- Lunar rainbow. Not a realistic prospect; there is very little spray.
- Tiger fishing. One of the best months on the upper Zambezi, with warm, low water and active fish.
- Flights. Running, but haze makes them less rewarding than earlier in the year. The low water does show the shape of the lip and the zigzag gorges very clearly from above.
Wildlife and birding
Wildlife viewing is at or close to its yearly peak. Most inland water has gone, so elephants, buffalo and antelope rely on the Zambezi. Expect large herds of elephants along the banks and swimming to islands in the afternoon, hippos crowded into deep pools, and crocodiles on every sandbank. A day trip to Chobe is excellent.
Carmine bee-eaters are nesting in riverbank colonies, and the first summer migrants usually arrive towards the end of the month, including the woodland kingfisher, whose call becomes the sound of the summer.
Crowds and rates
October is still high season at many lodges, although some switch to shoulder rates from mid or late October. Visitor numbers are lower than in July to September. Devil's Pool and rafting still need booking a few days ahead. South Africa's short October school break can bring a brief busy spell.
What to pack
- Your lightest clothes: loose cotton or linen, long sleeves for sun protection.
- A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen.
- Electrolyte sachets and a large water bottle.
- Swimwear and water shoes for Devil's Pool.
- Insect repellent. Mosquito numbers rise as the first rains approach, so get malaria advice from a travel clinic.
Go if, skip if
Go if you want Devil's Pool, a long day of rafting, tiger fishing or the best game viewing of the year, and you can handle heat. Go if you are curious about how the falls look without most of their water.
Skip if a full falls is the reason for your trip, especially from the Zambian side. Skip if you find heat above 35°C hard to cope with, or are travelling with very young children or older relatives who feel the heat badly.
Handling the heat
Plan around a long midday break. Shade, a pool and a river breeze help more than air conditioning in a car. Riverside lodges come into their own now; Zambezi Dusk, on the river upstream of the falls, has a pool and a riverside deck for the middle of the day. Our where to stay in Livingstone guide covers the options by area.
For temperatures and rainfall across the year, see Victoria Falls weather by month, and for water levels, the best time to visit Victoria Falls. Before October: Victoria Falls in September. After: Victoria Falls in November.
