Month by month
Matusadona in October
October is the hottest month. The last water draws the game, and the heat decides how you spend the day.
If you only want the answer
October gives excellent viewing and punishing heat: 40°C by the park's figures and mid-40s by one lodge's. Plan early starts, long middays and evening boats.
Weather
The model normals make October the hottest month here. The park's information pack gives a maximum of 40°C for the hot, dry season, and Rhino Safari Camp speaks of the mid-40s before the storms.
On the thirty-year model normals October averages 33.0°C by day and 21.2°C at night, with 13 mm of rain over 3 wet days.
Game
The park describes October and November as the time wildlife seeks watering points. Viewing on the shore is excellent, and the heat keeps activity to the early morning and late afternoon.
Fishing
Kariba's international tigerfish tournament is traditionally held in October. We have not verified the 2026 dates, so check before you plan around it. The park's rules still apply: a valid permit and five fish per person per day.
The lake
Check the Zambezi River Authority's current Lake Kariba reading before you go: on 22 September 2026 the lake stood at 481.13 m, 40.89% of usable storage, far higher than a year earlier, and the level shapes the lakeshore grassland where most of the game is. We have no sourced month-by-month lake cycle, so we do not predict one.