Kariba in Fall
In fall (March, April and May), Kariba sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 174 mm of rain over about 22 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 30°C in early March to 27°C by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 57% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels muggy.
Fall is Kariba's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Kariba's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 174 mm
- 22 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.2
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Kariba in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 30°C in early March to 27°C by late May.
A typical fall day in Kariba reaches about 29°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is March, the coolest May.
How fall really feels in Kariba
Once humidity and wind are folded in, fall brings about 25 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in fall is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Kariba weather by month
How the three fall months (March, April and May) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30° / 24° | 273 | 22.1 | 12.9 | 3.6 |
| Feb | 30° / 23° | 209 | 19.2 | 12.6 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 30° / 23° | 135 | 15.8 | 12.1 | 4.5 |
| Apr | 29° / 21° | 37 | 5.7 | 11.6 | 6.2 |
| May | 28° / 18° | 3 | 0.6 | 11.2 | 8.0 |
| Jun | 26° / 16° | 1 | 0.2 | 11 | 9.0 |
| Jul | 26° / 15° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.1 | 9.1 |
| Aug | 28° / 17° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.4 | 8.1 |
| Sep | 32° / 21° | 2 | 0.3 | 11.9 | 5.5 |
| Oct | 34° / 24° | 12 | 1.8 | 12.4 | 3.7 |
| Nov | 33° / 25° | 78 | 10 | 12.8 | 3.3 |
| Dec | 31° / 24° | 218 | 20.3 | 13 | 3.5 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 57% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Kariba gets around 174 mm of rain over 22 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 8 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min in early March to 11 h 06 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Kariba
In fall, Kariba overlaps its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Kariba's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Kariba?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a reasonable time to visit Kariba for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Kariba in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Kariba sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 22 days see rain.
UV index in Kariba in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kariba peaks around January 19 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 10 at about 8 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 8 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Kariba in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Kariba is worst in September — around 32 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.7× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 25 | 32 | 23 | 11 | 7 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 8 | Good |
| May | 9 | Good |
| Jun | 12 | Good |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 25 | Moderate |
| Sep | 32 | Moderate |
| Oct | 23 | Moderate |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 7 | Good |
Where is Kariba?
Kariba sits at 16.5°S, 28.8°E, 679 m above sea level, in Zimbabwe. The nearest listed city is Siavonga, 10 km away.
Topography around Kariba
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kariba.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Kariba has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 492 m around an average of 558 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 616 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,165 m.
The land around Kariba is covered by shrubs (52%) and trees (25%) within 3 km, water (41%) and shrubs (39%) within 16 km, and shrubs (53%) within 80 km.
Zimbabwe travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type D / G
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 56% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $3,021
- 2025
- Happiness
- 3.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 25%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 6.8
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 41.2
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very high
- EF EPI 602
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Kariba (-16.5167°, 28.8°, elevation 679 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.