Zambia

Zambia Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Zambia in January.

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Livingstone Lusaka Chingola Siavonga

Planning a trip to Zambia this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Zambia in January

January in Zambia generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between warm in Mpika at 25°C (77°F) to very warm in Chirundu at 32°C (90°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 23°C (73°F) in Chirundu and 17°C (63°F) in Mpika. The temperatures mentioned for both day and night are typical averages. However some days might get even hotter. It's best to stay prepared by wearing cloths suitable for the warmth.

For a closer look at conditions across Zambia, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Livingstone with an average of 207 mm (8.1 in) to heavy rainfall in South Luangwa National Park with 337 mm (13 in). Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Livingstone receives the most rainfall during this month of the year.

Average sunshine

January brings good sunshine to many areas. Livingstone sees around 213 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Zambia by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Zambia in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Zambia.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Zambia

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Zambia?

Temperature range in Zambia (January)

Precipitation variation in Zambia (January)

Livingstone

In January Livingstone generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
213 hours
200 hours
Monthly rainfall
184 mm (7.2 in)
207 mm (8.1 in)
178 mm (7 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
13 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
tolerable
Climate in Livingstone →

Lusaka

In January Lusaka generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
185 hours
178 hours
170 hours
Monthly rainfall
227 mm (8.9 in)
247 mm (9.7 in)
212 mm (8.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Lusaka →

Chingola

In January Chingola generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly rainfall
265 mm (10 in)
281 mm (11 in)
265 mm (10 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
23 days
20 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Chingola →

Kitwe

In January Kitwe generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly rainfall
265 mm (10 in)
284 mm (11 in)
260 mm (10 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
23 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Kitwe →

Woodlands

In January Woodlands generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
185 hours
178 hours
170 hours
Monthly rainfall
228 mm (9 in)
251 mm (9.9 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Woodlands →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Zambia.

In our records: Zambia January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Zambia in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Zambia brought 135 mm (5.3 in) in Kasama on January 23, 2020.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Zambia in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Livingstone 30°C (86°F) 20°C (68°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
Lusaka 28°C (82°F) 19°C (66°F) 247 mm (9.7 in)
Chingola 27°C (81°F) 18°C (64°F) 281 mm (11 in)
Siavonga 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 283 mm (11 in)
Chirundu 32°C (90°F) 23°C (73°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)
Mongu 29°C (84°F) 20°C (68°F) 261 mm (10 in)

Zambia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Zambia in January?

Zambia typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in Livingstone average around 30°C (86°F), and temperatures drop to about 20°C (68°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Zambia in January?

Daytime temperatures in Livingstone peak at roughly 30°C (86°F) in January, dropping to about 20°C (68°F) overnight.

Does Zambia get a lot of rain in January?

Yes. January brings heavy rainfall to Zambia, with Livingstone averaging around 207 mm (8.1 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Zambia?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Livingstone, January may not be the ideal time to visit Zambia.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in May, June and July offering mostly perfect weather in Livingstone. On the other hand, the weather in January, September, October and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Zambia.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Zambia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Zambia.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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