African Safaris in May – Where to Go & Why

Quick snapshot

• Best for: shoulder-season safari value in Southern Africa, Victoria Falls + early dry-season game viewing, Namibia before peak crowds, and Uganda gorillas with lower permit fees (some years)
• Weather: the dry season begins in many safari regions — clearer days, cooler nights, and improving game viewing without peak-season dust yet
• Watch-outs: Cape Town turns cooler/wetter by mid-May; trade winds start building for some Indian Ocean islands (good for kitesurfing, breezier for sunbathing)

Top picks for May (best destinations)

• South Africa – safari experience improves as the drier conditions prevail; look for May/June lodge specials in Madikwe, Kruger and the Eastern Cape
• Zambia & Zimbabwe (with Victoria Falls) – improving safari conditions with great water flow over Victoria Falls plus shoulder season value
• Namibia – excellent time to visit prior to peak season: nights aren’t as cold as mid-winter, and it’s less busy
• Botswana (Okavango Delta begins to shine) – early Delta season with warm days and chilly evenings; often better value than late June–September
• Madagascar / Mozambique – good conditions as rain dies right down & warm temperatures

What’s happening in May

In South Africa, Cape Town winter weather can arrive by mid-May (windy and wet at times), but this is also when safari conditions improve. Some Madikwe, Kruger and Eastern Cape game reserves often run excellent low-season specials in May and June – a clever time to “snatch a quick week on safari”.

May is when much of Southern Africa – Zimbabwe, Botswana or Zambia – starts to feel “safari-ready” again. The summer rains have eased in many regions, animals begin to gather more predictably around water sources, and the bush starts to open up.  Good time to visit to enjoy shoulder season pricing.

Early May is a great time to combine a safari in the Kruger or Botswana – or Victoria Falls – with Cape Town before the winter cold sets in (June onwards)

In Botswana, May marks the beginning of the safari season in the Okavango Delta  as water levels start to rise. It’s not yet the ultra-peak pricing of June onwards, so May can be a sweet spot with warm sunny days, and improving wildlife viewing.

In Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Lower Zambezi and Mana Pool camps reopen in May (and some in April depending on local conditions. So May offers early-season safari combinations with Victoria Falls at its most very impressive.

Namibia is also a strong May choice: rains will have stopped, it’s before the busiest period, and nighttime temperatures are milder than June/July.

For the beach and activities: as you move closer to winter, the south-easterly trade winds begin to strengthen nearer the equator (Kenya coast and the Seychelles ). That can be excellent for kitesurfing/surfing. But breezier for classic “lazy beach” days.

It continues to be a great beach time in Mauritius,  Madagascar and Mozambique.

Also a great time to combine lemurs safaris in the slightly cooler interior of southern Madagascar with beach time on the coast.

Where to be cautious in May

• Cape Town / Western Cape: winter weather can arrive mid-May (cooler, windier, wetter)
• East Africa – still wet and muddy conditions in early May for Kenya/Tanzania and also for gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda
• Madagascar routing: conditions improve, but choose regions carefully depending on rainfall patterns

Trip ideas in May

South Africa – Cape Town, Kruger & Victoria Falls (Guided)

Namibia – Namibia Discovery (Self Drive) or Namibia in a Nutshell

Botswana –  Best of Botswana & Victoria Falls

Zambia/Malawi – Zambia & Malawi Bush & Beach Getaway

Zimbabwe –  Southern Africa Culture & Wildlife

Mozambique – Benguerra Island Fly-in

Madagascar – Southern Madagascar Rainforests, Mountains & Beaches