Best destinations to visit in May in Africa
Best destinations to visit in May in Africa
May is a genuine turning point for Africa, with the continent's dry and wet seasons trading places depending on where you are.
Southern Africa's safari regions, including Botswana and South Africa's Kruger area, move into their dry season this month, drawing wildlife toward waterholes and making sightings easier. East Africa's long rains are tapering off by May, though early in the month can still be wet in places, with conditions improving steadily as the weeks go on. Cape Town and the wider Cape region head the other way, moving out of their dry summer and into a wetter, cooler stretch. North Africa stays warm and increasingly dry, building toward the heat of summer. Coastal areas along the Indian Ocean also stay pleasant while conditions shift elsewhere on the continent.
The destinations on our list for Africa reflect that same shift, from a strengthening dry season in the south to a changing one further north.
Lists by region
National Park in South Africa
Kruger National Park
Where Africa's Big Five Roam Free
Lowveld bush in northeastern South Africa spreads across about 7,500 square miles. The dry season starts in May with mild days near 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Mornings are cool so bring a jacket for open vehicles. Thinner grass makes animals easier to spot. Elephants, lions and rhinos gather near rivers.
Country
Kenya
Safari paradise meets coastal charm
Fresh green grass and the smell of damp earth follow the long rains in May. This is low season, so Maasai Mara has fewer vehicles and lower lodge rates. Lions hunt in tall grass and birds fill the sky. Beaches near Diani and Lamu stay warm.
Country
Mauritius
Tropical Bliss in the Indian Ocean
May marks the start of the cooler dry season after the cyclone months from November to April. Seas stay near 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Le Morne Brabant, a mountain at the southwest tip, is a UNESCO site. Chamarel has sand dunes in seven colours and a tall waterfall.
Country
Namibia
Desert wilderness meets wildlife wonders
Herero women wear long bright Victorian style dresses with horn-shaped headdresses, a tradition from the missionary era. May is cool and dry with clear skies, which suits desert drives. Fish River Canyon, the dunes of Sossusvlei and the Skeleton Coast lie far apart. Gravel roads are quiet.
Town in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls
The Smoke That Thunders
The roar carries for miles and spray rises high above the gorge. Locals call the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning the smoke that thunders. Huge flows follow the rains. The curtain of water is 1,708 metres wide and drops 108 metres. Bring a rain jacket for the rain forest trail.
Region in Morocco
Atlas Mountains
Majestic peaks echo ancient desert horizons
The Atlas range runs about 1,500 miles across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, rises 13,671 feet near Marrakech. Mild weather and green valleys arrive in May as the snow melts. Berber villages with terraced fields line the trails around Imlil.
Country
Seychelles
Tropical paradise with pristine beaches
The islands had no permanent residents until French settlers arrived in 1770. May falls between monsoons, with calm seas and light winds. La Digue has granite boulders on the beach of Anse Source d'Argent. Praslin's Vallée de Mai shelters coco de mer palms, which bear the largest seeds in the world.
National Park in Namibia
Namib-Naukluft National Park
Endless Dunes and Desert Drama
This park covers about 19,200 square miles, larger than Switzerland. Dunes near Sossusvlei rise more than 300 metres. Cool mornings and clear skies suit May visits. Hikers explore Sesriem Canyon and trails in the Naukluft mountains. Stars shine brightly at night over the open desert far from city lights.
National Park in Namibia
Etosha National Park
Namibia's Wildlife Sanctuary
Etosha means great white place in the local language, a name taken from its vast salt pan. Fort Namutoni, a white-walled German outpost from the late 1890s, now serves as a camp. May opens the dry season, so waterholes begin to draw big herds of zebra and elephants.
National Park in Botswana
Chobe National Park
Elephant Haven in Botswana
The Chobe Riverfront draws large herds of elephants and buffalo to drink as the dry season begins in May. Sunset boat cruises float close to the animals. Botswana made this its first national park in 1967. Lions, hippos and crocodiles also gather along the banks.
Nature Reserve in Botswana
Okavango Delta
Africa’s Uncharted Water Wilderness
Moremi Game Reserve covers about a third of the delta and was created in 1963 by the local Batawana people. In May the annual flood begins to arrive from Angola. African wild dogs are denning, so pups may appear. Lions, elephants and leopards roam between channels.
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