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  • Tswalu Game Drive, South Africa

South Africa in May: Weather and where to go

South Africa in May: Weather and where to go

Sunshine and clear skies perpetuate May days making it a wonderful time to visit South Africa. Of course, temperatures will vary depending on where you are in the country but it is likely to be pleasant nonetheless.

Morning and evening temperatures will be significantly cooler than earlier months so plenty of layers are necessary for game drives, but as the sun peaks in the sky, the mercury will reach back up to the 20s and afternoons will be comfortably warm.

KwaZulu-Natal has a sub-tropical climate so remains warmer during the winter months than the more southern regions. 

May Climatic Averages

Day time average maximum temperature 25 degrees Centigrade

Night time average minimum temperature 10 degrees Centigrade

Average amount of precipitation 15mm

Average number of daylight hours 8.1h

Drakensberg, South Africa

The Cape Region and the Garden Route begin their wetter season from May onwards which makes it a less than ideal time to visit and journey down the coast.

May sees the beginning of the peak season for safari travellers as the drier months of May – October provide the optimum landscapes for wildlife sightings. The later in the season you leave your trip, the clearer landscapes will be and the more predictable wildlife sightings are as the animals are dependent on the dwindling water supplies.

May is also still a great time to visit the Drakensberg Mountains so despite the cooling temperatures across the country, this month can offer a lot of variety for your trip. Please ask our destination specialists to plan your tailored safari around your preferences.

Book your South Africa Safari

Contact one of our Destination Specialists to start planning your journey to South Africa. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination.

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