Ker & Downey Africa > Journal > Your guide to a safari in May
Looking to experience a luxury vacation before the peak summer months? Then why not consider a luxury safari adventure to Africa in May? A safari in May offers a thrilling adventure and is a wonderful time of year to visit as much of eastern and southern Africa transitions from the green season and the long rains to the dry season.
During May, you’ll witness verdant landscapes and an abundance of wildlife, ensuring thrilling encounters with some of Africa’s most majestic animals. Top safari destinations are at their peak, including Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. It’s also an ideal time of year for combining a beach and bush safari in paradisal destinations like Mozambique.
If you want to enjoy a luxury safari experience in May, we can help. As a leading luxury travel company in Africa with decades of expertise, we boast in-depth knowledge of the best safari destinations and experiences. Our handpicked selection of luxury lodges, tented camps, and boutique hotels ensures discerning individuals enjoy top-tier amenities and service levels for an unforgettable safari in Africa. No matter when you choose to visit, we go above and beyond to create an incredible safari experience. Contact our team today to learn more about enjoying an African safari in May.
“A luxury safari in May offers the best of both worlds – lush landscapes from the rains and incredible wildlife viewing as animals start gathering around water sources,” says Sarah Morris, General Manager, Private Clients. “It’s an intimate, exclusive experience before peak season begins.”
May is an excellent time for a Botswana safari as it marks the beginning of the dry season, offering prime wildlife viewing. With water sources drying up in surrounding areas, animals start to gather around permanent waterholes and rivers, making sightings easier. The Okavango Delta begins its annual flood, creating stunning landscapes and attracting diverse wildlife. Cooler temperatures and minimal rainfall provide comfortable conditions for game drives and fewer tourists at this time of year means a more exclusive experience.
May is a fantastic time to visit Namibia for a safari, as it marks the transition into the dry season with mild temperatures, clear skies, and excellent wildlife viewing. Water sources begin to dry up, drawing animals to rivers and waterholes, especially in Etosha National Park, where large herds of elephants, lions, and rhinos gather. The landscapes are breathtaking, from the towering dunes of Sossusvlei to the rugged terrain of Damaraland, home to desert-adapted elephants and black rhinos.
May marks the start of the dry season in South Africa, bringing cooler temperatures, clear skies, and optimal wildlife viewing. With less water in the bush, animals congregate around rivers and waterholes, making sightings of the Big Five in parks like Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands more predictable. The lack of summer rainfall means fewer mosquitoes and comfortable conditions for game drives too. May is also a wonderful time of year to visit Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, and the Garden Route. The cooler temperatures make it ideal for hiking, coastal drives, and enjoying Cape Town’s vibrant food scene.
A beach safari is a wonderful addition to a luxury May safari. During the month of May, Madagascar is at the start of its dry season, offering pleasant sun-drenched days, lush landscapes following the rains, and fewer tourists. The warm, sunny weather is ideal for maximising time on Madagascar’s white sand beaches and enjoying an island-hopping experience. Madagascar’s national parks like Andasibe-Mantadia and Ranomafana are bursting with flora and fauna at this time of year, making it a great time for lemur spotting and birdwatching. Finally, Madagascar’s famous Baobab Avenue is at its most picturesque in May, bathed in golden light.
Zimbabwe is a superb destination to visit in May, with exceptional wildlife viewing and cooler temperatures, making for a more comfortable safari experience. Highlights include Victoria Falls, which are at their peak, creating a breathtaking spectacle, and Hwange National Park, considered one of Africa’s top national parks for spotting elephants, lions, and wild dogs. Finally, May is a prime time for canoe safaris along the Zambezi River, where you’ll likely spot hippos, crocodiles, and elephants along the water banks.
Seeking May luxury safari inspiration? Explore some of our carefully curated safari packages in Africa below and discover some of the best experiences and destinations you can enjoy in May.
From our base in Cape Town, South Africa, our luxury safari specialists excel in creating bespoke safari itineraries with your preferred experiences, destinations, and choice of luxury accommodations. Contact our safari consultants today if you wish to visit Africa in May and let us curate a once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience. We look forward to welcoming you to Africa.
A luxury safari in May offers a perfect blend of exclusivity, comfort, and prime wildlife viewing, making it an ideal time for an unforgettable African adventure. These include:
If you wish to enjoy a luxury African safari in May, we can help. As a premier luxury travel company, we have been curating bespoke safari experiences for decades, helping discerning individuals enjoy the very best of Africa. Contact us today to learn more about our tailored safari experiences in May.
This luxury May safari experience offers a spectacular combination of Africa’s vast wilderness, the vibrancy of South Africa’s Cape Town, and the tranquility of one of Madagascar’s most paradisal beaches.
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When you book with us you will enjoy tailored safari itineraries that ideally match your desired safari experience. Contact our travel experts today.
As a premier luxury travel company, we’ve been at the forefront of creating sustainable travel experiences across the continent of Africa for decades. Our extensive expertise and in-depth knowledge allows us to carefully select the most exclusive luxury lodges and safari experiences in Africa’s top safari destinations, ensuring an unparalleled adventure. Every safari experience we offer is designed with a focus on conservation and sustainability, leaving a meaningful impact on Africa’s natural environment. If you’re planning a luxury safari in Africa during the month of May, our team is ready to assist. Get in touch with one of our safari specialists today and let us plan your ideal safari experience in Africa.
Yes, May is a wonderful time to visit Africa on a luxury safari experience. May marks the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in much of Eastern and Southern Africa, so the landscapes are still lush and green, while the days are long and sunny. May offers optimal wildlife viewing opportunities too, as water sources begin to dry up, animals congregate around permanent waterholes, making them easier to spot. Finally, comfortable weather conditions make it ideal for enjoying game drives and bush walks without the oppressive heat of the peak summer months. If you want to enjoy a luxury safari experience in May, contact us today.
During May, you can expect pleasant weather conditions, including low humidity levels, making it an ideal time for exploring Africa’s vast wilderness.
The dry season is starting, so you’ll experience cool mornings and evenings, with temperatures typically ranging from 10°C (50°F) to 20°C (68°F). Midday temperatures are comfortable, ranging from 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F), depending on the region.
The peak safari season in Africa typically falls between June and October, which corresponds to the dry season in many African wildlife regions. May is a wonderful time to visit, offering all the benefits of the peak season, yet fewer crowds, ensuring a more discreet and private experience. Contact us today to learn more about a safari in May.
You should pack light, neutral colored clothing made from natural, breathable fabrics for maximum comfort. We recommend packing multiple, light layers, including long sleeve tops, shorts, a light sweater for cooler mornings and evenings, and a light rain jacket, just in case. Other essentials include a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes/boots, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, light backpack for day-time adventures, binoculars, a camera, and charging equipment. If you are enjoying a beach safari experience, don’t forget to pack your swimwear. When you book with us our team will advise on what to pack based on your precise itinerary.
The wildlife you will see will depend on your precise itinerary and the destinations and national parks you are visiting. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to see the following majestic animals on a safari in May:
Whether you want to see big cats or rare birdlife, let our team know what wildlife you want to see and we will craft a bespoke itinerary that gives you maximum opportunity to witness your choice of wildlife in their native habitats.
Thanks to the superb weather conditions in May, there are multiple parks and reserves to choose from. Some of the best include:
Yes, the Great Migration is a year-round spectacle. During the month of May, the vast wildebeest herds begin to move northward from the Southern Serengeti, Tanzania (where they’ve been calving in February and March) towards the Central Serengeti and the Western Corridor. If you want to witness the Great Migration in May, then we can help. Contact our luxury safari specialists today to learn more about a Great Migration safari experience.
While it is possible to enjoy a gorilla trekking experience in May, the weather can make it more challenging. Uganda and Rwanda are still in the rainy season, meaning trails can be muddy and harder to navigate. However, the forests are lush and green, and there are still excellent opportunities to witness these mighty animals in their native home. Finally, during the rainy months, including May, the trekking trails are quieter, offering a more intimate and exclusive experience. To learn more about gorilla trekking safaris, contact us today.
We are a premier luxury travel company that has been pioneering safari experiences in Africa for decades. Our team excels at curating once-in-a-lifetime safari experiences in Africa’s best national parks and private game reserves. Bespoke safari experiences that leave a positive lasting legacy in Africa is our speciality. Contact our team today to learn more about our luxury safari experiences in Africa and let us curate your ideal safari in May.
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