May might not scream “peak safari season”, but that’s exactly why I love it! It’s a shoulder month – the sweet spot between crowds and cost – where you’ll often find yourself enjoying Africa’s great outdoors without jostling for space or sweating through your sun hat. Cooler days, clearer skies, and first-rate game viewing in some parts of the continent make May an excellent time to travel. Here’s where I’d go – and where I’d stay – if I were planning a May adventure.
Tranquil beach bliss away from the crowds, Image Credit: Constance Tsarabanjina
1. Nosy Be, Madagascar
There’s something a little rogue about choosing Madagascar over your standard island-hopping destinations. Nosy Be is off the north coast and delivers exactly what you need: solid sunshine, turquoise waters, and a complete break from anything that requires closed shoes.
May marks the start of the dry season here. That means reef visibility is excellent, the air is less humid, and everything’s open for business. Lemurs leap through the trees like it’s a parkour competition, and the coral gardens are well worth suiting up for.
Best for: Saltwater adventures and seeing lemurs that look like they belong in a Pixar movie
Sailing into sunshine on Madagascar’s Nosy Be
My Favourite Place to Stay: Constance Tsarabanjina
Set on its own island in the Mitsio Archipelago, Tsarabanjina is about getting away from everything. It’s barefoot comfort – simple beach villas, white sand, coral reefs within fin’s reach – but with polished service and plenty of seafood. Meals are eaten alfresco, hammocks replace chairs, and the most pressing decision is whether to snorkel before or after lunch.
If you’re planning African travel in May and need some vitamin D, this is your spot.
Remote island luxury in Madagascar’s Mitsio Archipelago near Nosy Be, Image Credit: Constance Tsarabanjina
2. The Garden Route, South Africa
South Africa’s Garden Route in May is a real win. The summer holidaymakers have cleared out, the winter rains haven’t settled in yet, and everything – from beaches to biltong shops – is wide open but without the elbow-to-elbow crowds.
Stretch from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma, stopping for hikes in the Knysna forest, oysters by the lagoon, or a chance to jump off the Bloukrans Bridge if you’re the bungee type. Then, detour inland to add a malaria-free Big 5 safari to your journey.
Best for: Road trips, wining and dining, and a cheeky safari without the malaria pills
South Africa’s Garden Route in its off-peak glory
My Favourite Place to Stay: Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
After hitting the coast, I always suggest swinging inland to Kwandwe. It’s a private reserve with all the trimmings – Big 5 sightings, zero malaria, and actual silence at night. Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge sits above the river with sweeping views that beg you to pour a generous G&T and sit and stare. Rooms are massive, the guiding is top-tier, and the whole place feels quietly confident about what it offers. No frills, just serious safari cred.
If African travel in May means doing it all – ocean, bush, and bottle-fermented bubbly – this is where you’ll tick the lot.
Safari evenings served with a side of serenity, Image Credit: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
3. Okavango Delta, Botswana
If you’ve never been to Botswana’s Okavango Delta in May, you’re missing one of the best times to see this wetland do its thing. The floodwaters start arriving from Angola, but the rain has stopped – so you get clear skies and dramatic landscapes without getting soaked in the process.
This is when the Delta starts shifting. Wildlife follows the water, and game viewing gets more interesting by the day. You’ll explore channels by mokoro (those low-slung dugout canoes that look precarious but glide like a dream), head out in 4x4s when the land allows it, and if you’re lucky, take to the skies by heli.
Best for: Classic safaris with a watery twist
Botswana safaris offer an amazing array of whimsical landscapes, Image Credit: Khwai Leadwood
My Favourite Place to Stay: Little Mombo Camp
Little Mombo is the kind of camp that doesn’t need to shout. It’s located on Chief’s Island – prime wildlife real estate – and is known for delivering on the big stuff. Think lions, leopards, wild dogs, and elephants wandering right past your deck. It’s small, quiet, and probably where your favourite wildlife documentary was filmed.
In short, if you're choosing African travel in May and want front-row seats to nature’s live show, this is where to go.
Golden-hour views from Botswana’s Chief’s Island, Image Credit: Wilderness Little Mombo
So, is May Worth it?
If you ask me? Yes! It’s one of those months that doesn’t demand attention – but consistently delivers. good weather, solid game viewing, lower rates, and just the right amount of smug satisfaction knowing you’ve dodged both the crowds and the chaos.
Planning African travel in May? Our Travel Experts will be glad to help map it out. And if you’ve already been? Let’s talk next-level adventures. We’ve got a few up our sleeves.
