When to go · Cape Town
Cape Town in May
Good month. Cooler; quiet, with the first rains.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Temperature
- 20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C) / 10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 12
- Crowds
- Low
- South Africa overall
- Prices
- Low
- South Africa overall
Verdict
Cooler; quiet, with the first rains.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in May
- Cape TownHighs around 20 °C (68 °F), lows around 10 °C (50 °F), rain on about 12 daysHighs around 68 °F (20 °C), lows around 50 °F (10 °C), rain on about 12 days
- Western Cape, South Africa · Cape Town, Winelands, Hermanus, Cederbergrainy
Mediterranean: dry, windy summers (the south-easter can close the cableway), wet cold fronts June–August. Whales off Hermanus about June–November.
Autumn season
Calmer wind, warm days, fewer crowds; a strong pick for the cableway and hiking.
Watch: First winter rain arrives by May.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · South Africa overall
- Low
- Prices · South Africa overall
- Low
South Africa overall: Dry season starts in Kruger; first Cape rains. Good value.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Cape Town, side by side.
Verdict
May: Good
Feb: Great (better)
Daytime high
May: 20 °C (68 °F)68 °F (20 °C)
Feb: 27 °C (81 °F)81 °F (27 °C)
Night low
May: 10 °C (50 °F)50 °F (10 °C)
Feb: 16 °C (61 °F)61 °F (16 °C)
Rain days
May: 12
Feb: 3 (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Feb: Medium
Prices
May: Low
Feb: High
Festivals listed
May: 0
Feb: 2
May: Cooler; quiet, with the first rains.
February: Hot and dry; the cableway can close in wind.
Cape Town: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm layer for the evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast