Democratic Republic of the Congo in May

Rains ease late in the month.

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• AugustGreatDry and overcast; best for Kongo Central if advice allows.
• JuneGoodDry season starts; Independence Day (30 Jun) security.
• JulyGoodCoolest, driest month in Kinshasa.
• SeptemberGoodEnd of the dry season.

• Kinshasa and Kongo Central · Kinshasa, Matadi, Muandarainy

  Dry, grey and cooler June–September; storms and floods November–December and March–April.

• Congo basin centre · Mbandaka, Kisangani, Salongarainy

  Equatorial: rain all year.

• Katanga plateau · Lubumbashi, Kolwezibest weather

  Long dry season May–October; cold nights in June–July.

• Eastern highlands (under advice) · Goma, Bukavu, Virungafine

  Mild at 1,500 m; shown for completeness — all travel advised against.

• Kasai: Kasai · Central DRCcheck

  Month-by-month climate is not published in the sources used here; check before you travel. Roads are generally in bad shape and many sections are almost impassable in the rainy season.

• Katanga: Katanga plateau · Southern DRC, 1,200–1,500 m elevationrainy

  Rainy season November–March; dry season May–September. Temperatures are moderate for the tropics (20–30 °C (68–86 °F)). Best months: May–September (dry, cooler).Rainy season November–March; dry season May–September. Temperatures are moderate for the tropics (68–86 °F (20–30 °C)). Best months: May–September (dry, cooler).

• Kivu: Kivu highlands · Goma, Bukavu and the lake shorerainy

  Two rainy seasons: March–May and September–November. The dry months (June–August and December–February) are the best for trekking, but in 2026 the parks are closed.

• Western DRC: Kinshasa / Bas-Congo · Western lowlandshot

  Rainy season October–May; dry season June–September. High humidity year-round.

• Kinshasa31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
• Bukavu24.9 °C (77 °F) / 15.7 °C (60 °F), 74 rain days77 °F (24.9 °C) / 60 °F (15.7 °C), 74 rain days
• Bumba31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 14 rain days
• Bunagana24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 14 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 14 rain days
• Gbadolite31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 13 rain days
• Goma25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 108 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 108 rain days
• Kalemie28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 10 rain days
• Kananga31.4 °C (89 °F) / 19.8 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days89 °F (31.4 °C) / 68 °F (19.8 °C), 8 rain days
• Kisangani31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 137 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 137 rain days
• Kisantu30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 11 rain days
• Likasi24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
• Lubumbashi10 °C (50 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 4 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 4 rain days
• Matadi30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
• Mbandaka31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Mbuji-Mayi32.6 °C (91 °F) / 19.7 °C (67 °F), 7 rain days91 °F (32.6 °C) / 67 °F (19.7 °C), 7 rain days
• Zongo30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 13 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• Liberation Day

  17 May

  Public holiday.

• Labour Day and Liberation Day

  1 and 17 May · Kinshasa

  Public holidays; offices closed.

• Rainy season

  Oct–May · Kinshasa

  Flooding on main roads and erosion in the hills; journeys take much longer.

Crowds · Democratic Republic of the Congo

Low

Prices · Democratic Republic of the Congo

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Democratic Republic of the Congo, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Katanga plateau

  Best weather of the year (Lubumbashi, Kolwezi)

• Likasi

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, almost no rain)

• Lubumbashi

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, less rain)