When to go · Gondar
Gondar in May
Mixed month. Outside the best window (Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days)). Across Ethiopia: Hot in the lowlands, rain in the Omo; quiet and cheap in the highlands.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C) / 14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 9
- Crowds
- Low
- Ethiopia overall
- Prices
- Low
- Ethiopia overall
Verdict
Outside the best window (Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days)). Across Ethiopia: Hot in the lowlands, rain in the Omo; quiet and cheap in the highlands.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
- OctoberGreatInside Gondar's best window: Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days).
- NovemberGreatInside Gondar's best window: Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days).
- DecemberGreatInside Gondar's best window: Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days).
- JanuaryGreatInside Gondar's best window: Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days).
Weather in May
- GondarHighs around 27 °C (81 °F), lows around 14 °C (57 °F), rain on about 9 daysHighs around 81 °F (27 °C), lows around 57 °F (14 °C), rain on about 9 days
Festivals and holidays
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.
Siklet and Fasika (Good Friday and Orthodox Easter) big impact
Apr–May (moves yearly — check; 2 May in 2027) · Ethiopia
End of the 55-day fast; offices close, domestic flights busy.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Ethiopia overall
- Low
- Prices · Ethiopia overall
- Low
Ethiopia overall: Hot in the lowlands, rain in the Omo; quiet and cheap in the highlands.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Gondar, side by side.
Verdict
May: Mixed
Jan: Great (better)
Daytime high
May: 27 °C (81 °F)81 °F (27 °C)
Jan: 26 °C (79 °F)79 °F (26 °C)
Night low
May: 14 °C (57 °F)57 °F (14 °C)
Jan: 10 °C (50 °F)50 °F (10 °C)
Rain days
May: 9
Jan: 1 (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Jan: High
Prices
May: Low
Jan: High
Festivals listed
May: 1
Jan: 1
May: Outside the best window (Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days)). Across Ethiopia: Hot in the lowlands, rain in the Omo; quiet and cheap in the highlands.
January: Inside Gondar's best window: Oct–Mar (dry, clear highland days).
Gondar: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.