Malawi in May

Dry season starts; lake visibility improves for snorkelling at Cape Maclear.

No other month rates higher than May for Malawi in this guide.

• Lakeshore · Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhata Bay, Likomabest weather

  Lake water is clearest and calmest May–Oct; the mwera wind from the south-east can whip up waves Jun–Aug. Oct–Nov is very hot at 500 m.

• Shire valley parks · Liwonde, Majete, Lengwefine

  Game concentrates on the Shire River as the bush dries Aug–Nov; October can pass 40 °C (104 °F). Some tracks close in the rains.Game concentrates on the Shire River as the bush dries Aug–Nov; October can pass 104 °F (40 °C). Some tracks close in the rains.

• Highlands and plateaus · Zomba, Mulanje, Nyika, Viphyabest weather

  Cold nights Jun–Aug (frost on Nyika); Mulanje hut routes are wet and slippery Dec–Mar.

• Central plateau and cities · Lilongwe, Dedza, Blantyrebest weather

  Pleasant dry winters; storms Dec–Mar and power and fuel shortages at any time.

• Central Malawi: Central Malawi plateau · Lilongwe areadry

  Dry season May–Nov, 20‑30 °C (86 °F); occasional thunderstorms Dec–Mar.Dry season May–Nov, 20‑86 °F (30 °C); occasional thunderstorms Dec–Mar.

• Northern Malawi: Northern lakeshore · Lake Malawi coastdry

  May–Nov are dry with cooler evenings; rain peaks Dec–Mar.

• Southern Malawi: Southern Malawi · Blantyre, Zomba, Mulanje, Lake Malawi shoreseptember

  Dry season; reliable roads, good wildlife viewing and pleasant lake conditions. Hot Dec–Mar can exceed 30 °C (86 °F).Dry season; reliable roads, good wildlife viewing and pleasant lake conditions. Hot Dec–Mar can exceed 86 °F (30 °C).

• Lilongwe24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 2 rain days
• Blantyre16 °C (61 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 10 rain days
• Cape Maclear25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Chikwawa28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
• Chintheche26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
• Chitimba28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
• Chizumulu Island27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 4 rain days
• Karonga24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
• Likoma Island25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Livingstonia25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
• Mangochi26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 rain days
• Monkey Bay25 °C (77 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 4 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 4 rain days
• Mua23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
• Mzuzu25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 4 rain days
• Nkhata Bay27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 6 rain days
• Nkhotakota26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
• Zomba24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 9 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 9 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.

• Kamuzu Day

  14 May

  Public holiday for the first president.

Crowds · Malawi

Medium

Prices · Malawi

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Malawi, side by side.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Lakeshore

  Best weather of the year (Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhata Bay, Likoma)

• Highlands and plateaus

  Best weather of the year (Zomba, Mulanje, Nyika, Viphya)

• Central plateau and cities

  Best weather of the year (Lilongwe, Dedza, Blantyre)

• Lilongwe

  Dry and mild.

• Blantyre

  Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

• Cape Maclear

  Best months: May–Nov

• Chikwawa

  Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

• Chintheche

  Best months: May–Nov

• Chitimba

  Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

• Chizumulu Island

  Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

• Karonga

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, cooler evenings)

• Likoma Island

  Best months: May–Nov