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When to go · Tanzania

Tanzania in May

Mixed month. Rains ease; herds move through the central and western Serengeti; green-season rates.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
Low
Tanzania
Prices
Low
Tanzania

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Tanzania

Rains ease; herds move through the central and western Serengeti; green-season rates.

Is another month better than May?

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in May

  • Northern circuit · Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengetirainy

    Short rains Nov–Dec are light; long rains Apr–May close some camps. Migration position changes month to month.

  • Kilimanjaro · Moshi, Marangu, the mountainrainy

    Summit nights below −10 °C (14 °F) all year; best climbing Jan–Mar and Jun–Oct.

  • Zanzibar and the coast · Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje, Dar es Salaam, Pembarainy

    Humid; the masika rains Apr–May are heavy and several resorts close.

  • Southern parks · Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, Mikumifine

    One long wet season Nov–Apr; many camps open only June–October.

  • Western lakes · Mahale, Gombe, Katavi, Lake Tanganyikafine

    Chimp trekking is easiest in the dry season when chimps come down the slopes.

  • Central Tanzania: Central plateau (Dodoma, Singida) · Interior plateau, 1,000–1,500 mbest weather

    Hot days, cool nights year-round because of the elevation; the dry months May–October are the comfortable window.

  • Central Tanzania: Morogoro and the southern parks · Eastern edge of the plateau toward the coastfine

    Wetter than Dodoma; Mikumi and Udzungwa are green and humid in the rains, dry and clearer from June.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Arusha, Moshi, Karatu · Northern highlands, 1,000–1,500 mrainy

    Long rains March–May; short rains in November. Days are mild year-round, nights cool.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Usambara Mountains (Lushoto) · Eastern Arc range, 1,200–1,800 mrainy

    Wettest March–May; mist and mud on trails. Cool enough for a jacket most evenings.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Tanga coast · Indian Ocean striprainy

    Hot and humid most of the year; the long rains bring heavy afternoon downpours.

  • Northwest Tanzania: Lake Victoria shore (Mwanza, Bukoba) · Northern lakeshore and Kagera hillsfine

    Two wet seasons: long rains roughly March–May, short rains November–December. Drier, cooler months June–September are the easiest for lake trips.

  • Northwest Tanzania: Lake Tanganyika shore (Kigoma, Mahale) · Western lakeshorefine

    Dry season roughly May–October is best for Mahale chimp tracking; the wet months make forest trails harder.

  • Pembwe and the Southeast: Dar es Salaam and the coast · Indian Ocean coastlinerainy

    Hot and humid year-round; long rains March–May, short rains November–December. Diving visibility is best in the drier months.

  • Southern Highlands: Iringa and Njombe plateau · 1,500–2,000 m highlandsfine

    Cool nights year-round; June–October is dry and clear, November–April brings afternoon rain.

  • Southern Highlands: Ruaha and the low south-west · Park and rift floor, 700–1,000 mdry

    Hotter and drier than the plateau; game concentrates near the Great Ruaha River in the dry season.

  • Zanzibar: Zanzibar island · whole islandrainy

    Long rains March–May (the three wet months); short rains in November (the single wet month). June–October is drier and cooler; December–February is hot and humid. The east coast is windier and better for kite surfing June–September.

  • Arusha24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days
  • Bagamoyo28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days
  • Biharamulo26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 13 rain days
  • Bukoba26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 18 rain days
  • Chake Chake31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days
  • Dar es Salaam30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days
  • Dodoma28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days
  • Iringa24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Jambiani27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Karatu25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days
  • Katesh25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kendwa31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Kigoma27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kilwa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days
  • Kondoa28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Lagosa28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days
  • Lindi30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • Lushoto24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 15 rain days
  • Mafia Island27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 14 rain days
  • Makambako24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Masasi29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days
  • Matemwe30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days
  • Mbeya22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mikindani31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Morogoro26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 18 rain days
  • Moshi24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 16 rain days
  • Mpanda30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days
  • Mpwapwa27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mto Wa Mbu24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 13 rain days
  • Mtwara29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mwanza29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days
  • Njombe23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days
  • Nungwi29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days
  • Paje30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days
  • Singida25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days
  • Sirari30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Songea25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days
  • Stone Town30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days
  • Sumbawanga25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days
  • Tabora33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Tanga28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Tukuyu24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain 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.

  • Long rains

    March to May · Arusha

    Wettest season; some safari roads become harder going and side streets muddy.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Tanzania
Low
Prices · Tanzania
Low

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    May: Mixed

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    May: Low

    Jan: Medium

  • Prices

    May: Low

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    May: 1

    Jan: 4

May: Rains ease; herds move through the central and western Serengeti; green-season rates.

January: Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu; calving starts late in the month.

Tanzania: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in May

Rated best or good this month

  • Dodoma

    Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

  • Kilwa

    Best months: Apr–Oct (dry season, check)

  • Mpanda

    Best months: Apr–Oct (dry season, better road conditions)

  • Sumbawanga

    Best months: May–Oct (dry season)