What are you looking for?

Namibia in May

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

May is the beginning of the dry season in Namibia. As there is little to no rain, watering holes start drying up. During a Namibia safari at this time of the year, the possibility of seeing wildlife is highly likely (especially in Etosha National Park) as animals stick around limited permanent water sources. Thanks to the rain during the previous months, some landscapes still retain some of their greenery in May. This is the start of peak safari season in Namibia, especially for big game viewing and desert safaris.

Weather in May

Sossusvlei, Namibia
Namibia typically experiences dry weather during this period | Photo: Getty

May typically has dry weather, with temperatures reaching an average 23 °C/73 °F. The environment is usually warm and dry, but early morning and evening game drives can be chilly.

Average Weather in May

Temperature Celsius Fahrenheit Rainfall
Min 9℃48℉0 inches
Max 23℃73℉0.14 inches

National Parks to Visit in Namibia During May

Two lion clubs playing at a waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia | Photo: Josh Mitchell via Getty
Wildlife viewing is excellent during the dry season | Photo: Josh Mitchell via Getty

Etosha National Park

Wildlife viewing is excellent in Etosha National Park during May. Home to four of the Big Five, a safari in Etosha can include sightings of elephants and lions, while leopards and rhinos are rare. Other animals that call the park home include giraffes, zebras, springboks, oryxes, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, and warthogs.

Okonjima Private Nature Reserve

Okonjima Private Nature Reserve – rehabilitated farmland that includes stunning walking trails and the AfriCat Carnivore Care Centre – is best visited in the dry winter months from May to October. This is one of the best places to see not only leopards and hyenas but also the endangered pangolin.

Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon is an exciting place to visit in the dry season. Bush walks and hikes are best during this time due to the clear skies, sunny days, and temperate conditions. Part of the ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, species you could spot here include Hartmann’s mountain zebra, klipspringers, steenboks, kudus, baboons, and common duikers.

Activities to Do in Namibia in May

  • Game drives
  • Walking safaris
  • Desert safaris
  • Hot air balloon safaris

Ready to plan your tailor-made safari?

960 Reviews - 5/5 Stars

Craft your journey with the expertise of our dedicated Africa Safari Experts

Start Planning

What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Google review

"My trip to Africa to see wildlife and the river crossing met my expectations thanks to the wonderful team behind Discover Africa. The details of my itinerary were arranged by Susan and eventually handed over to Chrizaan, both were very helpful and anticipat..."

Kate Butcon, United States•20 Sep 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"After a 10-day trip to South Africa with my wife, I'm still raving about the experience Discover Africa put together for us. We worked with Matthys Van Aswegen, who was fantastic from start to finish. He listened to what we wanted, rolled with a few changes..."

Eric Moore, United States•15 Sep 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"I booked a safari with Discover Africa. Adelle did a great job of finding me lodges that suited my budget, also within driving distance to the River Mara, so I was lucky enough to see a migration river crossing. The trip went so smoothly from the moment I l..."

John, United States•24 Aug 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Safari Bookings review

"We are based in Sydney and had our initial conversation with Cayleigh Brown by video. She came back to us with a proposed itinerary and was very accommodating of one of our guests who uses a wheelchair. The iitinerary was fantastic and built so that each..."

Liz, Australia•22 Aug 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Google review

"Excellent trip -- tour operators were professional and on time. Safari lodge choices excellent. Adelle communicated issues that cropped up in a timely manner and the whole process was a pleasure."

Jake Sanderson, United States•29 May 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"We had a great trip in Namibia. In 11 days we did a roundtrip, which was organised through online meetings. Every thing went on as agreed on and ver smoothly. We had a very good guide/driver, who explained us a lot about the country, politics, history and m..."

Peter Esslinger, Switzerland•30 Nov 2025•

Read More
View All Testimonials

Our safari traveller reviews are independently verified and sourced from trusted third-party review platforms.