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Zimbabwe in May

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

Game viewing improves significantly in May as sunny days become common.

May marks the first month of the dry season, and wildlife is much more prominent in different parks.

This month, a great park to visit is Hwange National Park, which hosts the Big Five (rhinos are a rare sight, though).

The park is one of the biggest in Zimbabwe and a must-see region.

While English is the official language of the country, other languages spoken here are Shona and Ndebele.

To experience a little bit of the culture, a great start is to try the national dish of Zimbabwe called Sadza. It involves mixing cornmeal with water until it reaches a smooth consistency and is often served with meat and vegetables.

Weather in May

Sunny days are expected most of the month, but an odd shower or two may occur.

Although the weather has improved this month, game drives in the morning and the evening can be chilly, so remember to dress warmly.

Average Weather in May

Temperature Celsius Fahrenheit Rainfall
Min 10℃50℉2.6 mm
Max 27℃81℉23 mm

Highlight Park to Visit in May and Why

Matusadona National Park

May is an excellent time to see wildlife here, with the star attractions of hippos, buffaloes, and elephants.

Other animals that are rare but occur occasionally in the park are lions, hyenas, and zebras.

While wildlife has previously declined, the numbers are slowly increasing, and there are plans to reintroduce black rhinos and cheetahs in the coming years.

Birding is also a great activity in the park, and even though the weather has picked up, warm clothing should be worn during morning and evening game drives.

Activities to do in May

  • Game drives
  • Photographic safaris

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"From the very beginning, Bianca was a wonderful help in planning our South African safari. Her knowledge, attention to detail, and thoughtful recommendations made our trip truly exceptional. Becks Safari Lodge was, in our group’s opinion, a six-star expe..."

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"Justin helped craft the perfect honeymoon for us! There are so many options when it comes to choosing a tour operator that I feel so fortunate we landed on Discover Africa. The experience felt seamless from start to finish. Our trip felt perfectly tailored ..."

Alex Dwornik, United States17 Apr 2026

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"We had a wonderful safari experience, and Justin from Discover Africa made everything seamless from start to finish. Communication before the trip was clear and helpful, and we felt well supported throughout. Some truly special moments including the fant..."

Tim Curtis, Netherlands18 Feb 2026

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"We had a truly magical safari experience perfectly planned & organised for us by Susan Veldman at Discover Africa. We flew from Cape Town to Hoedspruit and then seamlessly transferred to the most beautiful lodge in the Karongwe private game reserve. ..."

David Forbes, United Kingdom03 Feb 2026

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"Very professional; quick to respond. The trip itself was fantastic. The lodging and the game drives were great. Guide was great; he anticipated where hard-to-find animals would show up. Lodge staff were very friendly. Food was great. "

Akos Ledeczi, United States12 Nov 2025

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"This trip was all about making memories, and it did just that. Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Mala Mala Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls, and finally Zanzibar. Our boutique hotels along the way were nothing less than stunning, as was Lanzarac Manor in Stellenbosch. T..."

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