What are you looking for?

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

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
Safari Bookings review

"We had an incredible trip to South Africa. Adelle did an incredible job of setting us up when we only gave her a few weeks notice. We had a different trip booked that got cancelled due to river conditions in Europe so we tried a pivot to South Africa and it..."

Bill Kennedy, United States•14 Sep 2026•

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

"It was an amazing experience. We were worried about lodging and game drives but it turned out that Bianca did an amazing job arranging everything for us. I would highly recommend Bianca and Discover Africa if you ever decide to do a Safari."

Andrea Illescas, United States•23 Aug 2026•

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

"Adelle and team had plan my Africa trip according to what we discuss. They are professional and plan in detail the itinerary. We had a very good time in Africa travelling from Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Botswana and end at Cape Town. The transfers are ar..."

Suhardi Semuni, Singapore•19 Jul 2026•

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

"Going to south and central Africa was a bucket list item for me and booking a big and expensive trip always feels a bit risky and you hope you have made the right choice. Booking with Discover Africa was fantastic from beginning to end! Our trip coordina..."

Deanna Rozak, United States•25 May 2026•

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

"After discovering a high number of camps in and around the Okavango, and at a price higher than we typically go for on a safari, we were very unsure on the route to go down for our honeymoon (especially whilst trying to planning our wedding!). So we reached..."

Rhys and Grace Fitzgerald, Bahrain•10 Apr 2026•

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

"For organising just a great trip. Every destination was different, but all the accommodation was first class. The managers were first class and always had my transfers in hand. Took the helicopter ride at Victoria Falls really add to the walk along the Fall..."

Eric Galloway, Australia•23 Mar 2026•

Read More
View All Testimonials

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