Cape Winelands

South Africa Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in South Africa in May.

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Cape Town Johannesburg Durban Gqeberha

Are you planning a trip a to South Africa in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in South Africa in May

In May, South Africa experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from mild to warm and precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from mild in Rhodes at 16°C (61°F) to warm in Kruger National Park at 29°C (84°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 16°C (61°F) in Kruger National Park and 3°C (37°F) in Rhodes.

To explore the conditions in South Africa in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Kotzeshoop with an average of 5 mm (0.2 in) to moderate rainfall in Paarl with 99 mm (3.9 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Cape Town sees close to 205 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore South Africa by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in South Africa — and find the best time to visit. (based on Cape Town)

January25°C (77°F) February25°C (77°F) March24°C (75°F) April22°C (72°F) May20°C (68°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly17°C (63°F) August17°C (63°F) September18°C (64°F) October20°C (68°F) November22°C (72°F) December24°C (75°F)
Best Time to Visit South Africa →

Best Places to Visit in South Africa in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across South Africa.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in South Africa

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in South Africa?

Temperature range in South Africa (May)

Precipitation variation in South Africa (May)

Cape Town

In May Cape Town generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
234 hours
205 hours
175 hours
Monthly rainfall
52 mm (2 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
126 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
11 days
13 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
tolerable
Climate in Cape Town →

Johannesburg

In May Johannesburg generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
7°C (45°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
237 hours
276 hours
267 hours
Monthly rainfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
8.4 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
3 days
2 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Johannesburg →

Durban

In May Durban generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
206 hours
223 hours
224 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
50 mm (2 in)
35 mm (1.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
6 days
4 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Durban →

Knysna

In May Knysna generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
262 hours
261 hours
239 hours
Monthly rainfall
56 mm (2.2 in)
50 mm (2 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Knysna →

Stellenbosch

In May Stellenbosch generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
234 hours
205 hours
175 hours
Monthly rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
141 mm (5.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
tolerable
Climate in Stellenbosch →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in South Africa.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in South Africa in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cape Town 20°C (68°F) 12°C (54°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Johannesburg 22°C (72°F) 7°C (45°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Durban 25°C (77°F) 17°C (63°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Gqeberha 22°C (72°F) 15°C (59°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Bloemfontein 22°C (72°F) 6°C (43°F) 23 mm (0.9 in)
Mbombela 25°C (77°F) 11°C (52°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)

South Africa weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in South Africa in May?

Expect perfect weather across South Africa in May. The popular destination of Cape Town averages 20°C (68°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in South Africa in May?

In Cape Town, the average daytime high in May is 20°C (68°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 12°C (54°F).

Does South Africa get a lot of rain in May?

Not particularly. Cape Town averages just 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for South Africa.

Is May a Good Time to Visit South Africa?

We believe that May is one of the best times to visit South Africa with overall perfect weather in Cape Town. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

On average, the best time to visit South Africa is in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Cape Town. The weather in July, on the other hand, tends to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in South Africa.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to South Africa? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in South Africa.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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