Karoo Weather in May

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

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Oudtshoorn Montagu Beaufort West Calitzdorp

Planning a journey to the Karoo, South Africa this May and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in the Karoo in May

The Karoo, South Africa is a region in South Africa. May in the Karoo generally has temperatures that range from pleasant to warm, with precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from pleasant in Sutherland at 19°C (66°F) to warm in Steytlerville at 23°C (73°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 10°C (50°F) in Steytlerville and 6°C (43°F) in Sutherland.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Merweville with an average of 14 mm (0.6 in) to moderate rainfall in Barrydale with 34 mm (1.3 in).

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in May. Oudtshoorn typically receives 205 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore the Karoo by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Karoo — and find the best time to visit. (based on Oudtshoorn)

January30°C (86°F) February30°C (86°F) March29°C (84°F) April26°C (79°F) May23°C (73°F) June20°C (68°F) This monthJuly19°C (66°F) August20°C (68°F) September22°C (72°F) October25°C (77°F) November27°C (81°F) December29°C (84°F)
Best Time to Visit the Karoo →

Best Places to Visit in the Karoo in May

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

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 the Karoo

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

Temperature range in the Karoo (May)

Precipitation variation in the Karoo (May)

Oudtshoorn

In May Oudtshoorn generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
23°C (73°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
201 hours
205 hours
199 hours
Monthly rainfall
39 mm (1.5 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
27 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
6 days
6 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Oudtshoorn →

Montagu

In May Montagu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
22°C (72°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly rainfall
35 mm (1.4 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
34 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
7 days
8 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Montagu →

Beaufort West

In May Beaufort West generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
22°C (72°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
246 hours
248 hours
237 hours
Monthly rainfall
28 mm (1.1 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Beaufort West →

Calitzdorp

In May Calitzdorp generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
23°C (73°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly rainfall
39 mm (1.5 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
25 mm (1 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
6 days
6 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Calitzdorp →

Ladismith

In May Ladismith generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
22°C (72°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly rainfall
29 mm (1.1 in)
24 mm (0.9 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
6 days
7 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Ladismith →

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

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Karoo in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Oudtshoorn 23°C (73°F) 8°C (46°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Montagu 22°C (72°F) 8°C (46°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Beaufort West 22°C (72°F) 8°C (46°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Calitzdorp 23°C (73°F) 9°C (48°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Ladismith 22°C (72°F) 9°C (48°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Barrydale 22°C (72°F) 9°C (48°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)

The Karoo weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Karoo, South Africa in May?

In May, the Karoo, South Africa generally has perfect weather conditions. Oudtshoorn sees daytime temperatures near 23°C (73°F), with nights cooling to roughly 8°C (46°F).

What is the average temperature in the Karoo, South Africa in May?

Daytime temperatures in Oudtshoorn peak at roughly 23°C (73°F) in May, dropping to about 8°C (46°F) overnight.

Does the Karoo, South Africa get a lot of rain in May?

Not particularly. Oudtshoorn averages just 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for the Karoo, South Africa.

Is May a Good Time to Visit the Karoo, South Africa?

We consider May to be one of the best times to travel to the Karoo, South Africa. Typically, the climate in Oudtshoorn is perfect.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December offering mostly perfect weather in Oudtshoorn. On the other hand, the months of January and February tend to have tolerable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Karoo.

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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