Wildlife in May.
With the rain gone, seasonal pans start to dry and animals drift back towards the rivers and the Delta. Elephant begin to return to the Chobe and Linyanti, and buffalo herds gather on the floodplains. The impala rut continues into early May.
On the Makgadikgadi, the pans dry to white salt, and the habituated meerkats and quad-biking season begin. The zebra are moving towards the Boteti River, where they gather through the dry months.
Where to go in Botswana in May.
Okavango Delta
Water camps come into their own as the flood arrives and the mokoro channels open. See the Okavango Delta.
Moremi and Khwai
Game improving week by week, and the start of the mobile camping season. See Khwai.
The Makgadikgadi
Dry pans, meerkats and sleep-outs on the salt. See the Makgadikgadi.
Tuli Block
The start of its dry-season best, May to October. See the Tuli Block.
May weather in Botswana.
| Average high | 28°C |
|---|---|
| Average low | 9°C |
| Average rainfall | About 5mm, effectively dry |
| Season | Shoulder season |
No rain, clear skies and comfortable days. Mornings are fresh and nights can be cold, especially in the Kalahari and on the pans, where they approach freezing late in the month.
Figures are long-term averages for Maun, the gateway to the Delta. See the full climate table.
Prices, crowds and booking.
Many camps keep shoulder rates for May, so it costs noticeably less than July to October for much of the same experience. Availability is better than in peak season, but popular camps still fill: six to nine months’ notice is sensible.
What to pack for May.
Layers: a warm fleece and jacket for early drives and evenings, and lighter clothes for the day. Mosquitoes are few, but take antimalarial advice for the north.
Our packing guide has the full checklist and the soft-bag rules for light aircraft.
Journeys that suit May.
- The Great Okavango: 10 days by light aircraft: Delta water, floodplain, Linyanti and Savuti.
- Okavango Under Canvas: 8 days of mobile camping in Moremi and Khwai, May to October.
- Delta & Desert: 7 days: the Okavango, Moremi and the Kalahari, at any level.
Every journey is a private departure and can start on any day. We adjust the route to the month you travel.
