When to go

Where to go in May

Conditions across all 46 destinations we cover, ranked for May. Wildlife viewing first, then weather, with the quieter option leading where two places are equally good.

Best in May

Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda
Long rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices.
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda
Long rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices.
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda
Long rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices.

Good conditions, few people

Strong weather this month without the high-season crowds — usually the best value on the calendar.

Every destination in May

Ratings are out of five. Crowds invert: more bars means busier.

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in May
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	10–21 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	11–22 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	11–20 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	70 mm	17–28 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	15–26 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	8–20 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	12–21 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	40 mm	16–30 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	40 mm	18–32 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	60 mm	15–30 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	80 mm	11–27 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	80 mm	20–34 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	60 mm	20–34 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	60 mm	18–31 °C
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	17–32 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	16–28 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	16–27 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	11–27 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	13–27 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	15–28 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	17–27 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	10–26 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	18–30 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	130 mm	13–25 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	17–28 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	14–26 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	21–36 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	240 mm	22–30 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	240 mm	22–30 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	240 mm	22–30 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	290 mm	23–30 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	290 mm	23–30 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	7–21 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	5–19 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	6–17 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	240 mm	21–30 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	18–27 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	13–25 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	240 mm	22–31 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	17–27 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	18–27 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	16–26 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	18–26 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	12–23 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	290 mm	24–31 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	290 mm	23–30 °C

Climate normals and typical patterns, not a forecast. East African rains have been arriving less predictably than these averages suggest — treat them as a guide to the shape of the year, not a promise about a given week.