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Cape Town in May

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

Climate

Winter arrives in Cape Town, but not with great force, as the city experiences a fairly mild winter. Daytime temperatures average just below the 20°C/68°F mark, while evenings can drop to around 10°C/50°F. Expect some cloudy and rainy days.

Best Regions
  • In response to the colder weather Cape Town moves its social scene indoors. It’s the perfect time to explore indoor markets, live music nights, theater performances, and classic movie screenings at the iconic Labia Theatre.
  • The Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival takes place at the end of the month at the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch.
  • In the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch hosts the annual Oyster & Bubbly festival, while the Franschhoek Literary Festival is centered around writers, classical concerts, and fine dining.
Travel Tips

The cooler weather and coming winter mean there aren’t many outdoor activities, but Cape Town makes up for it with great indoor events. Accommodation and flights are generally at their cheapest around this time of the year.

 

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What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

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Google review

"My trip to Africa to see wildlife and the river crossing met my expectations thanks to the wonderful team behind Discover Africa. The details of my itinerary were arranged by Susan and eventually handed over to Chrizaan, both were very helpful and anticipat..."

Kate Butcon, United States•20 Sep 2026•

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Trustpilot review

"From the very beginning, Bianca was a wonderful help in planning our South African safari. Her knowledge, attention to detail, and thoughtful recommendations made our trip truly exceptional. Becks Safari Lodge was, in our group’s opinion, a six-star expe..."

Leanne Morris, Australia•12 Jun 2026•

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Google review

"Justin helped us with the safari and Victoria Falls portion of our trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The lodges were fantastic and ground transfers perfectly executed. We had an amazing time!"

Kelly Headrick, United States•02 Jun 2026•

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Google review

"My son Max and I just returned from an incredible trip to South Africa and Mauritus, and I can't say enough about how exceptional Susan Veldman was throughout the entire process. From the very beginning she listened to what we wanted and designed an itinera..."

Debby Anziano, United States•05 May 2026•

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Trustpilot review

"This was my 6th trip to South Africa and Botswana and, as always, Matthys van Aswegen made it a happy, safe, and exciting experience! My roommate, Glenna, and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to South Africa's Boulders Beach to visit the African Penguin Reserv..."

JJ Towler, United States•02 Apr 2026•

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"The best trip of our lives!! I am so glad I came across Discover Africa and was paired with Dev. We started with a video chat and Dev listened to my vision for the trip- all of the things I was excited to do, and he shared his travel expertise. He took thos..."

Nithya Mohrfeld, United States•27 Oct 2025•

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