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Zimbabwe in May

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Game viewing improves significantly in May as sunny days become common.

May marks the first month of the dry season, and wildlife is much more prominent in different parks.

This month, a great park to visit is Hwange National Park, which hosts the Big Five (rhinos are a rare sight, though).

The park is one of the biggest in Zimbabwe and a must-see region.

While English is the official language of the country, other languages spoken here are Shona and Ndebele.

To experience a little bit of the culture, a great start is to try the national dish of Zimbabwe called Sadza. It involves mixing cornmeal with water until it reaches a smooth consistency and is often served with meat and vegetables.

Weather in May

Sunny days are expected most of the month, but an odd shower or two may occur.

Although the weather has improved this month, game drives in the morning and the evening can be chilly, so remember to dress warmly.

Average Weather in May

Temperature Celsius Fahrenheit Rainfall
Min 10℃50℉2.6 mm
Max 27℃81℉23 mm

Highlight Park to Visit in May and Why

Matusadona National Park

May is an excellent time to see wildlife here, with the star attractions of hippos, buffaloes, and elephants.

Other animals that are rare but occur occasionally in the park are lions, hyenas, and zebras.

While wildlife has previously declined, the numbers are slowly increasing, and there are plans to reintroduce black rhinos and cheetahs in the coming years.

Birding is also a great activity in the park, and even though the weather has picked up, warm clothing should be worn during morning and evening game drives.

Activities to do in May

  • Game drives
  • Photographic safaris

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"I worked with Justin Van Wyk at Discover Africa Safaris to arrange safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana, including a stop at Victoria Falls, for two of my children and me. The safaris were exquisite, and Justin was phenomenal—professional, responsive, and detai..."

Bill Reid, United States•24 Jul 2026•

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Google review

"Many thanks to Discover Africa for organising a great trip to Victoria Falls and Botswana. Chrizaan was extremely helpful in planning the trip (including promptly arranging visa related paperwork etc) and answering queries. The quality of the accommodations..."

Nirmalya Ganguly, United Kingdom•10 Jul 2026•

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Trustpilot review

"My wife and I and two of our friends took this trip, which covered South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The trip was customized based on our needs and our Tour Manager/ Coordinator, Vihann, planned and executed with such ease and precision, I cannot think o..."

Ashesh, United States•08 Jul 2026•

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Trustpilot review

"We worked with Discover Africa to arrange our first ever Safari. Chrizaan from Discover Africa did a tremendous job in first understanding our requirements and wishes and then translating them into the perfect trip for us! Everything was organized to the..."

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"I was very pleased with the information, help and booking process provided by Cayleigh"

David Partridge, United Kingdom•16 Mar 2026•

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"Chrizaan Troch of Discover Africa helped us organize a recent safari in Chobe National Park. She was great to deal with - listened to what we wanted, and also offered other suggestions. She was very efficient, and always replied promptly to our questions. ..."

Celia Schroeder, Canada•03 Dec 2025•

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