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Tanzania
Serengeti in May
☀️ Dry seasonWarm and some showers.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why May scores 9.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.2
- ✓Warm (28.9°C highs / 16.4°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 16.2°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~61 mm rain)
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~5 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline6.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.3 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Dry season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 29° / 16° | 30° / 16° |
| Rain | 61 mm | 16 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 16° | dew pt 13° |
| PM2.5 | 5 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Eid al-Adha 15–17 May · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: International Workers' Day (1 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore SerengetiEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyNational park in northern Tanzania, known for the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra and some of Africa's best predator viewing.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Mara River crossingsDate variesUsually July to October
Herds cross the Mara River.
Why go: Crossings are not guaranteed on any given day.
Where: Northern Serengeti
Wildebeest calving seasonDate variesUsually January to March
Hundreds of thousands of calves are born in a few weeks.
Why go: Many predators gather; a popular time for safaris.
Where: Ndutu and southern Serengeti
Great Migration
Over a million wildebeest, plus zebra and gazelle, move in a yearly loop between the Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara.
💡 Timing shifts with the rains; ask operators where the herds are.
Ndutu and the southern plains
The calving grounds, with many newborn animals and predators.
Mara River crossings
Herds cross the river in the northern Serengeti, chased by crocodiles.
Seronera
The central Serengeti, with resident lions, leopards and cheetahs year-round.
Hot air balloon safaris
Sunrise balloon flights over the plains.
Ngorongoro Crater
A huge volcanic crater with dense wildlife, often combined with the Serengeti.
💡 The long rains usually fall from about April to May, when some camps close.
Nyama choma
Grilled meat, usually goat or beef.
💡 Local eateries in Arusha and towns
Ugali
A stiff maize porridge eaten with stews.
💡 Local eateries
Chapati
Flatbread from East African coastal tradition.
💡 Eateries and lodges
Pilau
Spiced rice with meat.
💡 Local eateries
Maasai beadwork
Bracelets and collars in colourful beads.
💡 Craft markets in Arusha
Tingatinga paintings
Bright paintings in a Tanzanian style.
💡 Craft markets
Tanzanite
A blue-violet gem found only in Tanzania.
💡 Licensed dealers; ask for a certificate
Tanzanian coffee
Arabica coffee from Kilimanjaro and Arusha slopes.
💡 Shops in Arusha
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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