Bahir Dar weather in May
May in Bahir Dar: warm, rainy — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#8 of 12 months in Bahir Dar · #720 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 80/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 26°C
- Nights
- 18°C
- Wet days
- 14
- Sun
- 10.5 h
- Humidity
- 63%
- Daylight
- 13 h

Traveller notes on Bahir Dar in May
Notes from nearby Gondar (112 km away)
Bahir Dar doesn't have its own notes for May yet — these are about Gondar, close enough to share the season.
Ethiopia forum posters note that Gondar's roughly 7,000-foot elevation keeps it noticeably more comfortable in May than the lowland Danakil, which is hitting its hottest stretch at the same time. March through May brings the unpredictable 'little rains,' but multiple posters described the pattern as mostly sunny with occasional short showers rather than a proper wet season, which lines up with the real humidity here staying low. Air conditioning isn't something you'll need at this altitude even with daytime highs in the upper 20s C - a light jacket for the cooler evenings is more useful than anything for the heat.
Other months in Bahir Dar
Ethiopia's forum notes that June is genuinely wetter than the dry months but still comes in lighter than the true peak of the rainy season in July and August. For Bahir Dar specifically, posters said a good share of the rain falls at night, leaving days usable for excursions like the Blue Nile Falls, and that the wet season mostly means lusher scenery and thinner crowds rather than trips getting derailed. It's not a dry-season visit by any measure, but forum regulars were consistent that June rain here causes real but limited disruption.
Forum posters consistently name November and December as among the best months to visit Ethiopia, sitting right after the rains end with green countryside and good visibility for sightseeing. Posters describe Bahir Dar itself, on the southern tip of Lake Tana at around 1,830m elevation, as having a genuinely comfortable climate that's earned it a reputation among domestic tourists as something of an 'Ethiopian Riviera' - a real draw alongside the lake and Blue Nile river views. Posters visiting in early December specifically noted very few mosquitoes in the north this time of year, a practical upside of the dry-season timing. Posters generally rate December as a reliable, comfortable month for exploring Bahir Dar's monasteries and the nearby Blue Nile Falls.
Add your own note from Bahir Dar's card on the map.
Bahir Dar climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Bahir Dar in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyFasika, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Bahir Dar's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherBahir Dar's weather peaks November–January, best around December.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Bahir Dar in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Fasika
5 Apr – 5 May · usuallyEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedOrthodox Easter ends fifty-five days of fasting with a midnight service and a long lunch the next day. It follows the Orthodox reckoning, so it usually lands a week or more after the Western date. Source ↗
- Nature
Blue Nile Falls at low water
1 Dec – 31 May · usuallyHigh waterSince the hydropower station opened, most of the dry-season flow is diverted before the falls, which shrink to a few thin strands. The 30 km trip out from town is hard to justify until the rains return. Source ↗
Where is Bahir Dar?
Bahir Dar in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Bahir Dar?
- May in Bahir Dar: warm, rainy — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Bahir Dar on SeasonMap's comfort score (80/100).
- What is the weather like in Bahir Dar in May?
- In May, Bahir Dar averages a daily high of 26.3°C and a low of 17.9°C, with about 98.3 mm of rain over roughly 13.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Bahir Dar in May?
- Bahir Dar has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 55 in May.