SeasonMapBwindi (Bwindi Impenetrable) weather in May
Uganda
May in Bwindi: nice, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 21 rainy days.
#6 of 12 months in Bwindi · #918 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 74/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Bwindi in May
Other months in Bwindi
Bwindi's forum calls July one of the drier months for gorilla trekking, though regulars are clear that "dry" is relative in a rainforest — expect some mist and short downpours even in the best season. Treks run 1.5 to over 7 hours over genuinely tough, steep terrain, so layers for the cool morning start are standard advice.
Add your own note from Bwindi's card on the map.
Bwindi climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 21°C / 70°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 13°C / 56°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 23°C / 73°F | |
| Rainfall | 288 mm / 11.3 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 21 days | |
| Humidity | 80% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 13°C / 56°F | |
| Sunshine | 10.4 h/day | |
| Daylight | 12.1 h | |
| Wind | 8 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 57 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Bwindi 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.
Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Bwindi'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 weatherBwindi's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Bwindi in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
The long rains
1 Mar – 31 May · usuallyMonsoonThe forest floor turns to mud and a trek that takes two hours in June takes five. The gorillas do not move far in the rain, which is the consolation; getting to them is the problem.
- Rule
Low-season gorilla permits
1 Apr – 31 May · usuallyThe Uganda Wildlife Authority discounts the gorilla permit in April, May and November, which are the wettest months here. Trekking is capped at eight people per gorilla family per day and permits are paid in full at booking. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk21 rainy days and about 288 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Where is Bwindi?
Bwindi in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Bwindi?
- May in Bwindi: nice, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 21 rainy days. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Bwindi on SeasonMap's comfort score (74/100).
- What is the weather like in Bwindi in May?
- In May, Bwindi averages a daily high of 21.1°C and a low of 13.3°C, with about 287.8 mm of rain over roughly 20.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Bwindi in May?
- Bwindi has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 57 in May.