Gaborone weather in May

May in Gaborone: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Gaborone🇧🇼 Botswana · Namibia & Botswana · City93
  1. 75Jan
  2. 73Feb
  3. 84Mar
  4. 89Apr
  5. 93May
  6. 90Jun
  7. 91Jul
  8. 91Aug
  9. 88Sep
  10. 82Oct
  11. 80Nov
  12. 74Dec

#1 of 12 months in Gaborone · #59 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 93/100 (tier S)

Days
25°C
Nights
8°C
Wet days
1
Sun
9.7 h
Humidity
54%
Daylight
11 h
Gaborone, Botswana
Photo: ThePLUG ... · Pexels

Traveller notes on Gaborone in May

Forum posters describe May as a genuinely excellent shoulder-season month across Botswana generally - clear skies, comfortable daytime warmth, and almost no rain, sitting right at the start of the dry season. Posters are consistent that nights and early mornings turn noticeably cold despite the pleasant days, recommending a fleece, hat and gloves for anyone out early, with overnight lows commonly cited in the teens Celsius or cooler. Posters generally rate May as offering some of the best value of the year - fewer crowds and lower prices than the peak winter season just ahead, with the dry, clear conditions making it a comfortable month for exploring the wider region around Gaborone.
Tripadvisor community · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Gaborone

Forum posters describe November days across Botswana as running quite hot, typically in the 30sC, with rain usually holding off until later in the month even though scattered earlier showers remain possible. Posters describing a November-into-December visit reported little rain overall, cool mornings and warm afternoons, with heat never once disrupting a game drive. Posters consistently rate November and December as offering lower rates alongside still-excellent wildlife viewing, since even a modest chance of rain hasn't scared off the animals - if the rains do start early, the bush greens up and temperatures ease slightly, timed with wildebeest and impala births. Posters generally rate November as hot but very manageable for a Botswana visit, with real value in the shoulder-season rates.
Tripadvisor community · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Gaborone's card on the map.

Gaborone climate normals — May

Daytime high25°C / 77°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low8°C / 47°F
Feels like (high)24°C / 75°F
Rainfall8 mm / 0.3 in☀️ dry
Rainy days1 days
Humidity54%🍃 comfortable
Dew point7°C / 44°F
Sunshine9.7 h/day
Daylight10.9 h
Wind12 km/h / 8 mph
Air quality (US AQI)41🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Gaborone 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.

Busyschool holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Gaborone'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).

Best weatherGaborone's best weather comes in May, July and August — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Gaborone in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Dry winter

    1 May – 31 AugDry season

    Months of clear sky and nothing falling. Mornings start close to freezing and the afternoons are shirt-sleeve warm, which is the combination that makes this the sensible half of the year for the drive north.

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Gaborone — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Gaborone?

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Gaborone in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Gaborone?
May in Gaborone: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Gaborone on SeasonMap's comfort score (93/100).
What is the weather like in Gaborone in May?
In May, Gaborone averages a daily high of 25.2°C and a low of 8.3°C, with about 8.3 mm of rain over roughly 1.1 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Gaborone in May?
Gaborone has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 41 in May.

Within 300 km: Pretoria's Highveld winter around 1 May – 31 Aug, and Johannesburg's Highveld winter around 1 May – 31 Aug.