SeasonMapKnysna weather in May
South Africa
May in Knysna: nice, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit.
#8 of 12 months in Knysna · #761 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 79/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Knysna in May
Other months in Knysna
Knysna's forum calls January part of the warm, busy summer season, though a few visitors have found it wetter than the brochures suggest, with scattered rain days breaking up the sunshine rather than a fully dry stretch. Regulars still rate it a good month overall — just pack for the odd shower alongside the swimwear.
Add your own note from Knysna's card on the map.
Knysna climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 21°C / 70°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 14°C / 56°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 20°C / 68°F | |
| Sea temperature | 18°C / 65°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 33 mm / 1.3 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 6 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 12°C / 53°F | |
| Sunshine | 8.6 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | |
| Wind | 18 km/h / 11 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 24 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Knysna 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 Knysna'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 weatherKnysna's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Knysna in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Berg wind fire risk
1 May – 30 Nov · usuallySmoke seasonClosuresHot, dry berg winds off the interior are what turn a plantation fire into the kind that burned through the town in June 2017. The danger travels with the wind rather than the season, and the worst days come in winter and spring. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Knysna — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Knysna?
Knysna in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Knysna?
- May in Knysna: nice, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Knysna on SeasonMap's comfort score (79/100).
- What is the weather like in Knysna in May?
- In May, Knysna averages a daily high of 20.9°C and a low of 13.6°C, with about 32.7 mm of rain over roughly 5.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Knysna in May?
- Knysna has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 24 in May.
Other months in Knysna
Compare Knysna in May
Warmer or cooler than Knysna in May
Similar destinations in Southern Africa — May
Within 300 km: Port Elizabeth's Sardine run past Algoa Bay around 15 May – 31 Jul.