Maputo weather in May

May in Maputo: hot, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Maputo🇲🇿 Mozambique · Eastern South Africa & Mozambique · City85
  1. 65Jan
  2. 63Feb
  3. 70Mar
  4. 76Apr
  5. 85May
  6. 91Jun
  7. 93Jul
  8. 90Aug
  9. 84Sep
  10. 81Oct
  11. 77Nov
  12. 67Dec

#4 of 12 months in Maputo · #457 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 85/100 (tier A)

Days
28°C
Nights
17°C
Wet days
4
Sun
9.4 h
Humidity
75%
Daylight
11 h
Maputo, Mozambique
Photo: Niyi David · Pexels

Traveller notes on Maputo in May

Other months in Maputo

Forum posters describe January in Maputo as very hot and genuinely well-suited to a beach holiday, warmer and more humid than the dry winter season, though posters are clear this isn't the intense, near-daily downpour pattern of a tropical Southeast Asian rainy season - when rain does come it can be heavy and briefly affect roads, but rarely lasts longer than a day, often just a few hours. Posters flag a real health consideration: malaria risk rises during this wetter, hotter season, and note that flooding further north of Maputo can turn genuinely serious in January and February. Posters generally rate January as hot, humid and beach-friendly for Maputo itself, with occasional heavy but short-lived rain and a real malaria-season precaution worth taking seriously.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters describe July as Maputo's coldest month, with daytime highs commonly in the mid-70sF and overnight lows dropping into the 50sF - genuinely cool by local standards but far from harsh. Posters give mixed verdicts on beach time this month: one visitor found it warm enough to swim further up the coast near Bierra, while others call July simply not the best month for extended beach lounging given the cooler winter temperatures. Posters consistently name the broader winter season (of which July is the coldest point) as actually the best overall time to visit Mozambique - less rain, less oppressive heat, and fair humidity, adding up to what many posters call genuinely ideal beach-and-sightseeing weather once you account for the cooler temperatures.
Tripadvisor community · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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

Maputo climate normals — May

Daytime high28°C / 83°F🥵 hot
Nighttime low17°C / 62°F
Feels like (high)29°C / 84°F
Sea temperature24°C / 75°F🙂 pleasant
Rainfall25 mm / 1 in☀️ dry
Rainy days4 days
Humidity75%💦 very humid
Dew point16°C / 61°F
Sunshine9.4 h/day
Daylight10.8 h
Wind18 km/h / 11 mph
Air quality (US AQI)42🍃 good

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

Crowds in Maputo 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)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Maputo'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 weatherMaputo's weather peaks June–August, best around July.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Maputo in May

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

  • Season

    The dry season

    1 May – 30 Sep · usually

    Cooler, drier months when the humidity drops off and the sand roads down to Ponta do Ouro and the Maputo reserve are reliable again. It is the local high season for a reason.

  • Festival

    AZGO Festival

    15–31 May · usuallyMusic festival

    The city's main international arts and music weekend, staged outdoors on the edge of town with a fashion and talks programme alongside it. The venue has moved more than once, so check before booking. Source ↗

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Maputo?

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Maputo in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Maputo?
May in Maputo: hot, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Maputo on SeasonMap's comfort score (85/100).
What is the weather like in Maputo in May?
In May, Maputo averages a daily high of 28.2°C and a low of 16.6°C, with about 25 mm of rain over roughly 3.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Maputo in May?
Maputo has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 42 in May.

Within 300 km: Kruger National Park's Dry season game viewing around 1 May – 30 Sep.