Malawi in May

Dry season starts; lake visibility improves for snorkelling at Cape Maclear.

• Lakeshore · Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhata Bay, Likomabest weather

  Lake water is clearest and calmest May–Oct; the mwera wind from the south-east can whip up waves Jun–Aug. Oct–Nov is very hot at 500 m.

• Shire valley parks · Liwonde, Majete, Lengwefine

  Game concentrates on the Shire River as the bush dries Aug–Nov; October can pass 40 °C. Some tracks close in the rains.

• Highlands and plateaus · Zomba, Mulanje, Nyika, Viphyabest weather

  Cold nights Jun–Aug (frost on Nyika); Mulanje hut routes are wet and slippery Dec–Mar.

• Central plateau and cities · Lilongwe, Dedza, Blantyrebest weather

  Pleasant dry winters; storms Dec–Mar and power and fuel shortages at any time.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• Kamuzu Day

  14 May

  Public holiday for the first president.

Crowds · Malawi

Medium

Prices · Malawi

Medium

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Lakeshore

  Best weather of the year (Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhata Bay, Likoma)

• Highlands and plateaus

  Best weather of the year (Zomba, Mulanje, Nyika, Viphya)

• Central plateau and cities

  Best weather of the year (Lilongwe, Dedza, Blantyre)

• Lilongwe

  Dry and mild.