South Africa
Garden Route in May
🍂 AutumnPleasant and mostly dry.
Why May scores 9.7What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.9
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (22.8°C highs / 14.6°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 10.6°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~38 mm rain)
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~4 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| May | Apr | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.7 Excellent | 9.7 Excellent |
| Season | 🍂 Autumn | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 23° / 15° | 24° / 16° |
| Rain | 38 mm | 37 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 11° | dew pt 13° |
| PM2.5 | 4 µg/m³ | 4 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: Workers' Day (1 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Garden RouteEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA scenic stretch of South Africa's southern coast between Mossel Bay and the Storms River, with lagoons, forests, beaches and adventure activities.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Southern right whale seasonDate variesUsually June to November
Southern right and humpback whales pass along the coast, often visible from shore.
Why go: Boat-based whale watching from Plettenberg Bay gives the closest sightings.
Where: Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay and coastal viewpoints
Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK)Date variesUsually late March or April
A long-running, mainly Afrikaans-language arts festival of theatre, music and visual art.
Why go: Oudtshoorn accommodation fills up during the festival.
Where: Oudtshoorn
Knysna lagoon and the Heads
A large lagoon guarded by two sandstone cliffs at its sea entrance, with viewpoints and boat trips.
Tsitsikamma (Garden Route National Park)
Coastal forest and cliffs, with the Storms River Mouth suspension bridge and the start of the Otter Trail.
💡 The multi-day Otter Trail is booked far in advance.
Robberg Nature Reserve
A rocky peninsula near Plettenberg Bay with coastal hiking trails and a Cape fur seal colony.
Bloukrans Bridge
A high arch road bridge known for its bungee jump.
Wilderness
A small town with long beaches, lakes and forest trails within the national park.
Cango Caves
Limestone caves near Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo, a common side trip from the coast.
Knysna oysters
Oysters farmed in the Knysna lagoon area, served fresh or grilled.
💡 Waterfront restaurants in Knysna
Braai
South African barbecue of boerewors sausage, lamb chops and steak, a social institution.
Ostrich
Lean ostrich steak or burgers, linked to the Oudtshoorn ostrich-farming region.
Biltong
Air-dried, spiced meat snacks eaten across South Africa.
💡 Butchers and farm stalls
Ostrich products
Leather goods, feathers and decorated eggs from the Oudtshoorn ostrich farms.
Rooibos tea
Caffeine-free South African red bush tea.
Local woodwork
Items made from indigenous woods traditionally associated with the Knysna forests.
💡 Craft shops in Knysna