Things to Do in Eswatini in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Eswatini
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Optimal wildlife viewing conditions - May sits at the tail end of the dry season when vegetation is sparse and animals concentrate around permanent water sources like Mlilwane and Hlane waterholes. You'll spot rhinos, elephants, and antelope far more easily than in summer's thick bush.
- Comfortable hiking weather with cool 10-12°C (50-54°F) mornings perfect for tackling Sibebe Rock or the Malolotja trails before temperatures climb to pleasant 22-24°C (72-75°F) afternoons. The humidity stays around 55% - manageable compared to summer's 75-80%.
- Umhlanga Reed Dance preparation season means you'll see cultural activity ramping up across the country. While the main ceremony happens in late August, May brings rehearsals, reed cutting preparations, and craft market activity as communities gear up. Locals are more relaxed and willing to explain traditions without the August tourist rush.
- Budget-friendly shoulder season pricing - accommodations in the Ezulwini Valley typically run 30-40% lower than June-August peak season. Game lodges near Hlane that charge E3,500-4,500 (USD 190-245) in July drop to E2,200-3,000 (USD 120-165) in May, and you'll have better negotiating power for longer stays.
Considerations
- Unpredictable temperature swings between morning and afternoon - that 13°C (23°F) difference means you're constantly adjusting layers. You'll start hikes in a fleece and be down to a t-shirt by 11am, which gets annoying when you're carrying everything in a daypack.
- Some mountain passes like Malagwane Hill can get morning fog that lingers until 9-10am, making driving conditions tricky and delaying early morning game drives. If you're planning Malolotja hikes, you might lose the first few hours of daylight to poor visibility.
- May sits in the awkward transition period where it's too cool for swimming in most lodges' outdoor pools (water temperatures around 18-20°C or 64-68°F), but not quite cold enough for that cozy winter lodge atmosphere. You're between seasons in a way that can feel neither here nor there.
Best Activities in May
Hlane Royal National Park game drives
May delivers some of the year's best game viewing as the dry season reaches its peak effectiveness. With minimal rainfall over the past few months, grass stands low and water sources are limited, pushing wildlife into predictable patterns around permanent waterholes. Morning drives starting at 6am catch animals at their most active in the cool 10-12°C (50-54°F) temperatures, and the lower humidity means less haze for photography. The park's white rhino population becomes particularly visible as they gather at Ndlovu Camp waterhole. Unlike the June-August peak season when vehicles crowd sightings, May sees maybe 3-4 other groups maximum on any given drive.
Sibebe Rock sunrise hikes
The world's second-largest granite dome becomes absolutely spectacular in May's clear, dry air. Starting at 6:30am when temperatures sit around 10°C (50°F), you'll climb the 3km (1.9 mile) trail to the 1,488m (4,882 ft) summit in perfect conditions - cool enough to avoid overheating on the steep sections, but with warming sunshine by the time you reach the top around 8:30am. The low humidity means visibility extends 60-80km (37-50 miles) across the Lowveld on clear days. May also sees virtually no afternoon thunderstorms that can make descent dangerous on the exposed granite - you'll have maybe a 5% chance of rain compared to 40-50% in January. The rock surface stays dry and grippy rather than slick with summer moisture.
Malolotja Nature Reserve waterfall trails
May catches Malolotja's waterfalls in an interesting transition state - they're still flowing from the summer rains that ended in March-April, but not with the thundering volume of peak wet season. This actually works in your favor because trails like the Malolotja Falls route (16km or 10 miles round trip) are fully accessible without the flooding that closes sections in January-February, yet the falls still put on a decent show. The cool May temperatures make the steep descents into the gorge far more manageable - you'll drop 600m (1,970 ft) in elevation and that climb back out is brutal in summer heat. Morning temperatures around 8-10°C (46-50°F) at the 1,800m (5,905 ft) trailhead mean you'll want layers, but by afternoon you're hiking comfortably in 18-20°C (64-68°F). The highveld grasslands turn golden in May, creating stunning contrast against the dark gorge.
Ezulwini Valley cultural village tours
May offers a more authentic cultural experience than the peak tourist months because you're visiting during the buildup to Umhlanga rather than during the ceremony itself. Villages around Lobamba and the Ezulwini Valley see increased traditional activity as communities prepare materials and practice dances. You'll encounter craft markets with better selection and lower prices than August when everything gets marked up for the tourist influx. The cooler weather makes the traditional homestead tours more comfortable - you're not standing in 32°C (90°F) heat while someone explains thatching techniques. Mantenga Cultural Village and Swazi Cultural Village both run daily demonstrations, but in May you might be the only visitors at the 11am or 3pm sessions, allowing for actual conversations rather than performing for crowds.
Mkhaya Game Reserve walking safaris
May's cooler temperatures make Mkhaya's guided walking safaris genuinely enjoyable rather than endurance tests. This private reserve specializes in on-foot rhino tracking, and the May conditions are ideal - you're walking 5-8km (3-5 miles) through thick bush in the early morning when temperatures sit at 12-14°C (54-57°F), warming to comfortable 22°C (72°F) by mid-morning. The guides can push deeper into the reserve without worrying about guest heat exhaustion. Mkhaya's black rhino population becomes more visible in May as they concentrate around the Lusutfu River's remaining pools. The experience feels more exclusive than Hlane because Mkhaya limits visitors to 16 people total across the entire reserve. Walking safaris also encounter elephant, buffalo, and if you're lucky, the rare sable antelope that Mkhaya specializes in protecting.
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary mountain biking trails
Mlilwane's 20km (12.4 miles) of mountain biking trails hit their sweet spot in May. The tracks dry out from the summer rains but haven't yet turned to dust, giving you firm, fast riding conditions. The sanctuary sits in the Ezulwini Valley at moderate elevation, so May temperatures range from perfect 15°C (59°F) morning starts to warm but manageable 24°C (75°F) afternoons. You'll ride past zebra, warthog, and impala that barely acknowledge your presence - they're habituated to bikes unlike the skittish wildlife in bigger reserves. The Nyonyane Mountain loop offers the best challenge with 400m (1,312 ft) of climbing over 12km (7.5 miles), while the valley floor routes stay flat and family-friendly. May's lower water levels mean the river crossings are rideable rather than the knee-deep wades of February.
May Events & Festivals
Marula Festival preparations
While the main Marula Festival celebrating the marula fruit harvest happens in late February-March, May sees communities beginning preparations for the next season's festivities. You'll find craft markets stocking up on traditional items and local brewers experimenting with buganu (marula beer) recipes. It's not a tourist event per se, but if you're visiting homesteads or cultural villages, you'll see the cultural continuity that makes these celebrations meaningful rather than just the performance aspect.