May · Tanzania
Best time to visit Arusha in May Weather, crowds & prices
Weather in Arusha in May
Average temperature 20°C, 101 mm of rain, about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 81% humidity — based on the five most recent complete years of ERA5 data (2021–2025).
May score
7.6/10
Ranked #6 of 12 months
- Avg temp
- 20°C
- Rainfall
- 101 mm
- Humidity
- 81%
- Days with 6h+ sun
- 18
- Crowd Density
- Quiet / Uncrowded
- Average Expenses
- $ · Budget Friendly ($)
May in Arusha scores 7.6/10 for nature and wildlife travel - an above-average month (#6 of 12). Expect around 20°C, 101 mm of rain, and roughly 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine this month.
Arusha sits beneath Mount Meru as the staging town for Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and northern Tanzania safaris.
May holds up well in Arusha — 6th best month
May averages 20°C (69°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
At 101 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.6/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Flexible dates? October scores 1.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
Frequently asked
- What is the weather like in Arusha in May?
- In May, Arusha averages 20°C, 101 mm of rain, and about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Its climate-comfort score is 7.6/10.
- Is May a good time to visit Arusha?
- May earns a 7.6/10 climate-comfort score. Use the year-round chart to weigh the weather against your budget and crowd preferences.
- How much does it rain in Arusha in May?
- Expect about 101 mm of rain in May. Average humidity is 81% and there are about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
Curated in Arusha
Tickets & experiences
Things to do in Arusha
Arusha, Tanzania. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.