Season | Autumn Average Temperature for May | 23 Celsius | 73 Fahrenheit
What
Spot the ‘Big 7’ at Addo Elephant National Park. In addition to the classic Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino – the third-largest national park in the country has a protected marine section where you can see great white sharks and southern right whales, in season.
Why
The Eastern Cape province is a great place to end a Garden Route self-drive or go on a ‘beginner’s safari’. The climate is temperate and the whole area is malaria-free – ideal if you’re travelling with young children or older travellers.
When to book
May is a sweet spot – peak safari season is just starting, heralding cooler and drier weather. Because of its ‘secret gem’ status, Addo isn’t as jam-packed as the Kruger National Park so you can probably book two or three months before you want to travel to secure your first choice of accommodation.