Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.6 °C | — | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| February | 26.8 °C | — | 13 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| March | 26.8 °C | — | 17 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| April | 26 °C | — | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
| May | 26.7 °C | — | 11 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| June | 27.3 °C | — | 5 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| July | 27.3 °C | — | 3 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| August | 27.2 °C | — | 7 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| September | 26.5 °C | — | 16 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| October | 25.9 °C | — | 21 days | Unfavourable season |
| November | 25.1 °C | — | 25 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 25 °C | — | 23 days | Unfavourable season |
Nearby in May
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
Visa issued on arrival. Passport valid for at least 6 months. FCDO says apply for an e-visa before travel; a single-entry visa on arrival is also possible. Zanzibar: mandatory ZIC inbound insurance; return ticket.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 19 May 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
Outside the areas advised against
Parts of the country are advised against (within 20 km of the border with Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province (south of Mtwara)); Mwanza is not one of them.
Official advice updated 19 May 2026
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Polio (global)
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies, cholera and polio depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. Certificate required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
Malaria · Present. Areas: All areas below 1,800 m (5,900 ft) elevation. Preventive medication recommended: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine — prescribed before departure.
Mosquitoes · dengue reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Mwanza in May?
Mwanza is not a seaside destination (no sea data).
How hot is Mwanza in May?
Expect 26.7°C in the afternoon and 19.5°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Mwanza in May?
Around 11 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 36% of days.