Best time to go to South Africa for a perfect weather and where to go?

Where and when to go based on the weather?

Best time to travel to South Africa by cities

Best time to go to Cape Town

Best time to go to Bloemfontein

Best time to go to Durban

Best time to go to Johannesburg

Best time to go to Kimberley

Best time to go to Nelspruit

Best time to go to Parc Kruger

Best time to go to Port Elizabeth (South Africa)

Best time to go to Pretoria

Best time to go to Blyde River Canyon

Best time to go to Coffee Bay

Best time to go to East London

Best time to go to George

Best time to go to Harrismith

Best time to go to Marakele National Park

Best time to go to Margate

Climate and Weather in South Africa

South Africa is located in the heart of the southern hemisphere, which means it experiences reversed seasons compared to Europe. Therefore, summer is between December and March, and winter is between June and September.

South Africa is a large country, bordering Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Swaziland. Its climate is characterized by:

• Hot and relatively rainy summers, especially in the northeast of the country
• Cool and dry winters

Moreover, autumn and spring are often pleasant transitional periods.

With an area of over 1.2 million square kilometers, South Africa experiences large climate variations depending on the regions.

Climate of northeastern South Africa – Kruger National Park

First of all, eastern South Africa is a rainy region and precipitation tends to increase as you move towards Zimbabwe. However, this is what gives this region the beauty of its landscapes made up of large plains and mountain peaks. This is also where you find most of the national parks for safaris, such as Kruger National Park.

This region is characterized by a subtropical climate. Thus, winters are mild and sunny, although nights can be cold (around 10°C (50°F) ). However, during summer, temperatures rise and thunderstorms are frequent in the late afternoon. In Kruger Park, the average temperature is 18 to 25°C (77°F) in winter and 25 to 32°C (90°F) in summer.

Therefore, the ideal period to plan a safari and explore this region is rather in winter, during the months of July-August. However, tourist traffic is high. It is therefore just as good to travel in spring (September-October) and in autumn (April to June) as the weather remains pleasant.

Climate in western South Africa – Cape Town and the Atlantic coast

In the west of the country, the climate of South Africa is increasingly hot and dry as you move north towards the Namib Desert. For example, in Upington, the weather is favorable all year round and rainfall is low, even in summer.

However, on the Atlantic coasts, around the city of Cape Town, the climate is Mediterranean. Temperatures are slightly cooler and more bearable than elsewhere, even in summer, thanks to a constant cool breeze. For example, temperatures range from 12 to 17°C (63°F) in winter and 21 to 27°C (81°F) in summer in Cape Town.

Although showers are frequent in summer, the sun is mostly shining in this region. Thus, travelers flock there all year round and there is a high tourist influx between December and March.

Climate of the Indian Ocean coasts

In this region located in the southeast of South Africa, the climate is subtropical. There are hot and humid summers and cool and drier winters. For instance, in cities like Durban, temperatures often rise to 30°C between December and February. However, the atmosphere is also very humid. Moreover, during this period, precipitations are frequent although they rarely exceed 100 mm per month.

Furthermore, the sea temperature is ideal for swimming in summer, unlike in Cape Town. It sometimes reaches 27°C.

During winter, the weather is generally sunny and temperatures remain moderate: around 15 to 25°C (77°F) .

Climate of the Johannesburg surroundings

The weather in South Africa around Johannesburg offers a climate similar to the Indian Ocean coast.

In winter, temperatures range from 10 to 18°C (65°F) and in summer, they average around 20°C (68°F) . In this region, the climate is tempered by altitude as the city is located at 1700 meters above sea level.

Pretoria, the capital, is located at a lower altitude. Therefore, it is warmer.

Moreover, during the cold season, rains are rare in this region, while in summer, violent thunderstorms can occur regularly, especially in the late afternoon. However, the sun quickly returns.

Finally, in the city of Johannesburg, it happens that frost or snow is present in winter, although this is quite rare.

The ideal period to visit this area is in April, September, and October as these months are less cold and less rainy.

Climate of the Karoo Desert – Kimberley

In the Karoo Desert, located in the center of the country, inland, a quasi-desert climate is experienced. Indeed, it hardly rains between May and September, however, temperatures are never very high in winter. They range from around 10 to 18°C (65°F) .

However, in summer, temperatures are hotter with regular peaks at over 30°C (86°F) . As the weather is also very dry, the heat can feel stifling at times in this region. Some showers are possible from December to March, although generally, less than 100 mm of precipitation falls per month.

Thus, this region is ideal for a trip throughout the year.

Temperatures and rainfall in South Africa

On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of South Africa and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban, Johannesburg and Kimberley, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.

Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in South Africa

Find out when South Africa has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.

Tourist seasons in South Africa

The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and November. The number of visitors to South Africa is high in: October and December.

• Very low season in South Africa: January, February, March, May, June, July and September.
• Low season in South Africa: April, August and November.
• High season in South Africa: October.
• Peak season in South Africa: December.

Figure: Visitor index for South Africa month by month

Average price for flights to South Africa

Find the best price for your flight

Where to go in South Africa?

This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).

Legend:

About South Africa

What can I do in South Africa?

Beaches / swimming

Nature and countryside

Culture and heritage

Sports

Family travel

Crafts / shopping

Gastronomy

Nightlife