Best time to go to South Africa for a perfect weather and where to go?
Lucie Lhortolat and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to South Africa?
The climate of South Africa is mild all year round, with some variations depending on the regions. However, the best time to visit South Africa is between the months of October and April. During this period, the weather is favorable everywhere, except in the northeast of the country, which is rainier. In fact, in Johannesburg, the months of December and January should be avoided due to numerous thunderstorms. On the other hand, tourist influx is high in South Africa during the summer season, which takes place between mid-December and March. Christmas and New Year's celebrations are particularly lively there. You may be wondering when to visit South Africa to avoid the crowds? Therefore, you can plan a trip during the intermediate seasons. Indeed, the months from October to December and from April to May are ideal for discovering the country in a quieter and more authentic atmosphere. Tourists are few and prices are reasonable. Furthermore, for safari enthusiasts, the dry season, which is also the winter season, is perfect for animal watching. Thus, the best time to visit Kruger National Park, for example, would be from July to September. Lastly, for swimming, it is best to travel to South Africa near the coasts of the Indian Ocean during the summer. Indeed, in Cape Town, the sea temperature is never very high, reaching a maximum of 20°C.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Eastern Cape
Port Elizabeth (South Africa), East London, Coffee Bay...
Free State
Bloemfontein, Harrismith, Welkom...
Gauteng
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto...
KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, Richards Bay, Margate...
Limpopo
Parc Kruger, Polokwane, Marakele National Park...
Mpumalanga
Nelspruit, Blyde River Canyon, Sabi Sands Reserve...
North West of South Africa
Mmabatho, Rustenburg, Pilanesberg National Park...
Northern Cape
Kimberley, Upington, Port Nolloth...
Western Cape
Cape Town, George, Vredendal...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in South Africa for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
South Africa in january South Africa in february South Africa in march South Africa in april South Africa in may South Africa in june South Africa in july South Africa in august South Africa in september South Africa in october South Africa in november South Africa in december
Best time to travel to South Africa by cities
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). However, during summer, temperatures rise and thunderstorms are frequent in the late afternoon. In Kruger Park, the average temperature is 18 to 25°C in winter and 25 to 32°C 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 in winter and 21 to 27°C 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.
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 and in summer, they average around 20°C. 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.
However, in summer, temperatures are hotter with regular peaks at over 30°C. 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, September and November. The number of visitors to South Africa is high in: August, October and December.
- Very low season in South Africa: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September and November.
- High season in South Africa: August and October.
- Peak season in South Africa: December.
Figure: Visitor index for South Africa month by month
Average price for flights to South Africa
A return flight between Sydney and Johannesburg is generally cheaper if you go in november ($ 1484 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 610 more for your airline ticket to Johannesburg if you go in december.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to South Africa
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).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Cape Town | 27°C | 27°C | 26°C | 24°C | 21°C | 18°C | 18°C | 18°C | 19°C | 22°C | 23°C | 25°C |
| Bloemfontein | 31°C | 30°C | 28°C | 24°C | 21°C | 17°C | 17°C | 20°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 31°C |
| Durban | 26°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 24°C | 25°C |
| Johannesburg | 29°C | 28°C | 27°C | 24°C | 23°C | 19°C | 19°C | 23°C | 27°C | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C |
| Kimberley | 33°C | 32°C | 30°C | 26°C | 22°C | 18°C | 18°C | 22°C | 27°C | 29°C | 31°C | 33°C |
| Nelspruit | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 22°C | 25°C | 27°C | 27°C | 28°C | 29°C |
| Parc Kruger | 32°C | 32°C | 32°C | 29°C | 28°C | 25°C | 25°C | 28°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C |
| Port Elizabeth (South Africa) | 26°C | 26°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C |
| Pretoria | 30°C | 29°C | 28°C | 25°C | 23°C | 20°C | 20°C | 24°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C |
| Blyde River Canyon | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C |
| Coffee Bay | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 23°C | 20°C | 20°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C |
| East London | 26°C | 26°C | 26°C | 24°C | 23°C | 22°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C |
| George | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 22°C | 21°C | 19°C | 18°C | 18°C | 19°C | 21°C | 21°C | 23°C |
| Harrismith | 31°C | 30°C | 29°C | 26°C | 24°C | 21°C | 21°C | 24°C | 28°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C |
| Marakele National Park | 28°C | 27°C | 27°C | 24°C | 22°C | 19°C | 19°C | 23°C | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C |
| Margate | 26°C | 26°C | 26°C | 24°C | 24°C | 22°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C |
| Mmabatho | 31°C | 30°C | 29°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 20°C | 24°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C |
| Pilanesberg National Park | 30°C | 30°C | 29°C | 26°C | 24°C | 20°C | 20°C | 24°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C |
| Polokwane | 28°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 23°C | 20°C | 20°C | 24°C | 27°C | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C |
| Port Nolloth | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 22°C | 20°C | 20°C | 19°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
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
Is this weather information for South Africa reliable?
Climate data for South Africa has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for South Africa allows us to determine the average for each month in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Nelspruit, Parc Kruger, Port Elizabeth (South Africa), and 96 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.