Summer
Dec → Feb24 to 26°
nights 16 to 17°
- 4 rainy days · 20 mm
- 12.9 h of sun
- sea 15°
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
In short: May to October for dry-season safaris in Kruger and whale watching along the Cape coast, December to March for summer in Cape Town, with its beaches and vineyards. September combines the two best: the end of the dry season in the bush, southern right whales around Hermanus and the wild flowers of Namaqualand.
- Safari in Kruger: Above all from June to August, the driest months in the country: the vegetation is low and animals gather around the waterholes.
- Southern right whales: From June to October they come to calve in the waters of the Cape, along the Whale Route that runs through Hermanus.
- Namaqualand flowers: Between August and early October, orange daisies carpet Namaqua National Park; September is the safest month.
- Sardine run: From May to July only, millions of sardines move up the east coast, a natural spectacle watched from boats and by divers.
- Summer in Cape Town: From December to March, 26 °C in the afternoon and 16 mm of rain in January in Cape Town, for the beaches and the wine route.
- Births in the parks: In September and October, the first young of the grazing animals appear in the reserves, just before the summer rains.
Best avoided: No period needs avoiding across the whole country; the weakest is June and July in Cape Town, the heart of the rainy winter (144 mm over 11 days in June, 16 °C in the afternoon in July), best offset with a safari in the north-east.
Sources: southafrica.net, southafrica.net, southafrica.net
- Jan26°recommended
- Feb26°recommended
- Mar24°recommended
- Apr22°fair
- May19°fair
- Jun18°fair
- Jul16°fair
- Aug16°recommended
- Sep18°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov23°recommended
- Dec24°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in South Africa, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 17° | 13.3 h | 16 mm | 3 d | 14° | ✓ |
| February | 26° | 17° | 12.2 h | 13 mm | 3 d | 15° | ✓ |
| March | 24° | 16° | 10.9 h | 45 mm | 5 d | 15° | ✓ |
| April | 22° | 14° | 9.9 h | 35 mm | 5 d | 14° | |
| May | 19° | 12° | 8.7 h | 77 mm | 8 d | 14° | |
| June | 18° | 11° | 8 h | 144 mm | 11 d | 14° | |
| July | 16° | 10° | 8.4 h | 137 mm | 11 d | 13° | |
| August | 16° | 10° | 9 h | 109 mm | 12 d | 14° | ✓ |
| September | 18° | 11° | 10 h | 56 mm | 8 d | 14° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 13° | 11.9 h | 26 mm | 6 d | 15° | ✓ |
| November | 23° | 15° | 12.5 h | 27 mm | 7 d | 14° | ✓ |
| December | 24° | 16° | 13.1 h | 31 mm | 5 d | 15° | ✓ |
The four seasons in South Africa, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Cape Town) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May19 to 24°
nights 12 to 16°
- 6 rainy days · 52 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 14°
Winter
Jun → Aug16 to 18°
nights 10 to 11°
- 11 rainy days · 130 mm
- 8.5 h of sun
- sea 14°
Spring
Sep → Nov18 to 23°
nights 11 to 15°
- 7 rainy days · 36 mm
- 11.5 h of sun
- sea 14°
Book early for August to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in South Africa, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In December there are 14h24 of daylight, in June 9h54, a difference of 4h30.
14h10Jan
13h21Feb
12h23Mar
11h17Apr
10h23May
9h54Jun
10h06Jul
10h52Aug
11h56Sep
13hOct
13h57Nov
14h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Cape Town" (-33.92°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in South Africa, month by month
EventsCape Town Minstrel CarnivalJanuarySouthern right whalesJune to NovemberNational Arts FestivalJune to JulyNamaqualand flower seasonAugust to SeptemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Towns & culture: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
- Long days: January, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in South Africa, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- JanuaryCape Town Minstrel Carnival
Troupes in colourful satin, with banjos and parasols, parade through central Cape Town the day after New Year.
- June to NovemberSouthern right whales
The whales swim along Hermanus and Walker Bay from June to November, visible from the cliffs without getting on a boat.
- June to JulyNational Arts Festival
Makhanda hosts eleven days of theatre, dance and music straddling June and July, with a main programme and a fringe.
- August to SeptemberNamaqualand flower season
Namaqualand and the Cederberg are carpeted with wild flowers after the winter rains, in August and September.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended26°17° at night
- 16 mm · 3 d
- 13.3 h
- sea 14°
High season, book early
February
Recommended26°17° at night
- 13 mm · 3 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
March
Recommended24°16° at night
- 45 mm · 5 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair22°14° at night
- 35 mm · 5 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair19°12° at night
- 77 mm · 8 d
- 8.7 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair18°11° at night
- 144 mm · 11 d
- 8 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
July
Fair16°10° at night
- 137 mm · 11 d
- 8.4 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
August
Recommended16°10° at night
- 109 mm · 12 d
- 9 h
- sea 14°
High season, book early
September
Recommended18°11° at night
- 56 mm · 8 d
- 10 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°13° at night
- 26 mm · 6 d
- 11.9 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended23°15° at night
- 27 mm · 7 d
- 12.5 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended24°16° at night
- 31 mm · 5 d
- 13.1 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (16 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.3 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
February. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
March. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 45 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (144 mm). Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (137 mm). Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (109 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (56 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 27 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.5 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 31 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.1 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
May to October for dry-season safaris in Kruger and whale watching along the Cape coast, December to March for summer in Cape Town, with its beaches and vineyards. September combines the two best: the end of the dry season in the bush, southern right whales around Hermanus and the wild flowers of Namaqualand.
Which month should you avoid in South Africa?
No period needs avoiding across the whole country; the weakest is June and July in Cape Town, the heart of the rainy winter (144 mm over 11 days in June, 16 °C in the afternoon in July), best offset with a safari in the north-east.
What is the hottest month in South Africa?
January, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cape Town).
What is the coldest month in South Africa?
July, with 16 °C at best during the day and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cape Town).
What is the driest month in South Africa?
February: 13 mm over 3 days of rain, against 144 mm in June, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in South Africa?
January, with 13.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in South Africa?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 15 °C in February, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Cape Town): swimming is for the brave.
When is the best time to hike in South Africa?
January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Cape Town), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
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Photos: Diego Ferrari / Pexels · Nunzio Guerrera / Pexels · Brendan Ruhli / Pexels · Frans van Heerden / Pexels · dconvertini / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)