The weather

in South Africa

On the whole South Africa is an all year round destination. However, depending on your itinerary, some seasons are favoured for certain activities. The varying landscapes and climates which make up this incredibly diverse land, mean that there is always somewhere to visit no matter what time of year you go.

Soaring mountains, hidden beaches, underground cave systems, verdant forests and barren deserts. Take your pick. As a rule, September is usually the best time of year to visit South Africa, especially if you’re eager to see whales and newborn game. The weather also tends to be mild almost everywhere at this time of year.

Top Tip!

The garden route and Eastern cape experience rain all through the year. Be sure to pack accordingly.

a line of colourful houses on a beach in cape town for summer

sunet at the winelands in summer in south africa

Colourful purple blossom in a street in Cape Town in South Africa

Best time to visit
South Africa

South Africa follows four seasons, however the transitional seasons (spring and autumn) tend to be much shorter and so the year is commonly only divided into two.

The high season in South Africa is during the summer months from December to March, when the majority of the country is sunny and warm. The low season is during winter from May to September.

South Africa is temperate all year round (especially in Cape Town) but it is a little cooler during winter and much cooler at night, so be sure to pack layers. National Parks such as Kruger National Park are much less crowded during winter and there is also the added bonus of hardly any rain, keeping the mosquitoes at bay.

Best time for a safari
in South Africa

In general, the best time to go on a safari in South Africa is during the dry season. The bush will have less foliage, so you have a much higher chance of seeing wildlife where they would usually be hiding. Due to the lack of rainfall, animals also tend to congregate around watering holes more, making your chances higher if you steak out these areas. The weather is also clear and warm during the day, and cool at night - a great plus for deterring the mosquitos!

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two giraffes standing in the green shrubs on a safari in south africa

Four Seasons

Spring

1 Sept - 30 Nov

Spring is the best time to visit if you’re interested in flora - almost a third of species found here are endemic. The arid desert in the Northern Cape turns from barren to beautiful in spring, as wildflowers cover every inch in a tapestry of blossom. Spring is a great time to visit the inland regions like Karoo before the weather starts to heat up. This is also when humpbacks and southern right whales migrate to Mozambique, passing the shores along the southern Cape coast.

Summer

1 Dec - 28 Feb

Summer is the best time to visit Cape Town if you’re after a hot, bone-dry summer on the beach. However, the rest of the country will be predominantly caught in heavy thunderstorms and showers. This is one of the busiest times of the year, which causes prices in accommodation to dramatically rise, so booking in advance is key. Summer is also the best time to go searching for waterfalls or diving with tiger sharks. It is also a great time of year for birding.

Autumn

1 March - 31 May

The autumn months are the best time to visit the Winelands. The area is spectacularly beautiful coated in russet colours and bronzed trees. The weather is much more bearable too. Autumn is also a great time for hiking, especially if you’re planning on trekking through the Drakensberg Mountain Range. The days are warm and dry, the nights are mild and cool, and the scenery is very green after the heavy summer showers.

Winter

1 June - 31 Aug

Cape Town is best avoided in winter due to the cold temperatures and incessant rain. The rest of the country however is predominantly dry which makes it a particularly good time for hiking and cycling. If you’re trekking the Drakensberg Mountains, make sure you pack layers as it gets very cold in the evening, with the higher trails often coated in ice and snow. Winter in South Africa is also the ideal time to check out the spectacular surf spots.

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Festivals & events
in South Africa

Home to some of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, a rich history and a vibrant culture, South Africa has much to celebrate. It seems like every week the streets explode with colour, dancing, music and street food. Follow our below guide to help you either plan for (or plan around!) the countries largest events.

National arts festival

Makhanda

(End June - beginning July)

The largest multi-arts festival in Africa with over 200,000 attendees every year. The sleepy ‘city of saints’ is transformed once a year into an 11 day celebration of jazz, opera, theatrical dramas, arts & crafts, street entertainers and visual displays, exploding across 90 venues, over 600 events.

group of dancers on stage at the national arts festival in south africa

King Shaka Day

KwaDukuza

(24 September)

As part of the national Heritage Day, thousands of Zulu people gather in KwaDukuza to pay homage to the Zulu hero - King Shaka. Attendees dress in full Zulu attire and celebrate the Zulu traditions. The current Zulu king will attend and perform a speech in honour of King Shaka.

two men wearing traditional zulu clothes for the king shaka day celebrations

The Stellenbosch Harvest Festival

Stellenbosch

(23 - 25 February)

The Stellenbosch Festival is one of the more relaxed calendar events, however it’s the oldest and ‘original’ wine festival in South Africa. Sit in the shadows of giant oak trees, sipping a chilled glass of locally farmed wine as children play at stomping barrels of grapes to the sound of live music. A blissful summers day.

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group of people riding bicycles on a road for the cape town cycle tour

Klein Karoo National

Arts Festival

Klein Karoo

(24 - 29 March)

Held in the normally quiet town of Oudtshoorn, this festival celebrates the Afrikaan art and culture, featuring visual arts and performances by up and coming artists. New performances are often aired here first to be then rolled out over the rest of Africa throughout the year.

Klein karoo countryside in south africa events

Knysna Oyster Festival

Knysna

(20 - 30 June)

A food festival is always enjoyable, and the Knysna Oyster Festival is no different. With as many oysters as you can eat, a very enthusiastic shucking contest, gut-wrenching eating challenges and oddly, a marathon. This is an unusual festival, but will definitely put a smile on your face!

oysters in a black dish with a glass of wine on a white table for the knysna oyster festival

Cape Town Cycle Tour

Cape town

(10 March)

One of the biggest cycling events in the world, the Cape Town Cycle Tour attracts 35,000 cyclists who take part annually. The event has been held in Cape Town for decades and now attracts a lot of media and famous cyclists from around the world.

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Cape Town Jazz Festival

Cape town

(29 March)

This is by far the biggest jazz festival in South Africa and the fourth largest in the world. 35,000 guests visit each year to see an incredible lineup of over 40 artists, performing on 5 stages, with an even split of local and international acts. There’s also lots of delicious food stalls and ample shopping opportunities.

man playing the saxophone at the cape town international jazz festival

Afrikaburn

Ceres

(27 May)

Afrikaburn is Africa’s version of the 'Burning Man' festival in Nevada. Set amidst the barren desert landscape of Ceres, this week long music festival is full of the weird, the wonderful and the utterly bizarre. Expect giant wooden sculptures, attendees in full costume, and a whole load of glitter.

group of people walking through the desert for the afrikaburn music festival in south africa

Cape Town Minstrel Carnival

Cape Town

(1 January)

Cape Town likes to bring in the new year with a bang. Costumed minstrels parade through the streets dressed to the nines in brightly coloured matching outfits. Groups join the procession playing jazz, dancing, twirling and skipping through the streets. Most of the roads close off for the day so the best thing to do is grab a good spot and enjoy the show!

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person dressed up as a minstrel playing a drum in purple clothing for the cape town minstrel festival in south africa

The Royal Reed Dance

KwaZulu Natal Province

(2 September)

More than 10,000 Zulu maidens and young women take part in a four-day procession, wearing traditional dress and brandishing a reed - the symbol for the power of nature. The procession work their way towards the Zulu King’s KwaNyokeni Palace in KwaZulu Natal Province, dancing and singing as they go.

legs of people dancing at the royal reed dance in south africa

Cape Times Waterfront

Wine Festival

Cape Town

(8 - 11 May)

One for the foodies, this wine festival is set along the spectacular V&A Waterfront and brings together the best of the best wineries from all over South Africa. Expect delicious pairings with the finest of cheese and other delicacies to go alongside. Spend all day tasting and buying bottles of the countries best.

a group of people doing a toast with wine at the capes times waterfront wine festival in south africa

Rockin’ The Daisies

Darling

(5 - 8 October)

Rockin’ the daisies is easily South Africa’s biggest music and lifestyle festival. Taking place on the Cloof Wine Estate just outside Darling, this festival welcomes in over 25,000 people. Unlike most other music festivals, this one caters to every taste - pop, rock, folk, jazz, hip-hop, you name it, they have it.

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