The Best Times to Visit South Africa

Discover the best things to see and do in South Africa all year round…

Best time to visit

South Africa has a pleasant climate all year long, but the weather can vary depending on where and when you go. Whether you want to take a sunny drive through the Garden Route or hide from the rain in one of Cape Town’s wonderful restaurants, there’s something to enjoy no matter the time of year.

At Scott Dunn, our travel experts know the best times to go to South Africa for all kinds of different experiences and can help you plan a truly bespoke holiday based on when you want to travel. From tourist-avoiding tricks to hotel recommendations, let us help you discover the best of South Africa throughout the seasons.



When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

Looking for the best time to go to South Africa?

The ideal time for a South African holiday depends on what you’d like to see and do. From spotting game in the national parks to exploring the Western Cape’s dramatic beaches, there’s something to enjoy all year long.

Because it’s in the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa’s seasons are opposite to the UK’s, with June, July and August being the main winter months. However, just because it’s winter, that doesn’t mean it’s cold; temperatures are typically in the high 20s during this time. Pleasant weather throughout the year makes South Africa a great destination to visit, no matter the season.

Here are some of our top ways to enjoy South Africa’s stunning natural sites and bustling cities throughout the year.

Climate guide for South Africa

, South Africa

Average temperatures (Celsius) and rainfall (mm)

Jan
33°C 17mm
Feb
33°C 5mm
Mar
31°C 6mm
Apr
30°C 7mm
May
28°C 9mm
Jun
25°C 12mm
Jul
24°C 12mm
Aug
26°C 11mm
Sep
29°C 13mm
Oct
30°C 5mm
Nov
29°C 4mm
Dec
32°C 3mm
Jan
33°C 3mm
Feb
35°C 3mm
Mar
34°C 4mm
Apr
34°C 5mm
May
32°C 2mm
Jun
29°C 2mm
Jul
28°C 3mm
Aug
31°C 3mm
Sep
31°C 3mm
Oct
31°C 4mm
Nov
29°C 4mm
Dec
33°C 3mm
Jan
32°C 4mm
Feb
34°C 3mm
Mar
33°C 7mm
Apr
34°C 4mm
May
32°C 3mm
Jun
28°C 3mm
Jul
27°C 3mm
Aug
29°C 4mm
Sep
33°C 5mm
Oct
32°C 5mm
Nov
31°C 4mm
Dec
32°C 3mm
Jan
33°C 17mm
Feb
32°C 16mm
Mar
34°C 12mm
Apr
32°C 8mm
May
29°C 2mm
Jun
29°C 1mm
Jul
29°C 2mm
Aug
32°C 2mm
Sep
35°C 3mm
Oct
36°C 6mm
Nov
34°C 11mm
Dec
35°C 14mm
Jan
32°C 9mm
Feb
31°C 10mm
Mar
30°C 8mm
Apr
28°C 5mm
May
25°C 1mm
Jun
25°C 1mm
Jul
23°C 2mm
Aug
26°C 1mm
Sep
31°C 2mm
Oct
32°C 4mm
Nov
32°C 6mm
Dec
32°C 9mm
Jan
34°C 15mm
Feb
34°C 26mm
Mar
32°C 16mm
Apr
31°C 10mm
May
29°C 5mm
Jun
28°C 2mm
Jul
27°C 4mm
Aug
31°C 3mm
Sep
33°C 6mm
Oct
33°C 10mm
Nov
33°C 12mm
Dec
34°C 16mm
Jan
37°C 4mm
Feb
35°C 6mm
Mar
35°C 8mm
Apr
32°C 2mm
May
29°C 0mm
Jun
28°C 0mm
Jul
27°C 0mm
Aug
32°C 0mm
Sep
36°C 0mm
Oct
37°C 1mm
Nov
38°C 2mm
Dec
37°C 4mm
Jan
38°C 5mm
Feb
36°C 7mm
Mar
34°C 10mm
Apr
32°C 4mm
May
28°C 1mm
Jun
26°C 1mm
Jul
25°C 1mm
Aug
29°C 1mm
Sep
34°C 1mm
Oct
36°C 1mm
Nov
37°C 2mm
Dec
36°C 4mm
Jan
35°C 14mm
Feb
35°C 1mm
Mar
35°C 8mm
Apr
32°C 5mm
May
29°C 7mm
Jun
26°C 10mm
Jul
25°C 11mm
Aug
25°C 9mm
Sep
29°C 6mm
Oct
32°C 5mm
Nov
32°C 2mm
Dec
32°C 2mm
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Plan your South Africa trip today

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