TravPa

Best time to visit South Africa

The best months are March, April, September, and October. Here is what every month is like, and what flights cost lately.

Month by month

Cape Town's December to February summer brings dry outdoor days, but wind can interrupt the cableway and island ferry; keep a spare weather window.

  1. JanuaryGo with a plan: HotTypically 29°C by day, 15°C at night, rain on about 15 days a month
  2. FebruaryGo with a plan: HotTypically 28°C by day, 15°C at night, rain on about 16 days a month
  3. MarchBestTypically 28°C by day, 14°C at night, rain on about 9 days a month
  4. AprilBestTypically 24°C by day, 11°C at night, rain on about 9 days a month
  5. MayGo with a plan: MildTypically 22°C by day, 7°C at night, rain on about 3 days a month
  6. JuneGo with a plan: ColdTypically 19°C by day, 4°C at night, rain on about 2 days a month
  7. JulyGo with a plan: ColdTypically 19°C by day, 3°C at night, rain on about 1 days a month
  8. AugustGo with a plan: ColdTypically 23°C by day, 6°C at night, rain on about 1 days a month
  9. SeptemberBestTypically 28°C by day, 10°C at night, rain on about 2 days a month
  10. OctoberBestTypically 29°C by day, 12°C at night, rain on about 7 days a month
  11. NovemberGo with a plan: HotTypically 28°C by day, 14°C at night, rain on about 14 days a month
  12. DecemberGo with a plan: HotTypically 28°C by day, 15°C at night, rain on about 17 days a month

Typical weather is for Johannesburg: averages of NASA POWER daily data, 2016 to 2025, on a grid of about 50 km. Mountains and coasts can differ.

Plan the days

Brick facade and red-framed windows of Mandela House in Soweto, Johannesburg
Mandela House stands on Vilakazi Street in Soweto. · Adapted from A. Bailey, with edits by Junkyardsparkle · Adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Johannesburg in 2 daysConstitution Hill, Braamfontein, Wits Art Museum, Keyes Art Mile, Rosebank, Hector Pieterson Museum, Vilakazi Street, Apartheid Museum2 days, South AfricaBalanced pace
Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head across Table Bay from Bloubergstrand
Table Mountain rises above Cape Town across Table Bay. · Adapted from South African Tourism, Table Mountain from Blouberg · CC BY 2.0
Cape Town in 3 daysTable Mountain, Bo-Kaap, District Six, Boulders, Cape Point, Robben Island, Zeitz MOCAA, V&A Waterfront3 days, South AfricaBalanced pace
Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head across Table Bay from Bloubergstrand
Table Mountain rises above Cape Town across Table Bay. · Adapted from South African Tourism, Table Mountain from Blouberg · CC BY 2.0
South Africa in 7 daysCape Town, Table Mountain, Boulders, Cape Point, Robben Island, Johannesburg, Constitution Hill, Soweto7 days, South AfricaBalanced pace