South Africa is definitely one of the most beautiful and exciting countries for us. Our South Africa tour took us right across the country. You can generally travel to South Africa all year round, but there are different climate zones that you should be aware of. You can expect a desert climate, a subtropical climate, and even a Mediterranean climate. In the following article, you’ll learn more about the best time to travel to South Africa.
What else you should know
- What else you should know
- Best time to travel to South Africa
- Best time to travel for safaris
- Best time to travel to the Garden Route
- Best time to travel to Cape Town
- Best time to travel to Johannesburg
- Best time to travel to the West Coast
- Best time to travel to the East Coast
- Our conclusion on the best time to travel to South Africa
Best time to travel to South Africa
South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are the opposite of those in Germany. When summer is just around the corner here, it’s winter in South Africa. When it’s summer time in South Africa, winter sets in here. The same is true for spring and autumn. But when is actually the best time to travel to South Africa? We can’t give a clear answer.
It really depends on which region you want to visit. However, most people travel during the high season, in December and January. According to climate tables, you can expect midsummer temperatures and beautiful nature. However, you’ll share South Africa’s highlights with many other tourists. South Africans also have their holidays at this time. Hotels, tours, and flights can therefore quickly be fully booked and, above all, more expensive. It’s best to plan your trip well in advance.
Nevertheless, you can travel to South Africa all year round. If you don’t want to be around large crowds, you should choose the other seasons. You can also explore the country in spring, autumn, or winter. Of course, there are always months that are better suited than others. More detailed information can be found in the following article.
Best Time to Travel for Safaris
Would you like to go on a safari in South Africa and are wondering when the best time to go is? The answer is: During the South African winter months of June, July, August, September, and October. During this time, the national parks are low-growing, which makes observing the animals much easier. It is also very dry at this time, which is why the animals migrate to the watering holes. Another positive is that it is not quite as hot as in the summer months. However, it does get quite cold at night, but you can always curl up in your cozy bed.
For example, we were in the Krüger National Park in February. At that time, it was quite hot, with temperatures reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius. The vegetation in the park was also very tall, which made spotting the animals a bit tricky. The rain also meant there was plenty of water, which meant the watering holes were usually relatively quiet. Nevertheless, we saw almost all of the animals and had a wonderful time. If these points don’t bother you, this is also a great time to go on a South African safari.
We visited the Addo Elephant Park in October, among other months. At that time, everything was beautifully colorful, and the landscapes were lush green. We saw many animals in this park as well. The temperatures were very pleasant, around 24 degrees Celsius. According to climate charts, there is little rain between June and September.
Best Time to Visit the Garden Route
Are you planning a round trip along the Garden Route? Many people say the best time to visit this route is between October and April. A look at the climate charts shows that fantastic temperatures can be expected in South Africa’s spring and summer. It can also get hotter in summer. But on the coast, even these temperatures are bearable, as you can always feel the wind from the Atlantic or Indian Ocean.
According to online climate websites, it rains more frequently in this region during the winter months. As already mentioned, the busiest summer months of December and January are particularly busy, especially along the Garden Route. We traveled the Garden Route in March, September, and October. It was never overcrowded, and the weather was almost always really good. We usually always bring a windbreaker and long pants with us in South Africa anyway.
During our last trip in December and January, there was a lot going on in Cape Town and along the Garden Route. Luckily, we drove along the R62 from mid-December to early January, as there wasn’t really much going on. We wouldn’t travel to Cape Town and the Garden Route again from mid-December to mid-January. Many places are really crowded during the South African holidays!
Best Time to Visit Cape Town
Cape Town is one of our absolute favorite cities in the world. We particularly like the mix of beach, culture, nature, and metropolis. Cape Town is located on the southwest coast of the country. The best time to visit Cape Town is in December, January, and February. According to climate tables, summer temperatures, low humidity, and less rainfall can be expected during this time.
The best time to visit Cape Town is between the months of October, November, March, and April. During these months, you avoid the high season and don’t have to deal with excessively hot temperatures. If you want to explore Cape Town and the surrounding area, we recommend the South African spring and autumn. It is said to be quite cool and wet in Cape Town and the surrounding area during the winter months between June and September. Personally, we haven’t had any experience with winter in Cape Town.
Best time to visit Johannesburg
Are you planning a trip to Johannesburg and want to explore the surrounding area? You can actually travel to Johannesburg year-round. However, if you don’t like humid air and thunderstorms, you should avoid the months of November to March. Johannesburg lies at just under 1,700 meters above sea level, so it doesn’t get too hot even in summer.
Winters are mild, with sunshine during the day and pleasant temperatures. In the summer months from October to March/April, you should always expect rainfall. From May to September, it is somewhat cooler in Johannesburg, but there is also significantly less rain. According to climate tables, the best time to visit Johannesburg is in April and May and from August to September.
Best time to visit the West Coast
Would you like to see Cape Town, the Cederberg Mountains, and perhaps the Kalahari Desert? The best time to visit the west coast of South Africa is from October to March. During these months, it is pleasantly warm with little rainfall. The Kalahari region is particularly pleasant in winter (June to September). The air is dry then, and temperatures hover around 25 degrees Celsius. However, it can get very cold at night. From October to April, this region is very warm. Even in November, we had temperatures approaching 40°C in the Kalahari, which was quite something.
Best time to visit the East Coast
The east coast of South Africa is also a very popular region in the country, with many different highlights. We also found the east incredibly beautiful, because everything is already so rugged and wild. The climate on the coasts of KwaZulu-Natal is subtropical maritime. The summers are humid and hot with thunderstorms, the winters mild and dry.
The climate tables indicate that water temperatures in the Indian Ocean are actually inviting for swimming year-round. The best time to travel to Durban and the surrounding area is between May and September. From November to February/March, it is tropically hot and humid. We were very lucky on both trips to this region, with good weather in both March and October.
The climate in the Eastern Cape Province is maritime on the coasts and typically dry in the interior. Summers are warm, winters mild. Most of the rain is said to fall in the summer months, especially in January and March. In summer, the area around Port Elizabeth is as windy as the Cape, but the water temperatures are also suitable for swimming.
The best time to travel to the Eastern Cape Province is between May and August, when there is little rainfall. In summer, it is naturally much warmer on the coast, but you can expect more rainfall.
Our conclusion on the best time to travel to South Africa
We can conclude that there is actually no ONE optimal time to travel to South Africa. It is best to make a plan beforehand of what you want to see and do in South Africa. Then you can decide on a suitable travel time. If you definitely want to visit Krüger National Park, you should prefer the months of June to October. If you’re also planning a trip to Cape Town, the months of September to November or February to March are ideal.
For the well-visited and popular Garden Route, we recommend the months between October and April (high season, as everyone likes). But no matter what you choose, you can visit South Africa year-round. Outside of the summer months, pack a rain jacket and a thick sweater.