Climate and travel time

South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere, so it is winter there when it is summer here and vice versa. The climate in the southwest around Cape Town is Mediterranean, the further you travel along the coast to the northeast, the more subtropical it becomes. The interior of the country is warm and dry. The country can be visited all year round, every season has its beautiful and unique aspects.

In the following overview, we have provided average information on the climate and travel time for each month. Of course, we cannot guarantee the actual weather.

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JANUARY

Climate southwest: It is midsummer and warm to hot with 25°C to over 30°C. The wind provides some cooling and lowers the humidity. At night it cools down to a pleasant 15°C to 20°C. It is usually dry, but the odd rain shower cannot be ruled out. The Indian Ocean has pleasant bathing temperatures.

Northeast climate: It is midsummer and usually over 30°C. On the coast, humidity can be high as it is the height of the rainy season, so be prepared for some short but heavy downpours or thunderstorms. Inland it is somewhat more moderate. The Indian Ocean has very good bathing temperatures.

Travel time: Until mid-January is high season and it is very busy everywhere. Early bookings are essential. Flights are very expensive over Christmas and New Year. From mid-January, the situation eases considerably. Flights are inexpensive and last-minute bookings are usually possible without any problems. This is the ideal time for sun-seekers and beach lovers.

FEBRUARY

Climate southwest: It is late summer and still warm to hot with temperatures of up to 30°C. The wind provides some cooling and lowers the humidity. At night it cools down to a pleasant 15°C to 18°C. It is usually dry, but the odd rain shower cannot be ruled out. The Indian Ocean still has pleasant bathing temperatures.

Northeast climate: It is late summer and usually around 30°C. On the coast, humidity can be high as it is still the rainy season, so be prepared for some short but heavy downpours or thunderstorms. Inland it is somewhat more moderate. The Indian Ocean has very good bathing temperatures.

Travel time: February is actually low season, but in recent years the attractiveness of Cape Town and the Garden Route in particular has increased significantly due to the less hot weather. Flight prices are within the normal range and last-minute bargains are definitely possible. Early booking is recommended, especially for the southwest.

MARCH

Climate southwest: It is late summer and with temperatures of up to 25°C still pleasantly warm. Sometimes temperatures can even reach 30°C. At night it cools down to around 15°C. It is usually dry, but the odd rain shower cannot be ruled out, as the rainy season is about to begin in the southwest. The Indian Ocean still has pleasant bathing temperatures.

Northeast climate: It is late summer and warm to hot at 25°C to 30°C. Humidity decreases slightly on the coast and the rainy season is slowly coming to an end. A few showers are still possible. Inland it is somewhat more moderate. The Indian Ocean has very good bathing temperatures.

Travel time: The same applies for the period before Easter as for February. There are several major events in Cape Town and the surrounding area in March (e.g. Cape Argus bicycle races, wine festivals for the harvest etc.), which can lead to extreme shortages of accommodation. The two weeks around Easter are absolutely peak season, flights are expensive and very early booking is essential.

APRIL

Climate southwest: Autumn is slowly arriving and can bring quite cool and sometimes rainy nights. During the day it is up to 25°C but still warm and often dry, and swimming in the Indian Ocean is still possible.

Northeast climate: Despite the approaching fall, it is still very warm on the coast and in Kruger Park at 25°C to 30°C. The dry season begins slowly, the showers and thus also the humidity decrease. It is mostly sunny. It gets cooler in the interior and in the mountains, especially at night. The Indian Ocean has good bathing temperatures.

Travel time: As soon as Easter is over, the booking situation eases. Flights are cheap and last-minute bookings are usually no problem. If you want good weather, you should focus your trip on the north-east. The onset of drought there makes for good game viewing opportunities and there are good bathing conditions in Durban and to the north.

MAY

Climate southwest: Temperatures continue to fall. During the day it is mild with up to 20°C, at night it can get chilly. Rain showers can occur more frequently.

Northeast climate: Thanks to the onset of the dry season, it is mostly sunny and pleasantly warm on the coast and in Kruger Park, with temperatures of up to 25°C. At night, it cools down noticeably. It cools down noticeably at night. The Indian Ocean near Durban and north of there are good bathing temperatures. It can be cooler inland and in the mountains.

Travel time: The whale season begins in the southwest and the drought in the northeast means that the grass is low and the animals have to come to the waterholes to drink. The conditions are ideal for game viewing. The coast of the northern KwaZulu-Natal still offers good bathing conditions. Flights are cheap and many accommodations offer special rates.

JUNE

Climate southwest: June is the coldest and rainiest month, it hardly gets warmer than 20°C. The further east you travel along the coast or inland, the better the weather. It is cool at night and there can even be frost.

Northeast climate: It is mostly sunny and dry. On the coast and in Kruger Park, temperatures are usually around 25°C during the day, but it gets cold at night. Snow can fall in the mountains. In the Indian Ocean near Durban and to the north, the bathing temperatures are pleasant.

Travel time: June is the least frequented travel month in South Africa. This is the best time for those seeking peace and relaxation. Thanks to the whale season in the south-west and the drought in the north-east, animal lovers are particularly well catered for. Even a beach holiday is still possible north of Durban. Flights and accommodation are inexpensive.

JULY

Climate southwest: Temperatures will slowly rise and reach the 20°C mark again. However, rain showers must still be expected. However, sunny days with 25°C are also possible. The nights are still cool and swimming in the Indian Ocean is reserved for the very hardy.

Northeast climate: It is the height of the dry season and continues to be sunny and dry. Temperatures on the coast and in the Kruger Park are never below 25°C, but it is still cool at night. Inland and in the mountains it can also be cooler during the day. The Indian Ocean near Durban and north of it has pleasant bathing temperatures.

Travel time: Tourism is picking up noticeably thanks to the start of the vacation season in Europe. Flights and accommodation should be booked well in advance. The national parks in particular are often fully booked well in advance due to the good wildlife viewing opportunities.

AUGUST

Climate southwest: Spring is on its way, bringing warm days with temperatures above 20°C. It can still be cool at night and rain showers are still possible.

Northeast climate: It is now also getting significantly warmer in the temperate interior, only in the mountains can it still be cool. It is still mostly sunny and dry and temperatures almost always reach 25°C. The Indian Ocean in Durban and north of it is ideal for swimming.

Travel time: Due to the vacation season, it is particularly busy in the national parks and early bookings are required, including for flights. The flower season begins in the Northern Cape. Entire regions are in full bloom and the few accommodations here are booked out well in advance. The whale season in the south-west is approaching its peak and the north-east still offers ideal game viewing opportunities.

SEPTEMBER

Climate southwest: The days are warm with up to 25°C and often sunny, the rain is slowly decreasing. This is the ideal climate for people who want to avoid the extreme heat. In the Little Karoo semi-desert, temperatures of over 25°C can be reached. However, the Indian Ocean is still too cold for swimming.

Northeast climate: With temperatures around 25°C and above, it is pleasantly warm and often sunny and dry. Inland and in the mountains it can be a little cooler. The nights are not as cold. Bathing temperatures are also improving again on the coast south of Durban.

Travel time: The big July and August tourist crowds are gone and before the next wave of vacation travel starts in October, you can take a deep breath. Nevertheless, September is becoming increasingly popular as it is not yet as hot as in midsummer and there is plenty to do (whale season in the southwest, dry season and good bathing conditions in the northeast, flower season in the northwest, etc.). Flights and accommodation should be booked relatively early, but sometimes bargains can be found at short notice.

OCTOBER

Climate southwest: The rainy season ends in the southwest and early summer begins with daytime temperatures of around 25°C and many sunny spells. The nights are also getting milder again. However, the odd rain shower is still possible. The first swimmers are also venturing back into the Indian Ocean.

Northeast climate: The dry season is coming to an end and the first rain showers may appear. However, it is still mostly sunny and dry. Daytime temperatures are 25°C or higher, sometimes lower in the interior. Pleasant bathing temperatures prevail in the Indian Ocean.

Travel time: The next vacation wave is approaching and flights and accommodation are often booked up quickly. Early booking is advisable. The north-south divide in the weather is disappearing and there is a balanced and pleasant climate throughout the country. It is still whale season and the wildlife viewing opportunities in the North East remain good.

NOVEMBER

Climate southwest: It is mostly sunny and warm, with temperatures around 25°C or above. However, a few rain showers are always possible. The Indian Ocean is getting warmer and warmer and is slowly reaching pleasant bathing temperatures.

Northeast climate: The rainy season begins and humidity can increase, especially on the coast and in Kruger Park. Daytime temperatures can exceed 30°C, at night it is pleasant. Expect short but heavy rain showers or thunderstorms, usually in the afternoon. Otherwise it is sunny. The Indian Ocean has good bathing temperatures.

Travel time: While November used to be the classic "last-minute" travel month, the booking situation has risen sharply in recent years. For early and mid-November, we recommend booking flights and accommodation early to avoid disappointment. Whale season ends in the southwest. Good game viewing is still possible in the northeast, especially on guided game drives. Swimming is now possible again along the entire coast.

DECEMBER

Climate southwest: Midsummer arrives with temperatures of up to 30°C or more. At night it cools down to a pleasant 15°C to 20°C. The sunny weather is now quite stable and rain showers are rare. The wind ensures that the humidity does not rise too much. In the interior, temperatures can rise to well over 30°C. The Indian Ocean is ideal for swimming.

Climate North East: It is very warm to hot and temperatures are usually above 30°C, in the mountains it is more pleasant at 25°C. There is high humidity on the coast and in the Kruger Park. In addition to sunny spells, heavy but brief showers or thunderstorms can occur. The Indian Ocean has very good bathing temperatures.

Travel time: The end of November to mid-December will be quiet again, and cheap flights are sometimes available. An ideal time to escape the gray November weather in Germany. Around Christmas and New Year's Eve, the big chaos begins. If you haven't booked at least three quarters of a year in advance, you won't be able to get flights or accommodation.