What is the best time to visit South Africa?

Best Time to Visit South Africa

The best time to travel to South Africa is during Spring (September to November) and Summer (December to February).

Spring in South Africa

Spring in South Africa is a time of renewal and growth. The days are sunny and mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties Celsius. This is an ideal time for travelers to explore the country’s many attractions, such as Kruger National Park, Table Mountain, and the Garden Route. During this season, visitors can also experience the vibrant colors of the wildflowers that bloom throughout the country. Spring is also a great time to attend the annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in South Africa

South Africa in January

Weather

January in South Africa is the start of the summer season. Temperatures are usually warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 18-30°C (64-86°F). Rainfall is generally low, but there may be some thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Events

• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is held in Cape Town, South Africa. It is the largest jazz festival in Africa, and features a variety of international and local jazz musicians.
• The KwaZulu-Natal Arts Festival is held in Durban, South Africa. It is a celebration of the arts, culture and heritage of the region, and features music, art, theatre, and film.
• The South African National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown, South Africa. It is the largest annual celebration of the arts in South Africa, and features music, theatre, dance, visual art, and literature.
• The South African Music Awards is held in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the largest music awards ceremony in South Africa, and celebrates the best in South African music.
• The South African Film and Television Awards is held in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the largest film and television awards ceremony in South Africa, and celebrates the best in South African film and television.

South Africa in January

Weather

January in South Africa is the beginning of summer, and temperatures range from mild to hot depending on the region. The average temperature in the coastal regions is around 24°C (75°F), while inland regions can reach up to 30°C (86°F). The days are generally sunny, but there is an increased chance of rain in the afternoon in some areas.

Events

• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is held in the first week of March. This is one of the largest music festivals in the world, featuring over 40 international and local artists.
• The South African National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. This is one of the largest and most diverse cultural events in the country, featuring theatre, music, dance, visual arts, and more.
• The South African Open is a professional golf tournament held in Johannesburg. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the country and attracts some of the best golfers from around the world.
• The South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) is held in Johannesburg. This is the premier event for South African film and television, and it celebrates the best of the industry.
• The Cape Town Cycle Tour is held in the second week of March. This is the largest timed cycle race in the world, and it attracts cyclists from around the world.

South Africa in March

Weather

March in South Africa is the beginning of autumn, with temperatures ranging from 10-20 degrees Celsius. The days are usually sunny, with some rainfall in the evening.

Events

• The South African National Arts Festival in Grahamstown is an annual event that takes place in March, featuring a variety of performances, art exhibitions, and workshops.
• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a popular event that takes place in March, featuring some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Cape Argus Cycle Tour is the world’s largest timed cycle race, and takes place in March in Cape Town.
• The KKNK (Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees) is an annual arts and culture festival that takes place in Oudtshoorn in March.
• The South African Music Awards is an annual event that takes place in March, celebrating the best in South African music.

South Africa in April

Weather

April marks the beginning of autumn in South Africa, with temperatures ranging from mild to warm depending on the region. The days are generally sunny and dry, with the occasional rain shower. In the Western Cape, temperatures can reach up to 25°C (77°F) during the day, and drop to around 10°C (50°F) at night.

Events

• The South African Heritage Day is celebrated on April 24th. This holiday is dedicated to the diverse cultures and traditions of the country, and is celebrated with parades, music, and traditional food.
• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place in April. This is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world, and features a variety of international and local acts.
• The South African National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown in April. This festival features a variety of performances, including theatre, music, dance, and visual arts.
• The South African Cheese Festival is held in Stellenbosch in April. This festival celebrates South African cheese, with tastings, cooking demonstrations, and cheese-making workshops.
• The South African International Tattoo Convention is held in Johannesburg in April. This convention features a variety of tattoo artists from around the world, and showcases the latest trends in tattoo art.

South Africa in May

Weather

In May, South Africa is transitioning from autumn to winter. Temperatures are mild during the day, ranging from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius, and cooler at night, ranging from 8 to 15 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is common, with an average of 8 to 10 days of rain per month.

Events

• Workers’ Day (May 1): Workers’ Day in South Africa is a public holiday that celebrates the achievements of the labour movement.
• Freedom Day (May 27): Freedom Day in South Africa marks the anniversary of the first democratic elections in 1994.
• Cape Town International Jazz Festival (May 1-2): The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is an annual music festival that features over 40 international and local jazz acts.
• Jozi Film Festival (May 6-16): The Jozi Film Festival is an annual film festival that showcases local and international films.
• South African Cheese Festival (May 8-9): The South African Cheese Festival is an annual celebration of cheese, with cheese-tasting, cheese-making demonstrations, and more.

South Africa in June

Weather

June in South Africa is the start of winter and temperatures begin to drop. The average temperature is around 12°C (54°F) with the coldest temperatures occurring in the highlands. Rainfall is common throughout the country, with the highest rainfall occurring in the eastern parts.

Events

• The South African National Arts Festival (SANAF) is held in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape from the 2nd to the 11th of June. This festival showcases the best of South African music, theatre, dance, and visual art.
• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is held from the 2nd to the 4th of June. This festival is the largest music event in Africa and features some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The South African Cheese Festival is held in Stellenbosch from the 8th to the 10th of June. This festival celebrates the best of South African cheese, with food stalls, cooking demonstrations, and cheese-tasting sessions.
• The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) hosts the World Environment Day celebrations on the 5th of June. This event is an opportunity for South Africans to come together and celebrate the country’s biodiversity and take action for a more sustainable future.
• The South African Heritage Day is celebrated on the 24th of June. This day celebrates the diverse cultures and traditions of South Africa and is marked by traditional ceremonies, music, and dance.

South Africa in July

Weather

July is winter in South Africa and the weather is generally cool and dry. Temperatures range from 10-20 degrees Celsius (50-68 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, with temperatures dropping to around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. Rainfall is low, with an average of 15-30 mm of rain during the month.

Events

• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place in Cape Town in late March. It is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world, with over 40,000 people attending each year.
• The Franschhoek Literary Festival is held in the Franschhoek Valley in the Western Cape. It is a four-day event that features readings, talks, and workshops from some of South Africa’s leading authors.
• The National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. It is one of the largest arts festivals in Africa, with over 1000 performances, exhibitions, and workshops taking place over 11 days.
• The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the world’s largest timed cycle race, with over 35,000 cyclists taking part. The race takes place in March and covers 109 km around the Cape Peninsula.
• The South African Music Awards is held in Johannesburg in July. It is the country’s premier music awards ceremony, with awards given out in a variety of genres.

South Africa in August

Weather

August is the start of the dry season in South Africa. Temperatures can range from mild to hot, with an average temperature of 19°C (66°F). Rainfall is low, and the days are generally sunny.

Events

• The annual Oppikoppi Music Festival takes place in August. This music festival is held in Northam, Limpopo and features a range of South African and international artists.
• The South African National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown in August. This festival features a range of performances, including music, dance, theatre, and visual arts.
• The South African Wine Festival takes place in August. This festival is held in Johannesburg and features a range of South African wines.
• The South African Cheese Festival is held in Stellenbosch in August. This festival features a range of local and international cheeses.
• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is held in Cape Town in August. This festival features a range of jazz musicians from around the world.

South Africa in September

Weather

September marks the start of spring in South Africa and the weather is generally mild and pleasant. Average temperatures range from around 17-25°C (63-77°F) during the day, and 7-15°C (45-59°F) at night. There is usually some rain during the month, but it is usually light and short-lived.

Events

• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place in early April and is one of the biggest music events in the country. It features performances from both local and international artists.
• The South African National Arts Festival (SANAF) is an annual celebration of South African culture and art. It takes place in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape and features music, theatre, dance, and visual art.
• The South African Cheese Festival is held in Stellenbosch each year and celebrates the country’s cheese-making heritage. It features tastings, cooking demonstrations, and competitions.
• The Knysna Oyster Festival is an annual event that celebrates the town’s oyster industry. It includes a variety of activities such as oyster shucking competitions, music, and food stalls.
• The South African Wine Festival is held in Johannesburg each year and celebrates the country’s wine-making heritage. It includes tastings, food stalls, and live music.

South Africa in October

Weather

October is the start of the summer season in South Africa. The temperatures are warm and the days are long. The average temperature in October is around 20°C (68°F). The days are usually sunny and the nights are mild.

Events

• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is held in Cape Town in October. It is one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world and attracts some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Hermanus Whale Festival is held in Hermanus in October. It is a celebration of the Southern Right Whales which migrate to the area in October. There are whale watching cruises, live music, and other activities.
• The KKNK (Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees) is an annual arts festival held in Oudtshoorn in October. It is one of the biggest arts festivals in South Africa and features performances by local and international artists.
• The Knysna Oyster Festival is held in Knysna in October. It is a celebration of the local oyster industry and features a variety of activities including oyster shucking competitions, live music, and other activities.
• The Cape Town International Kite Festival is held in Cape Town in October. It is an annual event which features kite flying competitions, live music, food stalls, and other activities.

South Africa in November

Weather

November in South Africa is the beginning of the summer season. The temperature starts to rise, and the days become longer and sunnier. The average temperature in November is around 24°C (75°F) during the day and 16°C (61°F) at night.

Events

• The South African National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown from 1-10 November. This festival celebrates the best of South African culture, featuring music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and literature.
• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is held on the first weekend of November. This festival is the largest of its kind in Africa, and features performances by some of the world’s best jazz musicians.
• The South African Book Fair is held in Johannesburg from 8-11 November. This event celebrates the best of South African literature and provides an opportunity for authors to meet with their readers.
• The South African National Beer Festival is held in Johannesburg from 15-17 November. This event celebrates the best of South African beer, with tastings, food stalls, and live music.
• The Cape Town International Film Festival is held from 22-25 November. This event showcases the best of South African and international films, with screenings, workshops, and panel discussions.

South Africa in December

Weather

December in South Africa is the start of summer, with temperatures ranging from the low 20s Celsius (68-72°F) to the high 30s Celsius (86-95°F) depending on the region. The sun is out for most of the day, and the evenings are mild and pleasant.

Events

• The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is held in the coastal town of Knysna, and is a celebration of the local oyster industry. The festival includes live music, food stalls, and a variety of activities for all ages.
• The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is one of the largest music festivals in the country, and takes place at the end of March. The festival features a variety of international and local jazz artists, as well as other genres of music.
• The South African National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown, and is the largest celebration of the arts in the country. The festival includes a variety of theatre, music, dance, and visual arts performances.
• The Cape Town Cycle Tour is an annual event that takes place in March, and is the largest timed cycling event in the world. The race is 109km long, and takes riders through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
• The Wild Coast Sun Challenge is an annual mountain bike race that takes place in the Eastern Cape. The race is over 100km long, and takes riders through some of the most challenging terrain in the country.