CLIMATE: WHEN TO GO TO SOUTH AFRICA |
SOUTH AFRICA |
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South African climate is a moderated climate, with local variations according to the altitude and the infuence of the warmth currents of the Indian Ocean on the Eastern coast, and of the colds currents of the Atlantic Ocean on the western coast. Climatic conditions generally range from Mediterranean in the southwestern corner of the country to temperate in the interior plateau, and subtropical in the northeast. A small area in the northwest has a desert climate. Although the climate varies from region to region, it is generally mild and sunny throughout the year. |
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The Western Cape region has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. The inner provinces of the Gauteng, the Cape interior and Free State have hot summers with occasional thundershowers and frosty winters, much of the interior consists of extensive high plains, known in South Africa as 'veld', with an altitude between 900 m and 1,800 m. KwaZulu Natal and part of Eastern Cape have a sub-tropical climate with high humidity in summer. The province of the Northern Cape is characterized from a semi-arid climate. On the whole it is a dry country with a mean annual rainfall of 502 mm.
Although South Africa's climate varies considerably across its various regions and environments, temperatures remain comfortable throughout the year. Rainfall generally occurs during summer (November through March), although in the southwest, around Cape Town, rainfall occurs in winter (from June through August), snowfall is limited to the highest mountain peaks. The best time to visit for safari is between May to August, when there is less rain and much less dense vegetation, making animal sightings far more frequent.
GAUTENG:
Pretoria: Dry winters with temperatures averaging 22 °C and 5°C. Hot summers with occasional thunderstorms, average temperatures 29°C to 17 °C.
Pretoria (Tshwane) |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
29 |
28 |
27 |
24 |
22 |
19 |
20 |
22 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
28 |
25 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
18 |
17 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
17 |
12 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
136 |
75 |
82 |
51 |
13 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
22 |
71 |
98 |
110 |
674 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
14 |
11 |
10 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
87 |
Johannesburg: Johannesburg climate has dry winter with temperatures ranging from 24°-16°C. Summer, the rainy season, is temperate with temperatures exceeding 30°C and afternoon thundershowers. The city enjoys a dry, sunny climate, with the exception of occasional late afternoon downpours in the summer months of October to April.
Johannesburg |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
26 |
25 |
24 |
21 |
19 |
16 |
17 |
19 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
22 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
15 |
14 |
13 |
10 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
14 |
10 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
125 |
90 |
91 |
54 |
13 |
9 |
4 |
6 |
27 |
72 |
117 |
105 |
713 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
16 |
11 |
12 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
99 |
WESTERN CAPE:
Cape Town: Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons, with winter (from May to September) rainfall and temperatures around 18°C. Summer time is generally warm with temperatures in the range of 25°C-27°C.
Cape Town |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
26 |
27 |
25 |
23 |
20 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
24 |
25 |
22 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
16 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
11 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
15 |
17 |
20 |
41 |
69 |
93 |
82 |
77 |
40 |
30 |
14 |
17 |
515 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
6 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
13 |
12 |
14 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
103 |
NORTHERN CAPE:
Upington: Upington located on the outskirts of the Kalahari desert, has a warm, dry climate, scarce rains fall between December and April. The best time to visit the region of Upington are the warm and sunny winter months between June and September.
UPINGTON |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Anno |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
36 |
34 |
32 |
28 |
24 |
21 |
21 |
23 |
27 |
30 |
33 |
35 |
29 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
20 |
20 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
13 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
24 |
35 |
37 |
26 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
17 |
17 |
189 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
4 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
37 |
EASTERN CAPE:
Port Elizabeth: Sub-tropical with winter rainfall. The city has mild temperatures ranging from 20°C to 9°C during winter and 25°C to 17°C during summer. Port Elizabeth enjoys more sunshine hours than any other coastal city in South Africa. The city boasts a moderate climate all year round with sea temperatures ranging from 16°C in Winter to 23°C in Summer.
Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay) |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
25 |
25 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
24 |
22 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
18 |
18 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
16 |
14 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
36 |
40 |
54 |
58 |
59 |
62 |
47 |
64 |
62 |
59 |
49 |
34 |
624 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
9 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
11 |
11 |
9 |
112 |
KWAZULU-NATAL:
Durban: Sub-tropical, mild and sunny winters, hot and humid summers. Average temperatures are around 16°C to 25°C year round. Rain is frequent in the summer months of October to April as late afternoon downpours.
Durban |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
28 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
27 |
25 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
21 |
21 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
17 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
134 |
113 |
120 |
73 |
59 |
28 |
39 |
62 |
73 |
98 |
108 |
102 |
1009 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
15 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
11 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
130 |
FREE STATE:
Bloemfontein: Dry winters, from May to August with temperatures around 17°C in the day and reaching -2°C at night. Summer ranges from October to February and has much warmer temperatures around 30°C during the day and cloud bursts in the afternoon. Snow is a rare event.
Bloemfontein (Mangaung) |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
31 |
29 |
27 |
23 |
20 |
17 |
17 |
20 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
30 |
24 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
15 |
15 |
12 |
8 |
3 |
-2 |
-2 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
8 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
83 |
111 |
72 |
56 |
17 |
12 |
8 |
15 |
24 |
43 |
58 |
60 |
559 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
11 |
11 |
11 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
84 |
MPUMALANGA:
Nelspruit: Sub-tropical with daily maximum temperatures around 23°C during winter and warming up to 29°C during summer, rainy season is between November and March.
Nelspruit |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
29 |
29 |
28 |
27 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
25 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
28 |
27 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
19 |
19 |
18 |
14 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
17 |
18 |
13 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
127 |
108 |
90 |
51 |
15 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
26 |
75 |
115 |
131 |
767 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
14 |
12 |
12 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
15 |
14 |
100 |
LIMPOPO:
Polokwane: Tropical climate with winter temperatures between 20°C and 4°C and summer temperatures between 28°C-16°C. Although its position on the Tropic of the Capricorn, the city enjoys a mild climate thanks to the altitude. The rainy season is in summer between November and January.
Polokwane (Pietersburg) |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
28 |
28 |
27 |
24 |
22 |
20 |
20 |
22 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
25 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
17 |
17 |
15 |
12 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
15 |
16 |
12 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
82 |
60 |
52 |
33 |
11 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
17 |
43 |
85 |
81 |
478 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
10 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
65 |
NORTH-WEST PROVINCE:
Rustenburg: Rustenburg enjoys a sub-tropical climate with temperatures between 2º C and 20ºC during winter and 22ºC and 35°C during summer. Occasional afternoon thunderstorms between August and March.
RUSTENBURG |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Anno |
Average daily maximum temperature (°C) |
32 |
31 |
30 |
27 |
25 |
22 |
22 |
26 |
28 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
28 |
Average daily minimum temperature (°C) |
19 |
18 |
16 |
12 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
12 |
Average monthly precipitation (mm) |
78 |
71 |
58 |
38 |
6 |
12 |
3 |
5 |
25 |
57 |
61 |
105 |
519 |
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm) |
10 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
69 |
