Weather in South Africa | Intrepid Travel NL

What's the weather like in South Africa?

South Africa’s geography is diverse and so the climate and weather patterns vary across the country. The weather conditions can range from a chilly -15°C in the Northern Cape's Roggeveld Mountains in winter, to a sweaty 40°C in Kruger National Park at the height of summer. Generally, the northern, southern and eastern provinces have a subtropical or subtropical-oceanic climate with hot, rainy summers and dry, warm winters, while the Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Winter snowfall is common at higher elevations like the Matroosberg and Drakensberg mountains.

Weather in Cape Town

Located in the Western Cape, South Africa’s capital city has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm and sunny with highs averaging a comfortable 27°C thanks to the ocean breeze, though it does occasionally reach the mid-30s due to a hot, dry berg wind that rolls in from the high central plateau. Winters are mild with average highs of 20°C and lows of 7 to 12°C, but temperatures can drop to near-freezing on the coolest winter nights. The wind can also make it feel chillier, so we recommend packing a warm jacket and a beanie. Unlike the country’s subtropical regions which get most of their rain in the summer, winter is the wettest season in Cape Town with most of the annual rainfall occurring in June.

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
December to February (summer)	28	17
March to May (autumn)	25	15
June to August (winter)	20	12
September to November (spring)	23	14

Weather in Durban

Located on the east coast in the KwaZulu-Natal province, Durban has a subtropical climate with a distinct wet and dry season. Summers are long, hot and muggy with an average high temperature of 29°C. It rains throughout the year, but January, February and March are usually the wettest months, so expect frequent showers and afternoon thunderstorms. Cyclones are also possible between December and April. Durban is known for its mild winters which see average lows of 11 to 15°C and highs of 24°C, which makes it warm enough to sit outside with a t-shirt during the day. The sea temperature lingers between a pleasant 22 and 26°C throughout the year.

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
December to February (summer)	29	21
March to May (autumn)	27	17
June to August (winter)	24	12
September to November (spring)	25	17

Weather in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is located on South Africa’s eastern plateau known as the Highveld. It has a subtropical highland climate with long, hot summers that see an average temperature of 26°C, though humidity can make it feel a bit hotter. The rainy season lasts from October to April, but it usually takes the form of afternoon thunderstorms and the rest of the day is dry and bright. Winter days see mostly dry and sunny conditions with an average high of 18°C, while the nights are cold with an average low of 3°C due to the altitude. Spring and autumn are mild with pleasant daytime temperatures and plenty of sunshine, though nights are cool so you’ll need a mix of warm and cool weather gear.

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
December to February (summer)	26	14
March to May (autumn)	22	9
June to August (winter)	18	3
September to November (spring)	25	10

Weather in Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park has a subtropical climate with a wet and dry season. The wet summer months between October and April are hot and sweaty with an average high of 32°C, though it’s not rare for it to top 40°C. The humidity can also make the heat more intense. Mornings are usually dry, with showers and heavy downpours occurring in the afternoon. Winters are dry and warm with daytime temperatures of 26°C to 29°C, but it can drop to below 10°C at night so make sure you pack a warm jacket, beanie and long pants for morning and evening game drives.

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
December to February (summer)	32	20
March to May (autumn)	29	16
June to August (winter)	26	10
September to November (spring)	30	17