Timings are difficult to get right because the rains dictate the bloom. The best time of year to visit South Africa is also influenced by your interests. That said, the summer months (November to April) are often cheaper, the lush vegetation is spectacular, and baby animals can make an appearance. Temperatures drop dramatically during the winter, with many of the higher trails coated in ice and snow. Best time to visit South Africa for Safaris The best months for viewing wildlife are June, July and August. The wildflowers are in full bloom by September; visit Namaqualand to see its vast arid expanses carpeted with bright flowers. South Africa is on the whole a dry, sunny country. South Africa’s midsummer is December and January, when resorts in popular tourist destinations are often booked up months in advance. Deciding when to go on safari depends on what country you would like to visit and when you can plan your trip. Best time to go to South Africa. The Best Time to Visit Busan, South Korea, Weather in Africa: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Tripsavvy uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Picture: Taryn Elliott/Pexels. The garden route and Eastern cape experience … Africa’s largest jazz festival attracts big stars like Courtney Pine, Herbie Hancock, and African greats such as Jimmy Dludlu, Moses Molelekwa, Youssou N’Dour, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela. your username. Performances include stage dance, concerts, and more, performed by both local and international talents. April is drier the length and breadth of the country, so you could perhaps combine a city break in Cape Town with wildlife adventures in the north. If you want to do some real … Africa’s largest arts jamboree, with its own fringe festival – ten days of jazz, classical music, dance, cabaret and theatre spanning every conceivable type of performance. Joburg’s flagship jazz festival offers three days of varied music, including big names such as Abdullah Ibrahim and Salif Keita. East of Johannesburg, the lowveld, which includes Kruger and much of Swaziland, is subject to similar summer and winter rainfall as the highveld. All things considered, September is the best month to travel to South Africa to experience a combination of all the country has to offer. You will witness pleasant sunny days or sunshine for at least 11 hours a day. If sunbathing is your top priority, then summer (November to January) is undoubtedly the hottest time of year. The 11-day-long festival includes theatrical dramas, opera, street entertainers, and visual art. Cape Town and the Western Cape experience winter rainfall and a largely dry, hot summer. If you're traveling on a budget, avoid the rush of high summer, when accommodation and activities are at their most expensive across the much of the country. In general, high temperatures range from around 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Fall is one of the best times to visit South Africa. Creating a sea of orange, pink, purple, yellow, and white, the super bloom includes over 3,500 different species, of which almost a third are endemic. At this time of year, the scenery is also mainly green and beautiful in the wake of the summer rains. However, it usually starts in the far north in late July or early August, moving slowly south until it fades in September. Three-day celebration of books, writers and wine in the Winelands food capital, featuring leading local and international writers, editors and cartoonists. Final Thoughts on the Best Time to go to South Africa . May through September is typically the drier season, covering winter and a shorter spring season, and making it ideal for game drives and other outdoor activities. The best time to visit South Africa really depends on your interests. The best time to visit depends mostly on what you want to do. For generally good weather for whatever you want to do, the best time to visit South Africa is May through October, during the southern hemisphere's winter. While in South Africa consider visiting the Western Cape with its magnificent beaches or explore such memorable destinations as Umhlanga Rocks, or one of the many game reserves such as the one at Hluhluwe Imfolozi reserves, or one of South Africa’s heritage sites such as Mapungubwe. Here are some festivals and events to consider when deciding when to visit South Africa: Series of LGBTQ-themed events over a week, kicking off with a pageant at which Mr and Miss Cape Town are crowned, and taking in a bunch of parties and a street parade. Be prepared for average minimums of 4°C in Johannesburg, 7°C in Cape Town and 11°C in Durban. The rainy season brings an influx of insects and fills up the rivers and lakes, attracting a host of migratory birds from Europe and Asia. your password The best time to go on safari is during the dry season. In the southernmost part of the country, summers are the driest time of year. For keen hikers, the Drakensberg Mountains are one of South Africa's top attractions. Most days across the country are sunny. Why January to March may be the best time for South Africans to travel. Come June, the weather is becoming cooler in Cape Town and the Western Cape; however, the chill is mainly noticeable at night. In common with the Lesotho highlands, the province’s Drakensberg range has misty days in summer and mountain snow in winter. Best time to visit Africa. Be aware, though, that this time of year coincides with the busiest period for tourism in South Africa and you'll need to book accommodations and game drives in advance. The best time for an African safari is typically from July through October, when the animals are easy to find and in substantial numbers. Gay pride celebration of parties, contests, cabaret, drag shows and performance over a long weekend in South Africa’s oyster capital. While rain can fall any time of the year across the Cape, showers typically hit Cape Town and the Western Cape from June to August. April and May are the best months to visit South Africa in terms of temperatures and game viewing as well as ideal conditions for hiking in the Drakensberg. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, southern Africa's biggest jazz festival, is held each April. The Easter school holiday is an extremely busy period for tourism in South Africa, making it extremely hard to find any available rooms, and you can forget about bargains. July to September is also a great time for whale watching along Cape Town's Whale Coast. Subtropical KwaZulu-Natal has warm, sunny winters and tepid seas. Events include shucking contests, eating challenges, and even a marathon. Travel South Africa. Answer 1 of 5: Hi, We are thinking of visiting South Africa in mid September to early October. Combine a safari with a food and wine holiday in Cape Town to enjoy its fireside-friendly, rainy winter days. June to August is the best time of year to visit South Africa for wildlife-watching. It's also the ideal time to visit Durban, in the north, where the climate can be muggy at other times of the years. The Cape has warm, dry weather in its summer months (November to February), for instance, but the prime whale-watching season is September and October. September and October are on the whole sunny, with temperatures rising as the year goes on. Reserve a room at least a few months before your travel dates, possibly more if you’re heading to Cape Town and the Garden Route. When considering when to go to South Africa, you need to take into account the country’s distinct climatic zones. The best time to visit Africa tends to depend on wildlife - with May to October being popular months in the game-rich plains of East and Southern Africa. When is the best time of year to travel to South Africa? We are looking for hot sunny weather. For most travellers the best time to visit South Africa is influenced by the weather and seasons... but often is specific factors ranging from wildlife to sunsets and winelands to wild flowers. When is the best time of year to go on safari in South Africa? We look at detailed weather patterns and suggest how these might affect any sightseeing plans, getting around, outdoor activities, and festivals taking place throughout the year. May and September are wonderful because it is less cold and, especially in … It can be rewarding to choose when to go to South Africa so that your visit falls on the date of one of its lively festivals. In the southernmost part of the country, summers are the driest time of year. At this time of year, there is less foliage on the trees, making it easier to spot animals in the bush. The weather also tends to be mild almost everywhere at this time of year. As this is winter, mornings and nights are cold. For excellent game viewing, surfing, and whale watching, the best time to visit South Africa is during the dry winter months (June to September) in the north and eastern parts of the country.Though it may get a little cold on some days, you will find pleasant weather overall. Yet, you can still find snow on some peaks in the winter, which is also the best time to visit sub-tropical destinations, like Durban. The hottest month in South Africa is February with an average temperature of about 23 degree celsius, while June is the coldest month with an average temperature of about 13 degree Celsius. The best time to visit South Africa’s parks is from May to September. Although Johannesburg and Cape Town tend to monopolise the event programme, the country’s biggest cultural event – the National Arts Festival – takes place in the far-flung towns of Grahamstown. December, January and February are the best months to explore Cape Town as the temperature during these months ranges between 25-27 degree Celsius. Andrew, Africa Safari Specialist South Africa Climate Guide With the exception of the festive holidays, December and January is a good time to explore Cape Town and the Garden Route, when the weather is warm and dry. Spring is when the peak wildflower bloom and whale migrations take place. South Africa's twin coastlines extend for more than 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers) and offer an unlimited array of activities. August is also the beginning of the sports season, with the opportunity to potentially watch South Africa play an international football, cricket or rugby game on their home ground. October through April is the wet season, encompassing fall and summer. South Africa is a predominantly sunny country, with year-round travel possible thanks to its vast size and diverse range of landscapes and attractions. In the north, the desert winters are chilly and the summers hot - spring and autumn are much more pleasant. The high season in South Africa is … The temperatures are also much cooler than the sticky, hot summer. Get the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) updates for South Africa with current travel advice, statistics and online resources.. Below is the hottest it usually gets at popular destinations in South Africa.Select a destination to see the best time to … November to February is when to go to South Africa for birdwatching in the north of the country, if you don’t mind occasional rain showers. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our, Your Trip to South Africa: The Complete Guide. It is warmer and drier to the north and east, and it is a good time to visit Kruger or Addo Elephant national parks to see herds gather around watering holes. Best time to visit South Africa. November sees the start of the rain in the Kruger and KwaZulu Natal, often followed by spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Cape Town is undoubtedly a year-round destination, with each season bringing its fair share of unique benefits. The best times to visit Johannesburg are from March to May and September to November. As a rule, September is usually the best time of year to visit South Africa, especially if you’re eager to see whales and newborn game. Be aware, though, that this time of year coincides with the busiest period for tourism in South Africa and you'll need to book accommodations and game drives in advance. Johannesburg and Pretoria lie on the highveld plateau and have a near-perfect climate. From June to October, humpbacks and southern right whales can be seen passing close to shore on their annual migration to the breeding grounds off Mozambique. Cricket fans may like to try to catch South Africa compete in an international test or one-day series between October and March. Therefore, it's best to travel between November and March for the best safari sightings. By June and July South Africa is well into the dry season in the north and east of the country although take your brolly if you’re heading for Cape Town as well as the Garden Route. However, its considerably lower altitude results in far greater extremes of temperature. South Africa’s oldest music festival draws thousands of punters to a beautiful farm in the Drakensberg foothills, with a spread of mainstream and alternative rock and pop, trail running and glamping. 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