South Africa is a traveller’s dream: exquisite beaches, countless safari opportunities, imposing mountain ranges, with every month of the year offering something different. Coupled with the U.S. dollar going way further and English being widely spoken, it’s no wonder there are so many repeat visitors. While there’s something to do all year-round, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on your dream activities, so read on for our rundown of the best time to visit South Africa.
What is South Africa's weather like?
South African weather is generally fantastic… at least somewhere in the country. It’s got plenty of different climate regions, so the weather in one part is certainly no indication of what awaits you just a few hours away. For instance, Johannesburg’s winters are warm and dry, whereas Cape Town is cold with a lot of rain between June and August. The east coast enjoys a fairly hot winter, with beaches full of sunbathers, but move into the mountainous regions and you’ll find snow during the coldest parts of the year. Unlike Cape Town, the majority of South Africa gets its rain during summer, between November and March.
When is South Africa’s high season?
South Africa’s high season depends entirely on what you plan to do while you’re visiting. For example, if you’ve got beaches and safari on your mind, the high season for safari in South Africa is winter, between May and July, when the brush is dry and animals are easier to spot. Prices for safari go up around this time, whereas you’ll score a deal elsewhere in the country since it's the low season.
If you want sun, sand, and surf after your safari, you’d best head to the east coast, since Cape Town is rainy and cold during those months. However, the best time to visit Cape Town is in the summer, with high season falling between December and February. Visiting game reserves in summer is still popular, with the lush greenery offering a different viewing experience.
When is South Africa’s low season?
Winter is the low season in Cape Town, a great time to score a deal if you’re willing to brave the rain. In fact, it’s sometimes referred to as Cape Town’s ‘secret season’, so bear that in mind if you’re eyeing a tour like our Cape Town to Namibia’s Overland Safari. Doing this trip in summer will be incredibly hot. South Africa’s east coast also tends to be quieter in the winter months, even when game lodges are full to the brim.
While game reserves offer the best wildlife spotting during winter, you can still have a spectacular safari experience in any other month. The shoulder seasons (September to November; March to May) are quietest if you’re looking to explore the country with fewer tourists around.
When should I do my South Africa safari?
May through August are the best months to go on safari in South Africa, since the dry vegetation makes animals easier to spot from a distance. Winter sees animals gathering around water when rain is scarce, so you’ll find them congregated at various watering holes. However, you can have an incredible safari any time. After all, it’s a whole lot easier to spot a lion among the green than it is to spot one among the beige! Babies of different species are born all year round, and when you see a rhino or elephant in the flesh for the first time, it won’t matter to you how many layers of fleece you’re wearing and if it calls for rain.
Winter also tends to drive safari prices up, so you can catch a deal if you’re willing to look during other times of the year. Birders will be happiest between November and February when the migratory birds return. There’s no shortage of game reserves around South Africa (the Pilanesberg can be done as a day-trip from Johannesburg), but Kruger National Park is famous for a reason. Check out our Kruger In-Depth tour if you want to do it thoroughly.
When is best for South African wine tasting?
Wine tastings are available all year round in South Africa, even if the vines aren’t heavy with produce at the time of your visit. Wine tourism is a huge part of South African hospitality, so you’ll have plenty of options no matter what time of year you head down south. Plenty of vineyards offer tours as well as fine dining options and a bunch of them feature some amazing South African art.
You can sample fine South African wine anywhere in the country, but if you’d like to try them during a wine tasting at the vineyard itself, you’ll want to head to the Western Cape. We recommend the regions of Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek, though there are scattered estates in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, too.
When is South Africa's whale watching season?
Make your way to South Africa between August and October if spotting whales is a priority. This is the best time to see the southern right whales, when they've migrated from Antarctica to the warmer waters of South Africa to give birth. Hermanus is dubbed the whale watching capital of the country, with a beautiful cliff walk. There’s no need to get out on the water since you can see it all from land, but there are plenty of boat options too. If smaller species appeal, visit KwaZulu Natal’s beaches, dubbed ‘the Dolphin Coast’ for pods of bottlenose beauties all year round (and often quite close to shore).
When is South Africa’s sardine run?
Summer is the time to witness an absolute marine marvel as thousands of predators, like sharks, dolphins, and whales, follow the annual sardine mega-shoal. South Africa's sardine run creates a bait ball that ranges multiple miles long with fish in the hundreds of millions. Predators have the time of their lives busting through the bait ball, eating their fill. Visit in June to see the sardine run at its peak… and maybe don’t wait too long if you want to see it. Climate change and overfishing are sadly already impacting the sardine run and there’s no telling how many years this wonder will remain an option to see on your trip.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
Wine farms are open all year round, but Cape Town’s beaches are best enjoyed in the summer, though make sure you have scads of suncream. Bear in mind, most of Cape Town’s beaches are graced by the icy Atlantic Ocean, so you’re more likely to admire from afar than take a dip. However, take a drive to Muizenberg for a surf lesson or two and you’ll enjoy much warmer waters (and snap a pic of the colourful beach huts while you’re at it).
Visiting the Cape during spring offers the wildflower season, where the national parks explode into fields of colour. If you time it right, you can see the flowers and do some whale watching all during the same day! For affordable deals, come during winter but bear in mind the iconic cable car to the top of Table Mountain is closed for maintenance during the winter, so those panoramic views will have to wait.
When is best for hiking in South Africa?
Shoulder seasons are the best time to go hiking in South Africa, with moderate temperatures and rainfall as well as lower prices and fewer crowds. If that's your goal, aim to visit between September and November or March and May.
South Africa is renowned for its hiking, from the seascape vistas of Cape Town’s hikes to the immense majesty of the Drakensberg Mountains. There are plenty of hiking trails to choose from across South Africa for a range of different fitness and experience levels. If you’re Cape Town based, Lion’s Head is a popular trail, though best done in larger groups, and if you head a few hours away, you’ll see the beautiful sandstone formations of Wolfberg Arch in the Cederberg mountains, named for the endemic Clanwilliam cedar tree.
There’s no shortage of history in the mountains of South Africa, with lots of San rock paintings hidden away. On our Cape Town To Namibia Overland Safari trip, you’ll get to explore Cape Town, the Cederberg, and camp along the Orange River as we wend our way towards Namibia’s border. If you’re a camper, make sure you explore the option of sleeping at the top of the Drakensberg Mountains’ Amphitheatre where you’ll admire Tugela Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world (a hotly contested title with Venezuela’s Angel Falls). Just make sure you’re good with heights; you’ll work for that view by climbing some cliffside chain ladders!
