| Climate |
South Africa enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate, with lovely warm sunny days most of the year. The seasons of the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere so summer runs from November through to February, when most of the country is characterized by hot weather with some afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are generally mild and dry. South Africa enjoys an average of 8.5 hours of sunshine daily, with an average annual rainfall of 464 mm, compared to a world average of 857 mm. In the Western Cape, the average rainfall is highest in the winter months. In other provinces, the average rainfall is highest during summer. Average temperature for summer is 22 ºC and for winter is 14 ºC. |
| Seasonality |
South Africa can be visited during any time of the year, although most travellers prefer the summer months from September to April. The only activity that is strictly seasonal is whale watching available from mid-September –early December. In the northern game parks, wild animals can be spotted more easily during the drier winter months, because the vegetation is less dense. It may be worth considering avoiding travel during the South African school holidays, particularly if planning to visit some of the major National Parks and coastal resorts – these can get very crowded. For example, the coast tends to be a bit crowded around Christmas and New Year, when all the schools are on holiday, the universities are out and many local people take their annual leave. So, if you're looking for peace and quiet - this is not the time to visit. Another major peak is over Easter - when the schools are also on holiday and, once again, many people take their leave so they can spend holidays with their children. Weekends in the Kruger are also busy. |