South Africa weather is generally believed to be a mostly hot affair. Make no mistake though: weather in South Africa, at least parts of it, can also be crispy cold.
Placed at the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa is famous for its warm weather, making it a popular destination for foreign visitors. Yet despite the warmth - Mediterranean in the southwestern corner of the country, subtropical in the northeast, desert-like in a small area in the northwest – South Africa is also notable for lower temperatures in comparison to other countries in similar latitude, thanks to its great elevation above sea. On the interior plateau average temperatures during the summer months register below the 30 degrees Celsius mark, while in winter night-time temperatures can drop to freezing cold, with some areas even dropping bellow that.
Furthermore, due to the warm currents that sweep the coastlines –the country is moderated by ocean on three sides, South Africa weather is characterized by the striking contrast between temperatures on the country's east and west coasts. As a general rule though South Africa's coastal regions are warmest in winter, keeping in mind, that, being in the southern hemisphere, South Africa’s seasons stand opposite to those of Europe and America. A relatively dry country, South Africa’s average annual rainfall is significantly lower to the world average: the Western Cape with its Mediterranean climate getting most of its rainfall in winter, and the rest of the country being a mostly summer rainfall region.
South Africa weather in Summer
During the summer months (mid-October to mid-February), South Africa weather remains sunny and hot, although in the afternoons thunderstorms are likely to occur. They clear quickly though, leaving behind them a warm and earthly smell in the air.
South Africa weather in Autumn
Autumn in South Africa falls between mid-February to April. The general consensus is that South Africa’s autumn also marks the best weather in the country, with very little rain fall, warm but certainly not too hot weather, easing into colder temperatures as the season progresses. Autumn in South Africa is best experienced in Cape Town: with its hot sunny days and warm nights, the city comes alive, welcoming locals and visitors alike in its many outdoor cafes.
South Africa weather in Winter
If you are planning to visit South Africa’s higher-lying areas of the interior during winter (May to July), make sure to pack warm clothes in your luggage. While the days are known to be dry and sunny, they can also become crisp, and the nights are significantly colder. On the other hand, fantastic sunny winter weather with warmish days and hardly any wind or rain, are abundantly on offer in the country’s KwaZulu-Natal coast, as well as the Lowveld (lower-lying areas) of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. Meanwhile, in the Western Cape –which gets most of its rain in winter – the mostly cloudy, rainy weather is often interspersed with fine, sunny days that give British summer a run for its money.
South Africa weather in Spring
If the road finds you traveling through the Cape provinces during the months of spring (August to mid-October), prepare yourself for the feast of the senses that unfolds before you: as the grey of winter slowly gives way to the blue hues of spring, thousands of small, otherwise insignificant plants cover the plains creating a tapestry of colours and smells. Most note worthy, are the flowers of the Namaqualand in the Western and Northern Cape, an annual pilgrimage for many South Africans.
Best time of the year to travel?
As they say, the decision is up to the individual, as South Africa provides a multitude of choices to satisfy the most stringent of tastes: flowers blooming and looking their best in August and September, whales hanging around the coast from about mid-June to the end of October, surfing and diving suited best during the time between April through September, mid-summer providing the best conditions for lounging around beaches while winter in the Cape offers abundant excitement to those with a liking for river rafting. If you happen to be in northern KwaZulu-Natal during the winter season, do not despair as the beaches here are still warm and sunny.
On the downside, summer thunderstorms in the Drakensberg can become dangerous, while heavy rainfall is an unfortunate by-product of the summer months through out the country, with the notable exception of the Western Cape which enjoys a Mediterranean climate.
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