Best time to visit South Africa
The best time to visit South Africa is January, March and November, when its 5 destinations average 90/100 for climate comfort — July is the weakest month, at 82/100.
Updated September 2026 · averaged over 5 South Africa destinations · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
South Africa climate comfort by month
| Month | Comfort | Avg high | Rain | Pick of the month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 88 | 25.8°C | 71 mm | Cape Town 90 |
| February | 87 | 25.6°C | 88 mm | Cape Town 90 |
| March | 90 | 24.8°C | 48 mm | Johannesburg 93 |
| April | 86 | 22.5°C | 77 mm | Cape Town 92 |
| May | 84 | 20.8°C | 44 mm | Pretoria 91 |
| June | 82 | 19.2°C | 30 mm | Pretoria 87 |
| July | 82 | 18.8°C | 22 mm | Pretoria 88 |
| August | 85 | 20.2°C | 22 mm | Pretoria 94 |
| September | 87 | 22.5°C | 30 mm | Johannesburg 94 |
| October | 87 | 23.8°C | 55 mm | Cape Town 92 |
| November | 88 | 24.3°C | 70 mm | Cape Town 95 |
| December | 86 | 24.4°C | 104 mm | Cape Town 94 |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score, averaged across every South Africa destination in the dataset. Each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. Averages from ERA5 reanalysis normals, not forecasts.
All 5 destinations in South Africa
South Africa — FAQ
- When is the best time to visit South Africa?
- January, March and November. Across South Africa's 5 destinations, March averages 90/100 for climate comfort with mean highs of 24.8°C and 48 mm of rain.
- What is the worst month to visit South Africa?
- July, averaging 82/100 — mean highs of 18.8°C and 22 mm of rain across the country's destinations.
- What is the hottest month in South Africa?
- January, with mean daily highs of 25.8°C averaged across 5 destinations.
- What is the wettest month in South Africa?
- December, averaging 104 mm of rain.