SeasonMapSouth Africa in December
December is South Africa's 9th-best month (rank 9 of 12): its 12 destinations average 83/100, led by Cape Town at 91 — 27°C and 4 rainy days — while Kruger National Park is warmer at 33°C and scores 65.
#9 of 12 months for South Africa · 12 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in South Africa in December
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape Town | City | 27°C | 17 mm · 4 days | 91 tier S | — |
| 2 | Stellenbosch | City | 29°C | 27 mm · 5 days | 89 tier A | — |
| 3 | Hermanus | Beach | 26°C | 27 mm · 6 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 4 | Knysna | Beach | 25°C | 40 mm · 9 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 5 | Plettenberg Bay | Beach | 23°C | 38 mm · 9 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 6 | Jeffreys Bay | Beach | 25°C | 34 mm · 8 days | 87 tier A | — |
| 7 | Port Elizabeth | Beach | 26°C | 37 mm · 8 days | 86 tier A | — |
| 8 | Durban | Beach | 30°C | 116 mm · 16 days | 83 tier A | — |
| 9 | Johannesburg | City | 29°C | 138 mm · 19 days | 80 tier A | — |
| 10 | Pretoria | City | 31°C | 125 mm · 15 days | 78 tier B | — |
| 11 | Drakensberg | Trekking hub | 29°C | 175 mm · 20 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 12 | Kruger National Park | National park | 33°C | 94 mm · 12 days | 65 tier C | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means December is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in South Africa in December
- Kirstenbosch sunset concerts · Cape Town · 20 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)
- South African summer holidays · Cape Town and 2 more places · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)
- Festive season in the Winelands · Stellenbosch · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)
- Garden Route summer holidays · Knysna · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)
- Eastern Cape summer holidays · Port Elizabeth · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)
- The city empties · Johannesburg and 1 more place · 15 Dec – 5 Jan (usually)
- December school holidays · Drakensberg and 1 more place · 10 Dec – 10 Jan (usually)
- Summer migrants arrive · Kruger National Park · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 10 of South Africa's 10 well-known places this month.