SeasonMapSouth Africa in January
January is South Africa's 6th-best month (rank 6 of 12): its 12 destinations average 83/100, led by Jeffreys Bay at 90 — 27°C and 7 rainy days — while Kruger National Park is warmer at 33°C and scores 67.
#6 of 12 months for South Africa · 12 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in South Africa in January
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeffreys Bay | Beach | 27°C | 31 mm · 7 days | 90 tier S | Yes |
| 2 | Knysna | Beach | 27°C | 45 mm · 8 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 3 | Plettenberg Bay | Beach | 25°C | 43 mm · 8 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 4 | Port Elizabeth | Beach | 28°C | 36 mm · 8 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 5 | Durban | Beach | 32°C | 92 mm · 11 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 6 | Hermanus | Beach | 27°C | 22 mm · 5 days | 87 tier A | Yes |
| 7 | Cape Town | City | 29°C | 9 mm · 2 days | 86 tier A | — |
| 8 | Stellenbosch | City | 32°C | 16 mm · 3 days | 83 tier A | — |
| 9 | Johannesburg | City | 29°C | 142 mm · 15 days | 80 tier A | — |
| 10 | Pretoria | City | 31°C | 118 mm · 13 days | 77 tier B | — |
| 11 | Drakensberg | Trekking hub | 30°C | 157 mm · 18 days | 74 tier B | — |
| 12 | Kruger National Park | National park | 33°C | 101 mm · 11 days | 67 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 January 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 January
- Garden Route summer holidays · Knysna · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)
- Eastern Cape summer holidays · Port Elizabeth · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)
- South African summer holidays · Durban and 2 more places · 15 Dec – 15 Jan
- Kirstenbosch sunset concerts · Cape Town · 20 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)
- Festive season in the Winelands · Stellenbosch · 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.