SeasonMapPlettenberg Bay weather in January
South Africa
January in Plettenberg Bay: warm, a little rain, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
#1 of 12 months in Plettenberg Bay · #161 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 90/100 (tier S)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Plettenberg Bay in January
Notes from nearby Knysna (30 km away)
Plettenberg Bay doesn't have its own notes for January yet — these are about Knysna, close enough to share the season.
Knysna's forum calls January part of the warm, busy summer season, though a few visitors have found it wetter than the brochures suggest, with scattered rain days breaking up the sunshine rather than a fully dry stretch. Regulars still rate it a good month overall — just pack for the odd shower alongside the swimwear.
Add your own note from Plettenberg Bay's card on the map.
Plettenberg Bay climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 24°C / 75°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 17°C / 63°F | |
| Sea temperature | 22°C / 71°F | 🌊 fresh |
| Rainfall | 38 mm / 1.5 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 7 days | |
| Humidity | 77% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 16°C / 62°F | |
| Sunshine | 12.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | |
| Wind | 23 km/h / 14 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 27 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Plettenberg Bay in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyTerm 4–1 (summer, year-end) break in South Africa, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Plettenberg Bay's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherPlettenberg Bay's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Plettenberg Bay — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Plettenberg Bay?
Plettenberg Bay in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Plettenberg Bay?
- January in Plettenberg Bay: warm, a little rain, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Plettenberg Bay on SeasonMap's comfort score (90/100).
- What is the weather like in Plettenberg Bay in January?
- In January, Plettenberg Bay averages a daily high of 24°C and a low of 17.4°C, with about 37.8 mm of rain over roughly 7.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Plettenberg Bay in January?
- Plettenberg Bay has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 27 in January.
Other months in Plettenberg Bay
Compare Plettenberg Bay in January
Warmer or cooler than Plettenberg Bay in January
Similar destinations in Southern Africa — January
Within 300 km: Knysna's Garden Route summer holidays around 15 Dec – 15 Jan, and Port Elizabeth's Eastern Cape summer holidays around 15 Dec – 15 Jan.