Best time to visit the Cape & Garden Route

The best time to visit the Cape & Garden Route is December to March, judged across 7 places; June is its weakest month.

in seasongoodnot its bestlow season

Updated September 2026 · Africa · 7 places, each judged for what it is · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

The Cape & Garden Route month by month

MonthSeasonWhyBest places
Januaryin season26°C highs · 12 h sunJeffreys Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay
Februaryin seasonharvest · 25°C highs · 12 h sunCape Town, Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth
Marchin seasonharvest · 25°C highs · 11 h sunCape Town, Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth
Aprilgoodharvest · 23°C highs · 9 h sunCape Town, Stellenbosch, Knysna
Maygood21°C highsCape Town, Stellenbosch, Port Elizabeth
Junegoodwhale season · 19°C highsPort Elizabeth, Cape Town, Jeffreys Bay
Julygoodwhale season · 18°C highsPort Elizabeth, Cape Town, Jeffreys Bay
Augustgoodwhale season · 19°C highs · 9 h sunPort Elizabeth, Cape Town, Jeffreys Bay
Septembergoodwhale season · 20°C highs · 10 h sunCape Town, Stellenbosch, Port Elizabeth
Octobergoodwhale season · 22°C highs · 11 h sunCape Town, Stellenbosch, Jeffreys Bay
Novembergoodwhale season · 23°C highs · 12 h sunCape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus
Decemberin season25°C highs · 12 h sunCape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus

In season: one of the region's three best months, and good in its own right. Low season: one of its three worst, and well below its best. The reasons compare each month with the region's own year and name the seasons on the ground — monsoon, autumn colour, hurricanes — where most of its places share them.

All 7 places in the Cape & Garden Route

The Cape & Garden Route — FAQ

When is the best time to visit the Cape & Garden Route?
December to March. In January: 26°C highs · 12 h sun.
When is the low season in the Cape & Garden Route?
The Cape & Garden Route has no month that falls far below the rest of its year; June is the weakest (whale season · 19°C highs).
Which months are in season in the Cape & Garden Route?
December to March — the months among its best that are also good in their own right.