South Africa Travel Guide

The ‘Kruger & Around’ sections below relate to the parks and reserves in Greater Kruger and in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. These parks have a climate pattern similar to Kruger National Park. The winter months (May to September) receive little to no rainfall. Early mornings can be quite cold and afternoon temperatures pleasant. In summer (October to April) afternoon showers are common, humidity increases and it can get uncomfortably hot.

The ‘Cape Town & Around’ sections below apply to the entire Western Cape and nearby parks. Cape Town and surrounding areas receive most precipitation in winter (May to September). This is opposite to the rainfall pattern in most of the country, including Kruger. Summer (October to April) in Cape Town is warm and mostly dry. The Garden Route is an in-between area with moderate rainfall throughout the year. This coastal area, known for its scenic beauty and beaches, is best appreciated during the warm summer months (October to April). The nearby parks in the Eastern Cape are semi-arid and the humidity and rainfall stay low throughout the year.

May to September –Winter

• May – Kruger & Around: This month brings the end of summer. Rainfall dwindles down. Temperatures are pleasant; typically 12°C/54°F in the morning and 27°C/81°F in the afternoon. Cape Town & Around: Rainfall increases with the start of winter. It cools down to an average of 20°C/68°F in the afternoon.
• June, July & August – Kruger & Around: Morning game drives in open vehicles will be cold, so it's advisable to pack warm winter clothing. The average morning temperature is 10°C/50°F. Afternoons will be pleasant with temperatures around 26°C/79°F. Rain is extremely rare. Cape Town & Around: There is regular rainfall and cloudy skies are common. Mornings are usually around 8°C/46°F and afternoons around 18°C/64°F.
• September – Kruger & Around: The heat gradually builds up to about 29°C/84°F in the afternoons, and the first rains bring relief from very dry conditions. Mornings are pleasant with temperatures of around 14°C/57°F. Cape Town & Around: Cloudy conditions are common, but daytime temperatures increase gradually at the end of winter. Afternoons reach temperatures of around 19°C/66°F.

October to April –Summer

• October & November – Kruger & Around: It gets warmer and it starts to rain more often, mostly in the afternoons. Temperatures are between 18°C/64°F in the morning and 31°C/88°F in the afternoon. Cape Town & Around: The average afternoon temperature in November is a pleasant 24°C/75°F. Most days are sunny and it only rains sporadically.
• December, January & February – Kruger & Around: These are the wettest months, characterized by torrential downpours in the afternoon. The heat can be oppressive with average afternoon temperatures around 32°C/90°F with high humidity. Peak temperatures are much higher. Cape Town & Around: The weather is lovely; afternoons are around 26°C/79°F and the skies are mostly blue. It still rains occasionally, but usually not for long.
• March & April – Kruger & Around: Rainfall decreases, and it slowly gets cooler. This continues in April, which has lovely, clear weather. The nights get a bit colder but are still pleasant at about 18°C/64°F. Daytime temperatures are around 30°C/86°F and humidity drops in April. Cape Town & Around: It cools down at the end of summer. The average high in April is 23°C/73°F and it drops to about 12°C/54°F at night. Rainfall and cloudy conditions increase, but there are still many lovely days.

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