South Africa
Weather

South Africa is renowned for its glorious weather and plentiful sunshine, although the weather is heavily dependent on the region of the country and the time of year. The average annual rainfall is 464mm, which is predominantly received in the summer (although the Western Cape receives most of its rainfall in winter).

Summer – mid October to mid February is most commonly hot and sunny. As this is the wet season for most of South Africa short but heavy thunderstorms are common, clearing quickly to warm dry periods. In the KwaZulu Natal region temperatures range between 21°C and 28°C, whilst the Western Cape ranges between 16°C and 26°C. The southern region of the Kruger National Park has a temperature range of approximately 18°C to 35°C.

Autumn – mid February to April shows less rain than summer and is usually slightly cooler, becoming cold towards winter.

Winter – May to July shows generally very dry weather with sunny but cool to warm days and potentially very cold evenings once the sun sets. Unlike the rest of the country the Western Cape receives most of its rain during winter and can have cloudy and rainy periods. Temperatures in KwaZulu Natal range from 11°C to 23°C, whilst the Western Cape ranges from 7°C to 18°C. During winter the southern region of the Kruger Park has a temperature range of 9°C to 26°C.

Spring – August to mid October brings warm and dry weather, and is usually a beautiful time to travel the country.