May 11, 2017 10 reasons to winter in southern africa. The nights are cold with the possibility of frost in the morning. Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for south africa crush. This season is the coldest in the whole year, but not in the tropical zones. The 10 reasons why visiting south africa in winter is a good idea. They all have hot summers december to march, and the coldest months being july and august. Bear in mind that south africa, being a large country like the usa, has varied climatic conditions so one cannot easily generalise about the weather. In the tropical far north, there is no clear winter season just a wet and dry season. The city is located near the tropic, but also on a plateau at 1,700 meters 5,600 feet above sea level, so the climate is. Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for south africa. In ghana, the climate is tropical, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season in summer due to the african monsoon. The climate of south africa is determined by south africas situation between 22s and 35s. Youll have a much easier time spotting game and a higher chance of seeing the big 5.
Nelspruits climate compared to south africa s parks nelspruit is situated next to kruger, south africa s most popular park. Rainfall can be significant here during the summer months, but for. Jul 31, 20 a simple list of seasonal fruit and vegetables for south africa. Together with june these are the wettest and coldest two months of the year in the western cape. The winter months coincide with south africas dry season which runs from may to october and with less water available, the animals congregate around the water holes. This season brings temperatures down to about 810c in the mornings and the high teens later in the day. The 10 reasons why visiting south africa in winter is a good idea this is our case for why the colder months remain the best ones. The winter months are overlapped by the dry season.
Elsewhere in the region, the rainy season runs from november to april, which is also the hottest and most humid time of year. Get the latest coronavirus covid19 updates for south africa with current travel advice, statistics and online resources below are average maximum temperatures at popular destinations in south africa for next month may. The limpopo province is situated on the northern tip of south africa. Th exception is that in the southern hemispheres winter months are in the northern hemispheres summer. Winter in south africa occurs when the earth is tilting away from the sun. Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Although cape town is a superb holiday destination yearround, the best time to visit cape town depends on what youre planning to do. Summer novembermarch, autumn aprilmay, winter juneaugust, spring septemberoctober. Winter is one of the four earths seasons, that goes after autumn and foreshadows spring. Although generalizing south africas weather is difficult, there are a few absolutes that apply throughout the country. The weather in durban tends to be pretty good all year round.
South african information can be a bit difficult to get hold of, thats why this fruit growing guide on the the sa fruit farms website was a great find. Best time to visit johannesburg, south africa weather year. South africas weather african conservation photodestinations. Select a destination to see the climate guide for all months of the year.
South africa packing list for the western cape in september. Actually the south africa weather in winter is great for any city break. It is a great season with clear blue skies, almost no rain. Autumn fall in south africa midfebruary to april offers in some ways the best weather. The seasons in south africa are opposite to the seasons in the northern hemisphere. Why you should visit south africa in the winter the. Winter in south africa may to july is characterised in the higherlying areas of the interior plateau by dry, sunny, crisp days and. Durban weather durban, kwazulunatal forecast tripadvisor. Mar 14, 2018 the winter season in south africa runs from june until august, so when we flew there on august 29, spring was actually just about to start.
The best times to visit johannesburg are from march to may and september to november. Feb 10, 2007 the winter months in south africa would be from about beginning of may to end of august. South africas climate is seasonal, getting quite cold in winter may august. In south africa there is no animal that with the onset of cold weather would fall into hibernation. Sunshine throughout with every so often windy, dry and dusty circumstances. Meteorological reckoning is the method of measuring the winter season used by meteorologists based on sensible weather patterns for record keeping purposes, so the start of meteorological winter varies with latitude. Winter mornings and evenings can get quite cold, so pack. A subtropical location, moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, account for the warm temperate conditions so typical of south africa and so popular with its foreign visitors. Apr 18, 2017 our wild africa trip through south africa in september 2016 at the end of a dramatical drought period in which the animals had seriously suffering. Winter in south africa may to july is characterised in the higherlying areas of the interior plateau by dry, sunny, crisp days and cold nights. South africa weather extreme weather south africa seasons. Month by month description of the best time to visit south africa. South africa s coasts are major tourist attractions and trade locations.
Cape town is famous for its picturesque beaches, awesome things to do and loads of sightseeing opportunities. Sep 22, 2017 the limpopo province is situated on the northern tip of south africa. Why you should visit south africa in the winter the blonde. South africa climate seasons cape town travel tips. Well, despite common belief, south africa has all the normal seasons any other country has. Just because its winter does not mean people have to stop enjoying flowers. Winter is the season when cold fronts begin to come across the atlantic ocean, bringing rain and strong winds. There are fewer people visiting south africa during the winter season, and even locals tend to stay home during the colder months. Jul 29, 2016 like many destinations, prices in south africa fall in the low season. South africa weather south africa, africa forecast. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer which is november through to. The interior of south africa is dry, warm to hot, with heavy afternoon thunderstorm and temperatures between 2535 celsius. If you ever wondered what fruits and vegetables are in season in south africa, then this handy guide is for you. Feb 15, 2011 very little rain falls over the whole country, and it is warm but not too hot, getting colder as the season progresses.
The rainiest months in cape town are may to august, and johannesburg. Winter and summer in south africa occur at opposite times to the corresponding seasons in europe and north america. If youre heading to cape town in july or august, youll need a rain jacket and plenty of layers. Like many destinations, prices in south africa fall in the low season. Another factor to keep in mind is that school holidays in south africa take place during a month from june to july, which can make some places busier. This is the dry season and animals congregate around waterholes and rivers. Climate and average weather for johannesburg gauteng, south africa displayed in graphs.
Our wild africa trip through south africa in september 2016 at the end of a dramatical drought period in which the animals had seriously suffering. Winter specials winter is regarded as the countrys off season and there are more special offers at this time of year than at any other, unless youre travelling in the school holidays. Aside from this, winter sees humidity drop in kwazulu natal, spring is for many the best safari season, and autumn is the ideal time to explore south africas extraordinary desert regions. During these low season months, crowds lessen, prices drop and the weather is relatively warm and dry.
Two methods are most commonly used to define the dates of the seasons. South africas winter period runs from may to september. South africas climate is seasonal, getting quite cold in winter mayaugust. Since the year has 12 months, each season lasts about three months. Summer in johannesburg is the peak season the weather is warm but the city is crowded and room rates among other things are high. The winter months coincide with south africa s dry season which runs from may to october and with less water available, the animals congregate around the water holes. Nelspruit is situated next to kruger, south africas most popular park. During this period, there is minimal exposure of the earth to the sun.
Including the best months, proscons, highlow seasons and the bestworst weather. The winter season lasts from latejune to midseptember. While we quite happily eat apples and grapes all year round, obviously we arent always eating whats in season. Overview of holidays and many observances in south africa during the year 2020.
The climate of south africa is determined by south africas situation between 22 s and 35s. Highs of about 35c in summer with lows of about 12c at night in winter. Life would be a little less beautiful without the addition of some blossoms to brighter up your day during the months of june and july. When is flu season and why there is a flu season in the. South africa climate and seasons south africa has got quite welldefined seasons. South africa officially the republic of south africa or abbreviated to rsa has always been one of the most beautiful places on the planet. South africa s weather conditions in the interior and especially on the vast interior plateau during the summer are characterized by warm to hot and dry days. Between march and may, the weather is still warm while the crowds have gone and prices come down, making this the best time to visit johannesburg, south africa. At night temperature may drop below 0 c 32 f and at noon rise to about 20 c 68 f again depending on location of observation. June, july and august are the winter months in south africa. So relating to the climate in south africa, august means colder winter weather conditions in most of the regions of the country.
The area enjoys long sunny days and mostly dry weather. South africa weather south africa, africa forecast tripadvisor. Conversely, in south africa s western cape province, winter is actually the wettest season. Along with the variety of people and places, south africa s climate also differs from one region to the next. While it can snow in the mountainous regions of south africa in winter, the western cape enjoys more of a mediterranean climate, with milder winter temperatures and a higher chance of rain. How you should be eating this seasons nectarines oranges pawpaws or papaya pears pineapples sweet melon strawberries. Elsewhere in the region, the rainy season runs from november to april, which. Winter mornings and evenings can get quite cold, so pack some mittens and a scarf. The mediterranean western cape, the subtropical and arid eastern cape and the subtropical kruger region. The climate in south africa, however, differs in the various regions of this large country. Blue spruce is a tree that really loves winter and also looks very nice, when covered with snow. Also the northern and eastern parts of the country now are stunning with blue skies during the day due to their dry weather conditions in winter.
September to october is springtime and the weather can be good. Our summer season is during the months december, january and february. The amount of sunshine in cape town is very good in summer, when the sky is often clear, but it remains good even in winter. Everyone feels some magic in the air, because of frosts, crystal nights, snow and just this amazing atmosphere. Best time to visit johannesburg, south africa weather. South africa offers incredible value for money to begin with, but prices are at their lowest in the winter months. Th exception is that in the southern hemispheres winter months are in the. The rainy season in most of the northern regions of south africa is in summer while the more southern region western cape is an area with mediterranean climate and winter rainfall.
However within that context, summer in south africa can be summarised as lasting from november to march. Summer season is during the months december, january and february. Fruit growing seasons in south africa vegetarians and. Wild animals are easier to spot during the dry season, so dont miss your chance to visit such famous parks as kruger or madikwe. There are still a lot of flowers and trees that love winter and can survive even when the temperatures are low. A simple list of seasonal fruit and vegetables for south africa.
Mosquitoes thrive when there is plenty of surface water during the hot summer rains. Flu season typically runs from april to september and often peaks during august, although it varies by region. The winter season in south africa runs from june until august, so when we flew there on august 29, spring was actually just about to start. Even though this country is a yearround destination, may through september is the best time to visit south africa. In the winter months, snow collects on the high mountains of the cape and the drakensberg. The rainy season is late november through december extending into january. The indian and atlantic oceans meet at the southwestern tip of south africa. Jun 07, 2018 if you ever wondered what fruits and vegetables are in season in south africa, then this handy guide is for you. The kruger national park is the best place to book a safari in the winter months. Range of temperature at winter juneaugust is equally wide.
Aug 09, 2011 summer season is during the months december, january and february. During summer months, the heat is often interrupted by a short afternoon thunderstorm. The cape is however wet as it gets most of its rain in winter being a mediterranean climate. Mar 14, 2020 summer in johannesburg is the peak season the weather is warm but the city is crowded and room rates among other things are high. These are the winter months for the southern hemisphere, which brings us to a common theme. South africa is a diverse country with 9 provinces, which range from mountains and beaches, to deserts and bushveld. How you should be eating this seasons nectarines oranges. The western cape, with its mediterranean climate, is the exception, getting its rain in winter. Unlike africas equatorial countries, where the year is split into rainy and dry seasons, south africa does have four seasonssummer, fall, winter, and springonly they are flipped from the seasons in the northern hemisphere. In johannesburg, the largest city of south africa, the climate is subtropical, with mild, sunny winters when, however, nights are cold and pleasantly warm summers, usually sunny, but with some afternoon thunderstorms. But coming of the winter season does not mean that we will not enjoy the beauty of the nature.
The city is located near the tropic, but also on a plateau at 1,700 meters 5,600 feet above sea level, so the climate is tempered by altitude, and its pleasant and healthy. What most people dont know is that due to the unique geography, and its location between two oceans, south africa has a varied and mild climate making it a great destination all year round. Influenza and winter go together like hot chocolate and marshmallows. Apples avocados dates grapefruit lemons limes melon. The other reason why the winter months of may to august are generally malaria and mosquitofree in south africa, and some of the rest of southern africa, is that this is the dry season when little or no rain falls. The rainy season lasts from may to september in the north, from april to october in the center, and from april to november in the south. This region is the main wildlife area of the country. Very little rain falls over the whole country, and it is warm but not too hot, getting colder as the season progresses. The towns climate is largely representative of a lot of the parks, including the private reserves in sabi sand and other areas surrounding kruger. However, the dates when the seasons begin and end vary depending on whom you ask. This is a country where almost no end to the attractions you can see each person, as the variety of landscapes and activities here are limitless. The best holidays in south africa a monthbymonth guide. Its no surprise many travellers visit the mother city of south africa throughout the year.