last edited Dec 11, 2019
When and Where to Go in South Africa
Location Map of South Africa
South Africa
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Best Times to Visit South Africa
Finding the best time to visit means balancing climate conditions with crowd levels and the most attractive prices, both on the ground and for travel.
There isn’t a single best climate period for South Africa, though the shoulder seasons (around April and September–October) offer a good compromise. It all depends on where you’re going (the country is vast) and what you plan to do. However, in terms of crowds, while the country is visited year-round, July–August sees its share of European visitors, and December–January corresponds to South Africans’ summer holidays, when many migrate to the coast—primarily around Durban.
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior climate | ||||||||||||
| Coast climate (Durban) | ||||||||||||
| Coast climate (Cape Town) | ||||||||||||
| Avoid crowds | / | |||||||||||
| Low prices | / | / |
: very favorable | : favorable | : moderately favorable | : unfavorable.