When to visit the Western Cape

There’s no bad time to visit Cape Town, but the weather in the Cape Winelands and along the Garden Route is most favourable between January and late April, when the weather is warm and the beaches are at their best. The late summer, when there’s little in the way of vegetation, is also the best time to view wildlife in the Eastern Cape reserves, while spring (September to November) offers the best chance to see whales off the coast of Hermanus. Those headed inland to the Klein Karoo will experience the most dramatic weather conditions, with icy winters and very hot summers.