When to visit South Africa

Kruger National Park is a year-round destination, with each season bringing its own rewards. Game viewing is generally at its best during the dry winter months when the bushveld is open, and wildlife migrates towards the remaining waterholes. The early summer (November to December) brings newborn wildlife to the Kruger, along with heavy rains that fill the rivers and waterholes. While this can make it more difficult to spot land-based wildlife, it’s an excellent time for birding as the summer migrant birds arrive.

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.

The climate in KwaZulu-Natal is as varied as its topography suggests. The coastal region enjoys an almost perpetual summer, with warm dry winters and occasional rain in the summer. Winter in the mountains brings dry days, perfect for hiking, although it can get cold at night with occasional snow on the high peaks. Spring is a good time to visit, with warm, dry weather throughout the region.

Cool, dry winters and hot summers, which come with short and sometimes spectacular storms, characterise Johannesburg’s climate. In Madikwe, the best time for game viewing is from May to the end of September, when rainfall is low and the resident wildlife congregate around the remaining waterholes, a pattern similar to that of Tswalu Kalahari. Throughout spring the heat builds slowly before summer arrives, which in turn brings high temperatures and occasional thunderstorms.