Best time to visit South Africa

West Forever Guided Tours in South Africa

West Forever is currently offering two guided motorcycle tours in South Africa, the Rainbow Ride and the Big Five.

South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so it is summer here when it’s winter in Europe and North America (November to February), which makes it ideal for anyone wanting to escape the cold weather.

Average day temperatures in summer range from a minimum of 15°C (59°F) to a maximum of 28°C (82°F), depending on where you are. In winter, average day temperatures are 19°C to 23°C (66°F to 73°F), although it can get chilly at night, especially at altitude in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

If you’re planning a safari, winters in Mpumalanga and Limpopo are very pleasant as it’s sunny and warm during the day and dry and cool at night. Late winter is popular for game spotting game because the vegetation is sparse and animals visit the waterholes to drink. Summer in the Lowveld (which is what these low-lying areas are called) can be very hot and sticky due to high humidity. A winter beach holiday in Durban or on the KwaZulu-Natal coast is ideal as average temperatures hover around the 26°C (79°F) mark. Once again, summers are characterised by high humidity.

Cape Town’s best seasons are spring and autumn. In spring, southern right whales visit the coastline and the flowers are in bloom. Autumn offers a respite from the summer heat and the vineyards of the Cape Winelands are starting to change colour. Winters are characterised by wet and windy spells when cold fronts pass through. That said, the wet weather is often interspersed with sparkling, sunny days with temperatures hovering in the early 20°C (around 68°F).