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South Africa
Climate
South Africa is a great destination all year round.
It all depends on what you want to do. The best season for wildlife observation is the end of spring, from August to October. Southern whales visit the shore from mid-June to the end of October and humpback whales from August to mid-December.
Dont forget, South Africa is in the southern hemisphere. Summer is from mid-October to mid-February, fall from February to April, winter from May to July and spring from August to October.
If you wish to relax by the beaches, mid-summer is the best time, however be forewarned that everyone visits at that time. The shores of northern KwaZulu-Natal have the advantage of always being sunny and warm, even in the middle of winter.
South Africa enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate, with lovely warm sunny days most of the year. The seasons of the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in Europe and North America, which means that Christmas is spent on the beach.
Summer is from November to February and in most of the country temperatures are high with short afternoon thunderstorms leaving behind a warm, earthy and typically African smell in the air. In the western part of the Cape you will find a more Mediterranean climate, bringing rain during the winter.
Fall occurs from February to April and offers the best weather conditions. Rain is rare throughout the country and temperatures are warm without being excessive. As the season progresses, the weather becomes cooler. At the Cape itself, fall is wonderful, offering warm, sunny days and fragrant nights mostly spent in outdoor caf�s.
Winter in the higher regions have dry, clear, sunny and fortifying days, with cold nights. It is advised to bring along warm clothing. Lowyeld and Maputaland coastline offer a great climate in winter with sunny and rather long days, and almost no rain or wind.
In the western part of the Cape it usually rains during winter and you may encounter a few grey, cloudy or rainy days, mixed with a few wonderful days similar to British summers. It normally snows in the elevated mountains of Drakensberg and the Cape � you can even ski.
As everywhere else in the world, spring is a refreshing time filled with green grass and flowering trees throughout the Veld. It is in the Cape, however, that spring is the most beautiful. In this area, grey winter gives way to green foliage from the south and the east. Dry chestnuts in the north and west fade away, encouraging a wide range of colors to appear as numerous little insignificant plants cover the open country, creating a simmering carpet of flowers. For many South Africans, travelling towards the flowery areas of Namaqualand, in the western and eastern part of the Cape, is an annual pilgrimage.
Although there are some differences in climate depending on the region, the South African climate is generally mild all year. There may be snowfalls in the highest areas but South Africa is a warm and dry country with many sunny days. Annual rainfall is around 502 mm.
The province of KwaZulu-Natal benefits from a sub-tropical climate with a high humidity level during summer. The meridian part of Mpumalanga enjoys very warm summers with occasional torrential rains while the northern part of the region (the Lowveld) enjoys warm winters.
In the Drakensberg region, summer rainstorms can be very dangerous. It is quite possible to have snow in the winter. In the Cape, winters can be very humid making treks a little difficult. If you have a passion for birds, migratory birds from the Northern hemisphere arrive in November and African migratory species in mid-October. If you prefer skiing in the Southern hemisphere, you are certain to find snow between June and August.
The continental region of the Cape and the free State enjoy a climate similar to Mpumalanga. Finally, the western area of the Cape enjoys Mediterranean type weather with warm, dry summers, and cold, humid winters.
