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Travel guide > Africa > Climate and weather of South Africa
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 | South Africa |
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South Africa has four different climatic zones.
Average temperatures in the south and in the north are relatively similar throughout the year (25 to 28° in January and 16 to 18° in July). The Indian Ocean moist air masses are the main source of rainfall : it mainly rains during summer (November to March) in the various provinces except in the south of the country where the rain generally falls during winter (June to August). Annual rainfall is higher in the east than in the west (over 1000 mm in the east, 400 mm in the center and less than 200 mm in the west).
 The central plateau
The cental plateau has a sunny climate from October to February. Temperatures do not exceed 25° and short storms regularly occur in the afternoon. Temperatures are slightly lower and the showers are rarer in March and April. The climate is dry and sunny in May, June, July and August with cool temperatures (16-17°). The climate warms in September.
Temperature differences are significant between day and night (10 to 15°) in most areas of the center of South Africa.
The east coast of South Africa
The east coast has a subtropical climate with a rainy season and a dry season. Rainfall reaches 1 000 mm per year.
Rainy season (December to March)
Temperatures are high (28°) and the rainfalls are heavy.
Dry season (April to November)
Temperatures are mild (23-25°) and rainfall is very low.
The southern coast of South Africa
The south coast has Mediterranean climate.
Summer (December to March) is hot and dry. Temperatures range between 25 and 28°.
Winter (June to August) is mild (18°) and rainy.
Temperatures range between 20 and 23 degrees the rest of the year (April to November).
The northwest of South Africa (Namib Desert)
The Namib desert has a hot and dry climate. Rainfall is rare throughout the year (January, February, March to May, June to August, September to November, December). On the coast, temperatures vary little thanks to the sea breeze that constantly blows. Away from the coast, temperatures can be very high (38°) in spring and autumn due to the very dry winds.
| When to go to South Africa (pleasant climate) |
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The climate of South Africa is pleasant during the following months :
| January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
| July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
|
Average temperatures and rainfall
Bloemfontein
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
31° |
28° |
26° |
23° |
20° |
16° |
min |
15° |
14° |
13° |
7° |
2° |
-2° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
17° |
20° |
23° |
26° |
28° |
29° |
min |
-3° |
0° |
5° |
8° |
11° |
13° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
80 |
110 |
70 |
60 |
20 |
10 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
10 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
60 |
|
Cape Town
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
26° |
26° |
25° |
23° |
20° |
18° |
min |
16° |
16° |
14° |
12° |
9° |
8° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
17° |
18° |
19° |
21° |
23° |
25° |
min |
7° |
8° |
9° |
11° |
13° |
15° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
10 |
20 |
20 |
40 |
70 |
90 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
80 |
80 |
40 |
... |
... |
20 |
|
Durban
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
28° |
28° |
28° |
26° |
24° |
23° |
min |
21° |
21° |
20° |
17° |
16° |
10° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
22° |
23° |
23° |
24° |
25° |
26° |
min |
10° |
12° |
15° |
17° |
18° |
20° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
130 |
110 |
120 |
70 |
60 |
30 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
40 |
60 |
70 |
10 |
10 |
100 |
|
East London
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
25° |
25° |
25° |
23° |
22° |
21° |
min |
18° |
18° |
18° |
15° |
13° |
11° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
21° |
21° |
21° |
21° |
22° |
24° |
min |
10° |
11° |
12° |
14° |
15° |
17° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
70 |
90 |
110 |
80 |
50 |
40 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
50 |
80 |
80 |
10 |
10 |
60 |
|
Johannesburg
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
25° |
25° |
24° |
21° |
19° |
16° |
min |
15° |
14° |
13° |
10° |
7° |
4° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
16° |
19° |
23° |
24° |
24° |
25° |
min |
4° |
6° |
9° |
11° |
12° |
14° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
120 |
90 |
90 |
50 |
10 |
10 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
... |
10 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
100 |
|
Nelspruit
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
29° |
29° |
28° |
27° |
26° |
24° |
min |
19° |
19° |
18° |
15° |
10° |
7° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
24° |
25° |
27° |
27° |
28° |
29° |
min |
7° |
9° |
12° |
15° |
17° |
18° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
130 |
120 |
90 |
50 |
20 |
10 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
10 |
10 |
30 |
60 |
110 |
140 |
|
Port Elizabeth
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
25° |
25° |
24° |
23° |
22° |
20° |
min |
18° |
18° |
17° |
16° |
11° |
9° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
20° |
19° |
20° |
21° |
22° |
24° |
min |
8° |
10° |
11° |
13° |
14° |
16° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
40 |
40 |
50 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
50 |
60 |
60 |
... |
... |
30 |
|
Pretoria (Capital of South Africa)
| Temp |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
max |
29° |
28° |
27° |
24° |
22° |
19° |
min |
18° |
17° |
16° |
13° |
8° |
5° |
|
| Temp |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
max |
19° |
22° |
25° |
27° |
27° |
28° |
min |
5° |
8° |
12° |
14° |
16° |
17° |
|
| Rain |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
mm |
140 |
80 |
80 |
50 |
10 |
10 |
|
| Rain |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
mm |
10 |
... |
20 |
10 |
10 |
110 |
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Weather data (temperatures and precipitation) for South Africa are derived from monthly averages established over the last twenty years.
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South Africa, a country located in Southern Africa, is bordered by Namibia to the northwest, by Botswana to the north, by Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland to the northeast, by the Indian Ocean to the south and by the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. South Africa surrounds Lesotho.
Capital: Pretoria
Area: 1 220 000 km²
Population: 48 500 000 inhabitants
Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Sepedi, Sesotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Currency: Rand
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South Africa
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January
