Car Rentals South Africa - Weather in South Africa

A mainstay of the country’s tourist industry, South Africa climate enjoys reliable, warm weather for eight months of the year, and good seasonal rain in many parts of the country.

The country can be divided into three major parts: the vast interior plateau (the highveld), the dry Kalahari Basin, and a narrow coastal plain (the lowveld). Lying just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the region enjoys warm semi-tropical weather, with temperatures over 20C from September to April, pushing into the 30s in peak summer months and desert areas to the west.

Generally the east and south coast regions are temporal, with Cape Town enjoying a (reverse) Mediterranean climate (rainy winters from June to August), while the northwest areas are dry, arid and sparsely populated.

The highveld (1700m above sea level), covers the area around Johannesburg and gets chilly in the winter but remains sunny, while November brings balmy days and regular late afternoon thunderstorms.

Durban and the Kwa-Zulu Natal coastline suffers terrible humidity in the summer. It’s Drakensburg mountains, however, are the only area to receive regular snowfall, yet only have one ski field.

Most Europeans enjoy the warm and sunny but moderate Cape Town weather which is best from December to April when rainfall is lowest.

South Africa is relatively free of hazards such as hurricanes, bushfires, twisters and blizzards.