visit south africa in january

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• South Africa in January

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By Andre Van Kets

Co-founder, Discover Africa

Johannesburg and the Highveld are hot by day, warm at night, and receive regular rainfall, often in the form of afternoon thunderstorms. Cape Town and the Western Cape are hot and dry, cooling down at night, making it perfect for a beach holiday . The Kruger Park and its surroundings are very hot by day, warm at night, and receive occasional rainfall.

• January is an ideal time for beach holidays anywhere along the South African coast, though Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coast to its north can be swelteringly hot.
• Game viewing in Kruger Park and other reserves can be relatively challenging as animals are dispersed away from water sources, and thick vegetation tends to reduce visibility. This is arguably compensated for by the lush green condition of the bush, clearer skies (better for a photographic safari ), and far greater variety and profusion of birds as resident species come into breeding plumage and are supplemented by a variety of intra-African and Palaearctic migrants, making it a good time for a birding safari .
• January falls into the nesting season for loggerhead and leatherback turtles along the beaches of iSimangaliso, and turtle-tracking tours can be undertaken in the evening.
• Accommodation tends to be full during the school holidays, which run to mid-January, but much quieter towards the end of the month.

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South Africa Weather in January 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

January is in South Africa's summer, and a visitor can expect warm to hot weather throughout, with the occasional rainfall in certain spots. In January we recommend visiting Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, and the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Read on to find out more about travel and weather, including temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and tips for January.

Content Preview

• 1. Weather Overview
• 2. Best Places to Visit
• 3. Crowds and Costs
• 4. What to Wear

South Africa Weather in January: Overview

• Temperature range: 17–29°C (63–84°F)
• Rainfall: 9 cm (4 inches)
• Rainy days: 10
• Sunshine hours/day: 9.5
• Sea temperature: 20°C (68°F)
• Humidity: 69–71% (muggy to humid throughout the country)

With January falling in South Africa's summer, the weather is mostly warm to hot throughout the entire country. Places like the Kalahari Desert and Kruger National Park are particularly hot, peaking at 36°C (97°F) and 33°C (91°F) respectively on average, while Cape Town and Johannesburg are warm with average highs of 26°C (78°F), cooling down to mild lows in the evenings.

Most of South Africa is dry in January, with the exception of the east (Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, and the Drakensberg Mountains), where you can expect moderate rainfall.

In general, January is a great time of year to visit for a beach holiday or to explore Cape Town and its surrounding areas, with lots of sunshine every day (around 11 hours a day on average).

January Climate Comparison (Averages) for South Africa's Top Tourism Areas

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The Best Places to Visit in South Africa in January

Given January's long, sunny days, we highly recommend visiting South Africa for a combination of sightseeing, exploring the cities, seeing wildlife as well as nature, and relaxing on the beach. South Africa has beautiful ocean destinations that won't disappoint, which lots of potential for activities, enjoying beautiful landscapes, and learning about this magical country.

1. Kick-Off Your South African Adventure in Cape Town on a Beach

Cape Town is South Africa's oldest city, and it is a buzzing city with lots of nightlife, a busy harbor, and beautiful nature surrounding it.

Given that Cape Town's weather is warm and dry in January, we recommend visiting one of the incredible beaches Cape Town has to offer. Boulders Beach, Bikini Beach, and Clifton Beach are all great choices amongst many more options, with water sports and activities on offer at the beaches.

If you have more time there are also lots of options for day-trips from Cape Town. To learn more about what we recommend to see in the city, check out our piece about visiting South Africa in March for more tips on museums and sightseeing, and our piece on visiting South Africa in April for more information about climbing nearby Table Mountain.

2. Delve into South Africa's History in Johannesburg

Many international flights land in Johannesburg, and we recommend staying for a couple of days to explore the city. There are a lot of important museums in the city, and the nearby townships also play an important role in South Africa's history.

We recommend visiting the Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela Square, Nelson Mandela's House, the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, and if you are traveling with your family, there is also Gold Reef City Theme Park to keep everybody entertained.

3. Snorkel or Dive off the KwaZulu-Natal Coast

South Africa's eastern coast, particularly the KwaZulu-Natal coast which is not far from South Africa's border with Mozambique, has some of the most beautiful snorkeling spots in South Africa on offer. January is a great time of year to do this, particularly in Sodwana Bay, when temperatures are warm in the daytime.

The reefs are home to turtles, eel, and hundreds of colorful fish species.

The area is also a good spot to go on a safari, with the nearby parks being home to hippos, rhinos, hyenas, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, and chameleons.

4. See Lions with your Own Eyes in Kruger National Park

While January is hot in Kruger National Park, you can't miss it. Most safari tours would see you going on both early morning and late afternoon game drives, to avoid the heat, and you also would be in a covered vehicle for the duration of your trip.

Visiting Kruger National Park in January has some perks too, as there are lots of newborn animals, and there are lots of birds to spot due to migration trends.

And, of course, you can't miss the big five: the lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalos are waiting for you!

High Season: Busier and More Expensive

January falls in South Africa's peak tourist season, which runs from November to March in its summer months. This is because the weather is great, and many visitors come from the Northern Hemisphere to escape the colder months.

As a result, the beaches are busier and the safari parks might be too. We recommend booking in advance if you're looking to visit South Africa in January. Global Highlights can help you book your ideal trip in advance to make sure you get to see everything you want to in South Africa.

You'll particularly notice more crowds of tourists around New Year's Day (January 1), when many visitors will be around having celebrated Christmas and New Year's in South Africa. It is also a national holiday, and certain restaurants and museums might be closed as a result so we recommend planning ahead.

What to Wear in January

January is a warm time of the year to visit South Africa, and we recommend bringing lots of light-colored clothing in natural fabrics. Cotton trousers, linen shorts and shirts, or dresses and skirts are a good idea to beat the heat.

We also recommend bringing plenty of mosquito spray, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun, especially if you are planning on spending some time on the beach, on a boat, or walking around during the daytime. If you want to go snorkeling, you can either bring your own equipment if you prefer using that, or you usually will be able to rent some.

As always, supportive footwear is a must. For visitors looking to be more active and go on a hike during their time in South Africa, we also recommend bringing proper hiking gear.

Monthly Weather in South Africa

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When is the best time to visit South Africa in 2024?

Mar 10, 2024 • 5 min read

You'll find something exciting to do in South Africa at any time of year © pixdeluxe / Getty Images

From dynamic Cape Town and cosmopolitan Johannesburg to staggering expanses of wilderness such as the Kalahari and the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa has a breadth of experiences that is hard to match .

The variety of the landscape , weather and festival seasons throughout the country means the best time to visit will depend on what you want to do when you get there.

In general, the climate in South Africa is warmer in the north and cooler in the south. You'll also find different weather on the coasts compared to the elevated plateau that makes up most of the country, where it tends to be drier. Usually, the Indian Ocean coast feels more tropical, while the weather on the Atlantic coast is milder, though cold fogs and hot desert winds can still roll in.

Cape Town and the Western Cape are unique in having their rainy season in the winter (June to August). In the rest of the country, the rains arrive during the southern hemisphere summer (November through March), but the deluges rarely last for long and give you the chance to photograph dramatic thunderstorms.

However, most visitors' biggest consideration is the vibrant festival calendar and the annual migrations and breeding seasons for the country's diverse wildlife populations. Here's everything you need to know about picking the best time for your South African adventure.

November to March is peak festival season, with peak prices

November to March is summertime in South Africa, with daytime highs reaching 32°C (90°F), often with quite a lot of humidity. If you’re looking to visit during the peak season, planning ahead is essential. Accommodations in coastal areas and national parks are often booked out months in advance, and popular vacation spots see accommodation prices rise by 50% or more.

That said, if you have the budget to travel in the high season, you can enjoy a host of festivals and events. AFROPUNK , a massive international multi-day music festival that draws artists from all over the world, kicks off in December. Held annually on January 2, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival (known locally as Kaapse Klopse) is a high-spirited street parade dating from the mid-1800s with important links to overcoming apartheid and South Africa's long history of enslavement.

Cape Town’s Pride Festival is held in late February or early March, followed by the Cape Town Cycle Tour , which brings in cycling enthusiasts from all over the globe. March also sees the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees , one of South Africa’s largest arts festivals, held at Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape.

The Lowveld – made up of open grassland and woodland areas between 150m and 610m (492ft and 2001ft) above sea level – is steamy and warm, and the landscapes are lush and green; the Highveld, at a higher altitude, is slightly cooler. This time of year is especially good for walking and beach bumming in the Western Cape.

April, May, September and October mean lower prices and great wildlife watching

South Africa's shoulder seasons see smaller crowds and several important festivals – including April’s Splashy Fen Music Festival in Durban. The big lure in the fall (April–May) is wildlife watching, as the tail end of the dry summer weather brings wildlife out into the open. The rutting season for impala – one of South Africa’s most abundant antelopes – begins in April, with displays of dominance (like the clashing of horns) increasing as the days get shorter.

The spring months of September and October bring the best chances for cetacean encounters in whale-watching centers such as Hermanus . Wildflower season peaks in late August in the north and early September in the south, but blooms can appear from July depending on the rains, and the spectacle continues into October if it’s not too hot.

June to August is the best time for budget travelers

The South African winter from June to August brings lower prices (except for safaris) and smaller crowds. This is the rainy season in Cape Town and the Western Cape, but there’s still plenty of sunshine around. Look out for wallet-friendly winter deals at Cape Town restaurants.

Elsewhere in the country, winters are much drier, and conditions are ideal for a safari. Be prepared, though, for chilly nights and cold early morning game drives. Top winter festivals include the National Arts Festival (June) in the Eastern Cape and Knysna’s 10-day Oyster Festival in June or July.

South Africa's game reserves are best in the winter months

Rain can be an obstacle to your travels if you plan to go on safari. Northern game reserves such as Kruger National Park are driest from May to September, during the South African winter. While you might not have the lush backgrounds to your photos that you would in the spring and summer, wildlife is often easier to spot because the vegetation dies back and animals congregate around water holes.

The chilly winter nights also mean fewer mosquitoes, but you'll need to bring layers to keep warm during dawn game drives. For safaris in the Western Cape, the South African summer months are drier, but this coincides with the busy Christmas period and South Africa’s summer school holidays.

Peak whale-watching is in September and October

Though whales and dolphins can be seen year-round off South Africa’s southern and eastern coasts, September and October are the peak cetacean-spotting months. Between June and November, southern right whales and humpbacks migrate to and from Antarctica to breed and have their babies in the warmer waters off Mozambique and Madagascar. May to June also sees a massive run of sardines that attracts whales, dolphins, sharks and sea birds ( Durban is an excellent base to watch the spectacle).

While you’ll see more from a whale-watching boat, whales often come close enough to the shore to be spotted from land. This is particularly so near the town of Hermanus , celebrated by the World Wildlife Fund as one of the world's top whale-watching destinations, where whales can be seen as early as April. Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth or PE) on the Eastern Cape is known as the world bottlenose dolphin capital, and pods are frequently seen between January and June.

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