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South African Climate

South Africa is famous for its sunshine and champagne days. Our coastal regions are warm even in winter - particularly the east coast regions of KwaZulu Natal - thanks to the warm Agulhas Current that runs into the Indian Ocean. In contrast the cold Benguela Current (fresh from Antarctica) runs up the west coasts Atlantic Ocean.

As a result there are striking contrasts between the East and West coast temperatures. In the interior plateau the altitude (around 1694 metres / 5500 feet) keeps the average summer temperatures below 30C (86F). However In winter, for the same reason, the temperatures at night can drop to freezing point and lower.

The far northern regions can average summer temperatures of between 35 - 42C (95 - 107F) but freezing nights are not uncommon. South Africa is a relatively dry country with an average rainfall in the region of 464mm. Most of the country is a summer-rainfall region except for the Western Cape which gets most of its rainfall in Winter.

Being in the southern hemisphere, our seasons are totally opposite to those of Europe and North America. As hard as it is to imagine, we spend Christmas and New Year in our swimming pools and on our beautiful beaches!

Estimated Area Temperatures

MONTH

KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE

Northern areas of RSA &
BOTSWANA

CAPE PROVINCE

FREE STATE PROVINCE

 

MIN

MAX

MIN

MAX

MIN

MAX

MIN

MAX

 

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

March

68

20

80

27

55

13

75

24

58

12

77

27

54

14

80

25

April

64

18

78

26

50

10

71

22

54

8

71

24

46

12

75

22

May

54

12

75

24

43

6

66

19

50

3

68

20

42

10

68

20

June

39

4

73

23

39

4

63

17

41

-1

64

18

30

5

64

18

July

39

4

71

22

39

4

63

17

43

-2

63

18

27

6

64

17

August

55

13

71

22

43

6

68

22

46

-1

64

20

30

8

68

18

September

59

15

77

25

48

9

73

30

48

5

66

27

41

9

77

22

October

63

17

78

30

54

12

77

35

52

9

70

30

48

11

80

28