Discover South Africa

When should I go ?

Discover South Africa as a year-round destination to visit. If you plan to combine a few areas where weather patterns vary, you should note a couple of things when looking for the best time to travel to South Africa for your specific itinerary. South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so it’s the summer season here when it’s winter in Europe and North America. Average temperatures in summer generally range from a minimum of 19°C (66.2°F) to a maximum of 29°C (84.2°F). In winter, it can be anything from 6°C (42.8°F) to 23°C (73.4°F).

Safari

If you’re planning a safari, there are two weather patterns to consider. The Cape Peninsula in the south has a Mediterranean climate, which means that it’s hot and dry in summer (from October to May) and wet and cold in winter (from June to Sept). However, you can still experience some of the most beautiful days during a South African winter!

The rest of South Africa, including the safari destinations, has an African rainfall that is dry and hot in winter with cool mornings and evenings. In summer, you can expect rain and, in some areas, thunderstorms. The wet weather causes the bush to turn into lush greenery, a spectacular sight!

Best Time for a Kruger Safari

If you’re visiting South Africa predominantly for a Kruger Safari, winter is generally the best time to visit South Africa. However, if you want to add on a beach holiday, you want to find the “sweet spot” in-between seasons.

Best Time for Cape Town

Best seasons are spring, summer and autumn (between September and May). In spring, southern right whales visit the coastline, and the flowers are in full bloom. Autumn offers respite from the summer heat, and the Cape Winelands’ vineyards are starting to change colour.

Best Time for KwaZulu-Natal

When visiting the coast for a beach holiday, winters are ideal as average temperatures hover around 26°C (79°F), whereas you can expect high humidity in summer.

Our Travel Experts will help you find the optimal time to visit South Africa for the best possible experience

Why visit?

South Africa safaris are special and world-famous for many reasons! There are plenty of game reserves and national parks like to choose from, including family-friendly and malaria-free destinations, as well as private game reserves for a more exclusive luxury safari. With some of the world’s prime wildlife viewing, including the Big 5, wide-open diverse landscapes, unique activities in the bush, and many luxury lodges, it’s the ideal safari destination.

Safari wildlife 

Of course, the animals are the real stars of the show. Best known for the (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo),Big 5 you can also see giraffe, warthog, zebra, cheetah, various antelope species, plenty of birdlife, and many more! South Africa safaris also allow you to see some of the rarer endangered wildlife like black rhino, pangolin and African wild dog.

Of course, South Africa has more to offer than the bush, with sea safaris being a popular highlight! On your ocean safari, you can see whales (seasonal), dolphins, sharks, seals, and other marine wildlife. Boulders Beach in Cape Town is also famous for its penguins that made the shore their home.

Diverse landscapes 

South Africa safaris are special because of the wide range of vistas, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a new world at every second turn! From the arid Klein Karoo to the dense bush, indigenous Fynbos vegetation, dramatic mountain ranges towering over the ocean, rolling green hills, red Kalahari dunes – the list goes on and on.

Unique safari activities 

A safari in South Africa also allows you to partake in unique safari activities, especially when you stay in a private game reserve, Sabi Sands, Timbavati and many oters. For example, you can go on bush walks, sleep-outs under the stars, day and night game drives, cultural excursions, photo safaris, and more adventures. The luxury lodges also offer plenty of onsite activities such as wellness treatments, wine experiences, gin tastings, child-friendly programs, and more.

Our safaris are on everyone’s bucket list, and rightly so! Come and see why for yourself.

Security

South Africa does have crime, and, yes, there is also a list of areas within the country you should rather avoid,  However, that’s the case for almost any other developing country where a large part of the population lives in poverty in rural areas without access to basic amenities and quality education . Like in all countries developed or not, when travelling you should be careful.

We’re not trying to diminish the extent of South Africa’s crime rates. However, the reality is that crime is found worldwide and in most major cities. But with the right advice, guidance and direction, you’re able to avoid letting the news or social media scare you away from visiting this one-of-a-kind destination for your South Africa safari holiday. This is also a big reason why it’s so beneficial to book your holiday with us, the authority on African travel.

African Safari Portfolio is  based in Cape Town, one of the country’s major travel hubs and iconic destinations. Therefore, we’re able to give our clients first-hand, on-the-ground travel advice, safety recommendations and local tips while booking the best itinerary possible. We’re locals here, have travelled far and wide to experience everything our continent has to offer first-hand, and we look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful home for your South Africa safari holiday!