| Safaris Wildlife | ||
| When to go | ||
| South African Climate | ||
| Although the country as a whole is classified as semi-arid, it has considerable variation in climate. The great inland Karoo plateau is very dry, and so is the Kalahari desert. Extremely hot in summer, it can be icy in winter. In contrast, the eastern coastline is lush and well watered. The southern coast, part of which is known as the Garden Route, is less tropical but also green, as is the Cape Region all year round. This south-western corner of the country has a Mediterranean climate, with wet winters and dry summers, but its most famous climatic characteristic is its wind, which blows virtually all year round, either from the south-east or the north-west. Free State and the Highveld are semi-arid, but saved by its altitude (Johannesburg lies at 1 740m) from subtropical extremes of heat. Winters are cold, though snow is rare. Further north and to the east, especially where a drop in altitude beyond the escarpment gives the Lowveld its name, temperatures rise. | ||
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| Best travelling time | ||
| There is no bad time to visit South Africa, but depending on what you would like to do or where you would like to go, some seasons are better than others. South Africa is famous for its sunshine and is mild winters. Most South Africans will plan their vacations during the long school holiday from mid-December to the end of January, so be sure to pre-book your hotels, car, tours or lodges well in advance. • Go on safari is Mai to October (dry winter season) • Visit Cape Town is November to March (summer) • Go rafting is December to February (rainy season) • See flowers is August to September (spring) • Go whale watching is June to December • Visit KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo is June and July |
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| Best Safari Time | ||
| It is important to understand the seasonal trends and how they will affect your trip, but remember that weather is sometimes unpredicable and so it is quite possible to go for days without rain during the peak of the rainy season, or have thundershowers in the middle of the dry season. The best game-viewing period in Africa, however, is during the dry season. Permanent water supplies attract animals and the vegetation becomes thinned out and trees don't have so many leaves to obstruct the view. This optimum safari season usually includes winter (May - August) and the hot spring months of September and October. The climate is comfortable in the dry winter months of May, June, July and August. Daytime temperatures are sunny and mild, only the nights get a little cool. Summers in contrast can get quite hot especially around Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, where summer rains make it humid and muggy, while the Western Cape Nature Reserves and Game Parks are perfect destinations all year round. | ||
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