|
|
South Africa is a predominantly sunny country, but when it
does get cold you really feel it - indoor heating is
limited, and everything is geared to fine weather. You'll
need to pack with the weather in mind, especially in winter.
Southern hemisphere seasons are the reverse of those in the
north, with midwinter occurring in June and July and
midsummer over December and January, when the country
shuts down for its annual holiday.
South Africa
has distinct climatic zones. Cape Town and the
Garden Route coastal belt have a so-called Mediterranean
climate, influenced by winds blowing in from the South
Atlantic. Summers tend to be warm, mild and unpredictable;
rain can fall at any time of the year and winter days can be
cold and wet. Many Capetonians regard March to May as the
perfect season, when the nagging winds drop, it's
beautifully mild and the tourists have all gone home.
Subtropical KwaZulu-Natal has warm, sunny winters,
coral reefs and tepid seas; the province's Drakensberg range
sees misty summer days and mountain snow in winter.
Johannesburg and Pretoria lie on a plateau and
have a near-perfect climate; summer days are hot, with none
of the humidity of the KwaZulu-Natal coast, while the
winters are dry with chilly nights.
|
East of Johannesburg, the Lowveld, the low-lying wedge along the Mozambique
border that includes the Kruger National Park, is
subject to similar summer and winter rainfall patterns to
the Highveld, but experiences far greater extremes of
temperature because of its considerably lower altitude.
|
South Africa
guide
South Africa
Weather
Average temperature
Getting around
English / Afrikaans
Transportation
Buses
Minibus taxis
Trains
Domestic flights
Driving
Cycling
Hitching
Where to go
Best of South
Africa
Outdoor
activities
Hiking trails
Surfing, diving,
canoeing
diving
Ballooning, horse-riding
Gays and
lesbians
Contacts
for gays and lesbians
Contacts -
UK, US, ...
Cape Town
gays and lesbian
Crime
Eating,
drinking, restaurants
South African foods
Restaurants
Drinking
Braai and boerekos
Food and Drink
Communication
Telephone system
Internet
Mail
Cape Town
The city
|
South Africa -
When to go