KwaZulu-Natal, the wettest region
On the southeast coast of the country, KwaZulu-Natal, around Durban, enjoys a warm tropical climate and benefits from a monsoon phenomenon that allows it to receive between 800 and 1,200 mm of water per year. This providential watering allows the cultivation of sugar cane and banana. Durban remains a very hot and humid city all year round.
From tropical to continental climate
The interior of the country also oscillates between two climates: it is subject to a tropical climate in summer and continental in winter. Here, summers are hot and rainy while winters are cold and dry. These regions are covered with grasslands, which are suitable for large livestock. In Johannesburg, the average summer temperature in January is 22°C while in winter, in the middle of July, it does not exceed 11°C. The cold falls as soon as the sun goes down, quite early in fact, around 5 or 6 pm. Many travelers are still surprised by the temperature differences. Day and night!
The Kalahari: where nothing grows
The Kalahari region, named after its famous desert, holds the national temperature record in Vioolsdrif: 48.8°C. This territory, famous land of the Bushman people, is covered by a discontinuous steppe, but no crop can acclimatize there.
Cold winters in landlocked countries
In the Drakensberg, the mountain range that borders northeastern Lesotho, the peaks are covered with snow and ski resorts open on weekends. On the other hand, in the summer it is very hot, tempered by the altitude and heavy rainfall. The weather can then be heavy and cloudy.
Wine region
In the Cape region, the Mediterranean climate allows the cultivation of vines and fruit trees. It is one of the most pleasant regions in terms of climate appreciation. The summers are hot and dry and the wind often blows on the coast. January and February are the warmest months. At this time, the thermometer does not fall below 16°C. The winter season can be rainy, but is still quite mild when the sun is shining, between June and September. Most of the time it will be between 10 and 20°C.
Leisure activities throughout the seasons
If one appreciates the country even more between the mild months of October and March, South Africa is a land where one can hike all year round with more or less sunny tours and more or less warm nights. These tours, depending on the place and the season, offer each time their share of colors, fauna and flora different. Safari departures, for example, are recommended during the months of May, June, July, August, September and October. On the coasts, from November to April, travelers will be able to fully enjoy the beaches, without forgetting the superb scuba diving spots. For whale watching, the end of winter is the best time to go: September and October are the months that offer the best chances to see them.
