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Indice
The weather in South Africa is quite similar to ours. Much of the country has a Mediterranean or oceanic climate, although the interior has a more subtropical climate. However, one of its greatest curiosities is that the two main tourist areas of South Africa have just the opposite climate.
We are talking, of course, about Kruger National Park and Cape Town. The best time to visit the Kruger Park is the austral winter, the time when there is less rainfall and temperatures are less sweltering.
These four seasons are only well defined on the South African coast. Here, moreover, temperatures are tempered by the influence of the ocean, the Atlantic in the western part and the Indian Ocean in the east. However, on the Indian Ocean side, the seasons can even disappear, as in the case of Porth Elizabeth.
The weather in the Kruger Park is usually the reason for choosing the dates of travel. In addition, for people coming from the northern hemisphere it has the advantage that it usually coincides with our summer vacation season.
Best time to go on safari in South Africa
We narrated this trip in its entirety both Jairo and I on Instagram Stories. I explained the headaches of its preparation, but, above all, day by day more than 6,000 people saw our adventures and misadventures in a trip that went from less to more. So much less that I had no confidence that I would like it, that I was really afraid of the news I had read, and so much more that I ended up crying my eyes out as the plane took off.
To tell the truth, when I thought about traveling to South Africa on my own, I was quite scared. The crime rates are shocking and it is well known that sensationalist news are the ones that appear the most in the media. However, after having returned from this trip, I can say that the fear I had was quite unjustified.
We were also walking around the more touristy area of Johannesburg’s Soweto neighborhood (the one around Mandela’s house and the Orlando Towers) and I noticed an atmosphere that was more festive than dangerous.
When it’s summer in South Africa
Each season has its own charm and many of the adventures we offer can be enjoyed at any time, so the choice is largely a matter of taste. We can’t decide for you, because “every taste is different” but “every color is different in South Africa”.
Perhaps the winter season is more conducive, when less vegetation makes it more difficult to go unnoticed in the undergrowth, but during the summer it is also easy to come face to face with the “Big Five”.
From mid-June to December it is possible to observe the impressive southern whales circling the South African coastline, and if you are looking for strong experiences it is best to enter the water from May to August for a cage dive with great white sharks.
Seasons of the year in South Africa
Of course, you must have your passport in force before traveling to South Africa, a document that must meet these two requirements: It must have an expiration date of at least 30 days after the date of departure from the country and have 2 blank pages.
Malaria treatment is advisable if you are going to visit risk areas, located in the northeast of the country, such as the Kruger Park. In the big cities there is no risk of being bitten by the mosquito that transmits the disease.
Being located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in South Africa are the opposite of those in Europe. Winter in South Africa, which runs from June to September, is dry and not too cold. This is the best time to enjoy the wildlife. The vegetation is less lush and the animals concentrate on the rivers to drink. In addition, the southern whale begins to reach the coast. It is also a good season for outdoor activities and sports.
The South African spring is from September to November. Temperatures rise during the day. It is a season that allows us to see beautiful landscapes full of flowers, such as those of the West Coast National Park, about 90 kilometers from Cape Town.