fiogf49gjkf0d
When to go
 

fiogf49gjkf0d
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.


Other useful information for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):




South Africa

FIOGF49GJKF0D
SOUTH AFRICA
FIOGF49GJKF0D
HISTORY
FIOGF49GJKF0D
WHEN TO GO
FIOGF49GJKF0D
GETTING AROUND
FIOGF49GJKF0D
BOOKS
FIOGF49GJKF0D
WHERE TO GO
FIOGF49GJKF0D
ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR PURSUITS
FIOGF49GJKF0D
VISAS AND RED TAPE
FIOGF49GJKF0D
HEALTH
FIOGF49GJKF0D
COSTS, MONEY AND BANKS
FIOGF49GJKF0D
MAIL, TELEPHONES AND INTERNET ACCESS
FIOGF49GJKF0D
CRIME AND THE POLICE
FIOGF49GJKF0D
GAY AND LESBIAN TRAVELLERS
FIOGF49GJKF0D
EATING AND DRINKING
FIOGF49GJKF0D
BEST OF