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 Southern Africa can be visited comfortably any time.

 

However, depending on what you plan to do, it’s worth paying attention to the seasons, which are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere. Winter (June to September) is cooler, drier and ideal for hiking and outdoor pursuits. Because vegetation is less dense and thirsty animals congregate around rivers and other permanent water sources, winter is also the best time for wildlife-watching. In the eastern highveld, nights are often crisp and clear, with occasional frosts, so come prepared with a jacket.

 

More of a consideration than weather are school holidays. From mid-December to January, waves of vacation-hungry South Africans stream out of the cities, with visitors from Europe and North America adding to the crush. The absolute peak is from Christmas to mid-January, followed by Easter. At this time, accommodation in tourist areas and national parks is heavily booked, and prices can more than double. 

 

Spring (mid-September to November) and autumn (April and May) are ideal almost everywhere. Spring is also the best time to see vast expanses of the Northern Cape carpeted with wildflowers.

 

Climatic regions of Southern Africa

 

The southwestern Cape has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool rainy winters. Further east the climate is temperate, with warm summers and cool winters, and rain throughout the year. From the Border in the southeast to northern Natal, the subtropical coast has humid wet summers and warm winters and slightly drier winters. The west coast from Namaqualand to Angola is hot and dry desert, with little rain in summer and fog along the coast. Most of the interior is a semi-arid plateau, with cool, dry winters and hot summers with little rain. East of this area is the eastern plateau with cool wet summers and cold dry winters. The north is hotter and drier. The slopes of the plateau extend inland, and these areas has warm, wet summers and cool, dry winters. The subtropical Lowveld has hot, wet summers and dry, warm winters. The subtropical plateau is hot and dry with some summer rainfall, which diminishes towards the west coast. Winters are rainless. More rain falls in the north, where it is also hotter.