Best Time to Visit Cape Town

The whole of South Africa experiences seasons at opposite times than that of Northern hemisphere. So from October to April, when the northern countries have cold winters, Cape Town has warm and dry summer conditions.

March to May (15°C to 27°C)

March to May is the autumn shoulder season for Cape Town, which means the summer crowd thins out and prices go down a little bit. Thus, it can be the best time to visit Cape Town one is seeking a budget tour to this amazing travel destination. During this time, there will be occasional cold fronts to announce the upcoming winter. By the middle of May, it cools down significantly in the port town and there is also the first Cape Town rainfall of the moist winter.

June to August (10°C to 15°C)

June, July and August are the winter season in Cape Town. While beach activities are low during this season, there are other attractions to enjoy. The best thing about visiting during June-August is the low crowd and the worst thing is the sporadic rainfall. The weather is nice and crisp, except the occasional dampness on the rainy days. If one is a beach lover, then the duration of June to August can be the best time to visit Cape Town.

September to November (13°C to 20°C)

Come September, and here is the season of spring. This is the perfect time to catch stretches of wildflowers in bloom all along the Western Cape. As the weather is quite pleasant, this is also an excellent time to watch the last batch of migratory whales along the shore. Crowds are still thin and thus there will be fewer queues at the attractions.

December to February (23°C to 29°C)

Weather in Cape Town in December is warm with dry conditions, the beginning of the long, hot summer. This is the peak season in the city, and the beaches, sightseeing destinations and national parks are full of people from all around the world. The famous south-easterly winds blow during this time, sometimes covering the summit of Table Mountain with white clouds, which is locally called the Table Cloth.

Famous Festivals in Cape Town

Cape Town Carnival

A glitzy and glamorous celebration of the transformative power of creativity and the African identity, the Cape Town Carnival is one of the most famous festivals celebrated in the city. There is a parade of costumed performers, musicians, and moving floats. This exciting festival happens generally during the month of March. To enjoy the city’s culture to the maximum, you can plan your trip to Cape Town during this time. It would be a perfect time to get introduced with the city's diverse array of communities and cultures.

Cape Town Fringe Festival

This is a multi-arts festival that takes place annually in the city of Cape Town. The event is a celebration of the local and international creativity bringing forth solo shows and a whole lot of collaborative artwork by a plethora of amazing artists and performers. This promotes experimentation, collaboration and innovation amongst the art community. This festival takes place around the month of November. You might want to plan your vacation around this time to enjoy the best of Cape Town’s festivals.

Cape Town Jazz Festival

An annual music festival held in Cape Town, South Africa started in the year 2000. It has been recognized as the fourth largest jazz festival in the world. It is also the largest one of its kind in the African continent. Music aficionados can book their trip to South Africa during the month of March to experience the best of what this music festival has to offer. With a lineup of world’s best jazz artists, it is surely going to swoon you away with the tunes and the festivities around.