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Best Time to Visit South Africa

Best Time to Visit South Africa

January

January is a midsummer month, characterised by afternoon showers, lush landscapes, spectacular sunsets, and sightings of numerous migratory birds.

  • Day time maximum temperature = 29°C
  • Night time minimum temperature = 19°C
  • Average rainfall = 127mm
  • Average daylight = 10.5 hours

What's the weather going to be like in South Africa in January?

  • Days and nights are hot and dry, but there is a chance of rainstorms (in the safari areas)
  • It’s peak summer season
  • In areas close to the Indian Ocean, there are particularly high temperatures and high humidity too
  • It’s hot enough for light layers, and a sturdy waterproof for storms
  • The garden route and Cape Town are drier and cooler than Kruger National Park.

What are the highlights of visiting South Africa in January?

  • Safari in South Africa is excellent all year round
  • The Kruger is less busy than it is during December, as the school holidays in South Africa have ended by January
  • January’s balmy evenings are superb for sundowners, and clear skies yield particularly spectacular sunsets throughout the month
  • Great sightings of big cats can be enjoyed during cooler mornings and evenings, as the animals have no need to seek shade at these times
  • January is brilliant for birdwatching, due to the prevalence of many migratory species
  • Leatherback and loggerhead turtles enter their crossover period between nesting and hatching this month
  • If you’re in the Mother City on 2nd January, you can experience the ‘Kaapse Klopse’ or ‘Second New Year’ celebrations
  • Travellers to KwaZulu-Natal can mark the anniversary of two famous battles – Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift
  • There are lots of opportunities for fantastic photography – sunsets, big cats, turtles, and more.

Any lowlights?

  • As there’s a lot of water available in parks and reserves, wildlife has no need to cluster around scarce supplies
  • Due to dense vegetation, wildlife is less visible than during dry season months
  • There are many mosquitoes about
  • The rains can cause some roads to become impassable to safari vehicles.

Recommended Safaris to South Africa in January

  • "Again, I must say how much I appreciate all that Lauren and the rest of her team at Yellow Zebra have done to ‘Fix’ things. I had to put off our trip to Africa for a second year in a row as we are unable to get vaccinated from Covid 19 in time. Without hesitation, Lauren and her team were able to..."

    CRAIG trustpilot inline white

  • "We have now had to reschedule our proposed trip to Africa three times owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially we postponed our trip by a year, which was organised without any fuss. This February it became apparent that we would have to alter our plans again. The Sales Manager was extremely help..."

    Sarah Drury trustpilot inline white

  • "Due to COVID we are in a second year of postponement for our trip to southern Africa. This is a trip for eight people and not our first trip with YZ. Although everyone is really excited to take this trip, we have been anxious and concerned about the risks and restrictions caused by the pandemic..."

    Bill Goodwin trustpilot inline white

  • "Working with Yellow Zebra has been amazing! I had specific requests for our safari and Emma went above and beyond to make sure I got the trip of my dreams. Emma was extremely thorough with the details of our entire trip, taking time with multiple phone calls and emails answering all my questions..."

    Breazeale, Julie trustpilot inline white

  • "My wife and I booked a safari to Rwanda through Yellow Zebra. The research and planning phases were an absolute pleasure due to the deep knowledge of the Yellow Zebra safari planners. We flew to Rwanda in March, 2020, and spent a night in Kigali. The next morning, we were on our way to our Lod..."

    Tom trustpilot inline white

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