Seasonal Planning for Driving in South Africa
One of the largest countries on the African continent, South Africa is near twice the size of France. Its coastline stretches over 1,700 miles (2,736 km), and its varied geography, ecosystems, and many microclimates lend to great weather and nature-based activities at any time of year: a perfect recipe for a self-drive trip.
The spring and fall shoulder seasons are the ideal time to plan a visit anywhere in South Africa. They offer lower prices, smaller crowds, less traffic, and exciting opportunities to see whales, go on safari, and indulge in outdoor excursions. In spring (September to November), taking to the Cape Provinces' roads is worth considering as the weather is warm and bright, the beaches inviting, and the prices and crowds are reasonable. The Cape Provinces—and Winelands—remain appealing in the fall (March to May) if you can avoid the afternoon thundershowers.
In the summer (December to February), the Cape Provinces will be sunny, except for the showers of the Eastern Cape (about 10–17 days of rain), but crowded along the coasts. The Little and the Great Karoo can get oppressively hot, and the KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Free State provinces in the north will be hot, humid, and wet in the form of afternoon or evening thunderstorms. The winter months (June to August) see clouds, wind, and heavy rain in the Western Cape, but Johannesburg, the surrounding savannah, and Kruger National Park undergo little rainfall, if any, and though the days are warm, the nights are chilly.
Most visitors renting a vehicle opt for a one- to two-week holiday. In that amount of time, it's best to stick to one or two regions to cover the sights. And while a 4WD rental isn't necessary, its raised height can prove helpful to see wildlife and camp. Most roads are in good condition, and South Africa has decent countrywide infrastructure. However, it's wise to exercise caution if you plan to visit urban centers like Cape Town and Johannesburg. Note that driving occurs on the left side of the road, and traffic is denser during rush hour around urban areas and the famous Garden Route, especially during peak season and holidays.
| Seasons | Pros | Cons | Best for | Where to Visit |
| Spring (Sep-Nov) | Low shoulder season rates and crowds; warm breezy days and clear skies, cool mornings and nights; blooming flowers | Late September school holiday draws crowds | Driving Route 62 and Garden Route, coastal and Northern Cape blooms, whale watching, wildlife viewing (safaris), beaches, hiking, biking | Table Mountain, Hermanus, Knysna Lagoon, Plettenberg Bay, Namaqua National Park, Richards Bay, and St. Lucia (for sea turtles) |
| Summer (Dec-Feb) | Sunny, warm-hot weather (Cape Provinces and Winelands) | Peak crowds and inflated rates over Christmas, New Year, and summer holidays; booked resorts and domestic flights (plan early); rains (Eastern Cape); torrential downpours and muggy heat in the north | Kitesurfing, birding, less touristic beaches, hikes, smaller game reserves | Cape Town (Blouberg Beach), Winelands, Garden Route, Route 62, Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve, Sani Pass |
| Fall (Mar-May) | Fewer people; increased hotel availability; mild weather (Cape Provinces); sunny, cool, and good wildlife viewing (Kruger) | Cooler, overcast weather and afternoon thunderstorms (Cape Provinces); contend with crowds in popular game parks (May) | Hiking, fall colors, game parks in northeast, scuba diving | Cape Town, Winelands, Kruger National Park, Elephant Sanctuary Plettenberg Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, Midlands, |
| Winter (Jun-Aug) | Mild to cool weather; low season rates; great wildlife viewing | Crowded park roads (Kruger); Winter storms (Cape Provinces); accommodations book up in August (whale watching season); Route 62 and Garden Route busy | Southern right whale watching, restaurants, elephants (Kruger), wildflowers, beaches, skiing/snowboarding | Greater Kruger, Winelands, Hermanus, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal coast, Tiffindell |
Spring Road Trip in South Africa (September to November)
Hitting the South African roads in spring makes for a pleasant holiday. Considered the shoulder season, costs are more reasonable, and crowds are manageable, allowing for less traffic on the roads like the popular Garden Route and Route 62. Both routes cross the Eastern and Western Capes, offering scenic stops and various activities. And with a maritime Mediterranean climate, you can expect dry, sunny, and comfortable weather, particularly in later spring. Then there's the Wild Flower Route through the cool, (typically) arid west of Northern Cape that features dense, colorful carpets of Namaqua daisies and other wildflower species.
See this article for the best time to drive the Garden Route and this one for a two-week itinerary.
Spring is also an excellent time to seek out wildlife, particularly whales. Follow the Cape Whale Route, a 560-mile (900-km) stretch of road that offers views of breaching humpback, southern right whales, and Bryde's whales, with Hermanus as a favored locale. Or try Witsand's Saint Sebastian Bay for calving southern right whales. Be mindful, however, that crowds increase during the Hermanus Whale Festival in late September. Along the eastern coast of KwaZulu-Natal in iSimangaliso Wetland Park and adjacent regions, like Richard's Bay or Thonga Beach, sea turtles come ashore on the soft-sand beaches to lay their eggs.
Check out Explore South Africa for an itinerary that leads you to Thonga Beach for time with the turtles.
Events in Spring
Hermanus Whale Festival, Hermanus. South Africans and visitors alike flood Hermanus in late September, reveling in three days of music, street parades, arts, culinary treats, "eco-marine" exhibitions, and of course, whale-watching activities. If you plan on staying, book your accommodations many months in advance.
Royal Reed Dance Festival, Nongoma. This colorful four-day celebration at Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, is a rite of passage for thousands of young Zulu women who parade in traditional costumes. Led by the chief princess, each carries a symbolic reed, recalling the proud origin of the Zulu people: according to legend, their ancestors emerged from a reed bed.
Oktoberfest, Port Elizabeth. Pack your dirndl and lederhosen and head to Port Elizabeth for Africa's largest Oktoberfest, with all the frothy beer, oom-pah-pah music, schnitzel, and wurst you can handle.
Talana Live, Talana. Showcasing South African history, Talana Live celebrates the Anglo-Boer War battle of Talana in October of 1899.
Learn More
South Africa in September
South Africa in October
South Africa in November
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Summer Road Trip in South Africa (December to February)
Summer is peak season with an increased uptick in visitors around Christmas and the school holidays as families flock to the beaches and outdoors to enjoy the ideal weather. You can expect the popular Garden Route to be slow-moving, so book accommodation well in advance. If in Cape Provinces, now is the time to visit less busy beaches, like Blouberg Beach near Cape Town and Noetzie Beach in Knysna, or drive the (now) quiet Route 62. And while the weather is dry and the chance of rain is low, a 4WD excursion over the Sani Pass in KwaZulu-Natal offers access to wildlife viewing, hot beaches, and excellent hiking.
After the holiday crowds leave (February), take a day or two to drive the Cape Peninsula Loop, considered one of the most beautiful drives. Covering 100 miles (160 km), it starts and ends in Cape Town and leads you to charming fishing villages, Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach—to see the colony of African penguins—the historic Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Agulhas, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans converge. And for a bit of history, try Route 4 of the Midland's Meander to visit the Capture Site Museum, the site where Nelson Mandela was apprehended in 1962 (best driven the first two weeks of December).
See this Classic South Africa 13-day itinerary that includes a visit to Boulders Beach.
The Wild Coast, from East London in the south 217 miles (350 km) northeast to the border of KwaZulu-Natal, delivers stunning views from rugged coastline to pastoral farming plots and rondavels. There are also unspoiled beaches to visit, far away from the crowds of the south coast. Average highs of this trek are between 78°F (26°C) and 87°F (31°C).
Events in Summer
Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival, Franschhoek. Held in early December on the lawns surrounding Franschhoek’s Huguenot Monument, this themed annual event is a highlight of the social calendar. Sample the best bubbly from wineries around the area, plus treats from Franschhoek’s world-class restaurants.
Durban Jazz Festival, Durban. This one-day al fresco event is held each December 26 and features a line-up of top African jazz performers.
Re-enactment of the Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Every January 21, local Zulu warriors and the Dundee Diehards re-enactment team in period military costume clash bloodlessly commemorating these same-day battles during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.
Learn More
South Africa in December
South Africa in January
South Africa in February
Fall Road Trip in South Africa (March to May)
The fall months are considered the shoulder season in South Africa. And like spring, prices are lower, crowds are smaller, and nature-based activities are plentiful. Now too, is an excellent time to plan a self-drive trip to visit the Winelands and drive through Franschhoek, Paarl, Tulbagh, Wellington, and Stellenbosch, while the changing colors of the grapevines add to your afternoon of wine tasting. Choose from one of several wine routes to drive through numerous wine producers—you might even catch a festival or two, like the Stellenbosch Wine Festival. There are also plenty of hiking routes if you've had your fill of wine.
Alternatively, while on the country's west coast, the Swartberg Pass route runs between Oudtshoorn in the south and Prince Albert in the north. Not paved, 4WD is recommended but not necessary and offers viewpoints for sweeping vistas over Little Karoo and the Great Karoo.
To make the most of your Cape Provinces self-drive trip, take inspiration from this 11-day itinerary.
The sunny and cool weather attracts visitors to game parks in the northeast, notably Kruger National Park, to see the rutting wildebeest, warthogs, and impala/antelope. While it's best to visit during March and April to avoid the May crowds, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park or Namaqua National Park offers a more remote experience with fewer tourists. However, you'll need a 4WD vehicle to explore these reserves on your own. Then, on the east coast, explore KwaZulu-Natal for swimming and diving opportunities near Durban, turning inland to tour the Drakensberg Mountains and pulling over to hike, bike, or horseback ride.
See Country of Contrasts for a 21-day self-drive route that takes you from Cape Town to Johanessburg.
Events in Fall
Klein-Karoo National Arts Festival, Outsdoorn. Held annually for the past decade in Outsdoorn, this celebration of Afrikaans culture features exhibitions, music, and theater and has a significant classical music component. Held in late March, it extends into April.
Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Town. Almost 50,000 cyclists from around the world converge for what is billed as the world’s largest cycling event, celebrating all things cycling. It includes an Expo, a kid’s race, a mountain bike challenge, plus the 68-mile (110-km) Cycle Tour race. As the event draws tens of thousands of visitors, make your reservations for accommodation early.
Zoo Lake Family Braai Picnic & Color Festival, Johannesburg. If there’s one thing that South Africans do best, it’s a braai, and this festival at Zoo Lake City Park, Johannesburg, is the biggest “bring and braai” picnic of all.
Learn More
South Africa in March
South Africa in April
South Africa in May
Winter Road Trip in South Africa (June to August)
While the Western Cape storms and the Garden Route/Route 62 are jammed (particularly in August due to the start of whale watching season), now is the ideal time for wildlife safaris and witnessing the Big Five elsewhere. Enjoy a self-drive safari through one of many reserves in and around Port Elizabeth, like Addo Elephant Park—a top draw that includes the rest of the Big Five, plus giraffe—or the small Bucklands Private Game Reserve. Alternatively, pick a route through the Elephant Coast, with its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife, you'll cover part of KwaZulu-Natal, from St. Lucia to Kosi Bay.
Dry and chilly Kruger National Park is busy in winter. The lack of water means thin foliage, so spotting animals is easier and draws like-minded crowds—you'll want to plan your excursion well in advance. Or, opt to visit less-crowded parks like adjoining Sabi Sands and Timbavati or check out Marakele National Park in Limpopo. And if looking to see more natural attractions, explore the Panorama Route, a popular add-on to Kruger. Check out God's Window and Lisbon Falls.
Read this article for how to choose the best safari in South Africa.
Events in Winter
National Arts Festival Makhanda, Grahamstown. Makhanda, Eastern Cape, hosts South Africa’s largest arts festival, featuring genres from art to fringe theater. Performances occur in dozens of venues across town toward the end of June and early July. Pack warm clothes—at almost 2,000 feet (600 m) elevation, Makhanda can get chilly.
Vodacom Durban, Durban. Part horse race, part fashion spectacular, South Africa's top sports event is the equivalent of Royal Ascot or the Kentucky Derby—drawing huge crowds in early July to a social scene par excellence. Fashionistas and thoroughbreds strut their stuff at Durban's Greyville Racecourse. Book your accommodation in Durban well ahead.
Knysna Oyster Festival, Knysna. Timed to the early July school holidays, this 10-day festival spans sporting events from cycling to running, plus cooking classes and competitions, wine and whiskey tastings, live music, and all the oysters you can eat.
Learn More
South Africa in June
South Africa in July
South Africa in August