Geography and Climate

rainbow and mountains in Stellenbosch
A rainbow shows over the mountains in Stellenbosch. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski

South Africa’s Geography

South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. It shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The country also has coastlines along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

Covering approximately 1,221,040 square kilometres, South Africa is more than five times the size of the UK and around 18 times larger than Ireland. Its diverse landscape includes deserts, rugged mountains, lush forests, rolling grasslands, and long white sandy beaches.

Several high plateaus shape South Africa’s geography. These range from about 500 metres above sea level near the Limpopo River in the north to more than 2,000 metres at their highest points.

Climate in South Africa

The country’s varied elevation also influences its climate. Although South Africa generally enjoys mild weather throughout the year, temperatures and conditions vary between regions because of its diverse landscapes. The Highveld has a dry climate. During summer (November to March), temperatures often rise above 30°C. Although this is the rainy season, the heat is usually comfortable despite occasional thunderstorms. Winter (June to August) mornings can be very cold, sometimes dropping below 0°C. However, clear skies allow temperatures to rise into the 20s°C by late morning.

Regional Weather

The Lowveld and eastern coastal regions are more humid. Temperatures generally range between 24°C and 32°C, with less seasonal variation than the Highveld. Most rainfall falls during the summer months.

In contrast, the Garden Route and Cape Town experience warm, dry summers and receive most of their rainfall during winter. Winter rain helps fill reservoirs and often brings snow to the mountain peaks surrounding the Cape Winelands.

A woman with an umbrella walking in Pretoria
A woman with an umbrella walking on the road in Pretoria. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski
Jacaranda trees during a rain storm in Pretoria
A street with beautiful purple Jacaranda trees during a rain storm in Pretoria. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski

Summer is from October to March, with average temperatures of 15–35 degrees centigrade. Winter is from April to September with temperatures averaging 0 – 20 degrees centigrade. The climate is generally mild throughout the year with a large number of sunny days and a highly variable annual rainfall of approximately 502 mm (mostly during the Summer months). The Western Cape is the exception and enjoys warm and dry summers and cold, wet winters.