South Africa is a large and diverse country with a climate that varies from region to region:

• Cape Town in the Western Cape and the Garden Route in the Eastern Cape experience a Mediterranean-like climate. The winter (June to August) is marked by rainy and sometimes cold weather, although longer warm and sunny spells may occur. Summers in Cape Town (November to March) are constantly dry and warm, although often (very) windy, so it never gets really hot.
• The main part of the country, including the Kruger Park, has a somewhat opposite weather pattern as compared to the Cape, with a long, dry winter marked by often chilly nights (May to October) and wet summers in which heavy thunderstorms are frequent events (December to March).
• The coastal areas of KwaZulu Natal (where Durban is located) enjoy year-round sunshine with delightfully mild winters, so any time is a good time for a visit here.

The best time to visit South Africa depends on your interests:

• For a Cape Town beach holiday or an exploration of the Garden Route, we recommend to travel during the warm, dry summer months. Keep in mind though that it can get very windy in Cape Town at the start and the peak of summer, with the winds only slowing down towards the end of summer.
• Although winters in Cape Town are often wet affairs, this is the best time to spot whales in front of the coast, with numbers at their peak in September.
• For a safari in the Kruger National Park, we recommend to travel during the winter months. The winter months are drier and cooler, resulting in improved visibility for game viewing as the vegetation is sparser and the animals make their way to the watering holes for hydration

If you want to see the whole country, we recommend to travel in spring (October-November) or autumn (March-April) to have the best chance of reasonable winter in both the North (Kruger Park) and South (Cape Town). Overall, spring is our preferred travel period, because you still have a good chance of spotting the Big Five animals after the long, dry winter, as well as some whales that have not left yet the waters around Cape Town.

Requirements for entry into South Africa differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest South African embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to South Africa.

• You need a passport valid for a minimum period of 30 days from the date of exit from South Africa. Your passport should have at least two blank pages when you present it at immigration to enter or leave South Africa
• Visitors from visa exempt countries – which includes Russia, UK, USA, Canada, most of Europe, and some Latin American and African countries – do not require a visa for visiting the Republic of South Africa for ninety (90) days or less. Citizens of other countries need to apply for a visa.