SECTION 8: GENERAL INFO | < BACK | NEXT >

8.1 CLIMATE AND WEATHER

South Africa's seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere, with midwinter in June and July and midsummer in December and January.

On the highveld in the interior, (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, Polokwane) there is sunshine the year round. Summers are hot and thundery; winters bright dry and cold to freezing cold at night.

Cape Town and the southernmost part of Western Cape has a Mediterranean-type climate, with mild, changeable winters, when most of the rainfall occurs, and a warm to hot summer.

Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coast enjoys a sub-tropical climate, again with plenty of sunshine year round. Summers are hot, thundery and humid at sea level. June and July, when the humidity is low, are ideal months to visit Durban and the coast.

Nelspruit is sub tropical but nights can be very chilly. Port Elizabeth is cool in winter with occasional rain and frequent high winds.

For the latest weather forecast in all regions, ( 012 082 162

TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL in Johannesburg (JNB), Durban (DBN) and Cape Town (CPT) listed below:

Temperature (ºF) - These are the average lows and highs in Fahrenheit

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

JNB

59/79

57/77

55/75

52/72

46/66

41/61

41/61

45/66

48/72

54/75

55/77

57/77

DBN

70/82

70/82

68/82

63/79

55/75

50/73

50/73

54/73

59/73

63/75

64/77

68/81

CPT

61/79

59/79

57/77

54/73

50/68

46/64

45/63

45/64

46/66

50/70

55/75

59/77

Temperature (ºC) - These are the average lows and highs in Celsius

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

JNB

15/26

14/25

13/24

11/22

8/19

5/16

9/22

12/24

13/25

12/24

13/25

14/25

DBN

21/28

21/28

20/28

17/26

13/24

10/23

10/23

12/23

15/23

17/24

18/25

20/27

CPT

16/26

15/26

14/25

12/23

10/20

8/18

7/17

7/18

8/19

10/21

13/24

15/25

Rainfall (inches). This varies according to the year and where you are.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
JNB	4.41	3.78	2.91	2.40	0.90	0.31	0.31	0.19	0.11	2.71	4.60	4.29
DBN	5.12	4.49	5.31	4.21	2.12	1.22	1.41	1.69	2.40	3.90	4.49	4.60
CPT	0.59	0.70	0.70	1.97	3.54	3.34	3.54	3.15	1.97	1.41	0.51	0.59

Rainfall (mm). This varies according to the year and where you are.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
JNB	112	96	74	61	23	8	8	5	3	69	117	109
DBN	130	114	135	107	54	31	36	43	61	99	114	117
CPT	15	18	18	50	90	85	90	80	50	36	13	15

 

8.2 METRIC CONVERSION TABLE
 

TEMPERATURES
°F	32		40		50		60		70		75		85		95		105
°C	0		4.5		10		15.5		21		24		29.5		35		40.5
SPEEDS
MPH		30		40		50		60		70		80		90		100
KM/H		48		64		80		96		112		128		144		160

8.3 TIPPING

Tipping is not compulsory, but it is customary, especially in restaurants, where it is usual to give a 10% tip. South African waiters earn very little basic pay, so help them by tipping decently. The cost of eating out in South Africa is less than in most countries, so please be kind to a waiter if they serve you well.

If you spend time at a safari lodge, it is also customary to tip. Below are appropriate guidelines:

1. Safari Guides - We recommend US$5 per guest per day if the guide has done a good job.

2. The General Camp or Staff. Here we recommend about US$3 per guest per day. This should be handed into the communal tipping box to be distributed equally amongst all the staff at a later stage.

3. Waitrons - A generally acceptable tip in restaurants and hotels is 10% of the total bill, unless it is stated that a service charge is included. Only pay gratuities if you are satisfied with the service.

8.4 PACKING CHECKLIST

Suggested Clothing, Gear and Photographic Packing List for your time in South Africa. Some of these items may only be required if you plan on going on safari in a wildlife reserve. Remember that it is winter in South Africa in June and July. Johannesburg and surrounds can be ice cold at night, Cape Town can be wet, and Bloemfontein freezes at night, while Durban is usually mild. See Weather in Section 7.1. Essential items to pack are listed below...and don't forget to bring along your team's shirt, hat, flags etc!

• Air Tickets
• Travel insurance
• Travellers’ cheques or Cash Passport
• Credit card
• Valid passport with 2 black pages (plus photocopies in case of loss)
• Visa, if required. See section 1.10
• Immunization certificates, if required. See section 1.12
• International drivers license
• Camera (spare batteries) and lenses with sufficient memory cards
• Binoculars
• Multi-plug adapter for electrical appliances
• Dust-proof bags
• Flash-light with spare batteries and globe
• Insect repellent
• Malaria prophylaxis, if visiting a malaria area. See section 6.2
• Moisturizing cream
• Personal medication
• Sun block
• Pocket knife (pack with luggage - not on person while flying)
• Sunglasses
• Light waterproof windbreaker jacket
• Beanie or woollen cap (it is winter in SA at the time)
• Sunhat or cap
• Worn-in walking shoes
• Personal clothing

8.5 WILDLIFE CHECKLIST

Below is short list of Africa’s Big Five and Little Five – some of the animals you may see on safari. For a complete printout checklist of African animals, go to www.e-gnu.com/check_005.html.

BIG FIVE	LITTLE FIVE
Lion Elephant Rhinoceros Buffalo Leopard	Ant Lion (a little creature that digs holes to trap ants) Elephant Shrew (a tiny shrew that eats insects, fruit, seeds and nuts) Rhinoceros Beetle (a large beetle with horns on its head) Buffalo Weaver (a red-billed sociable bird often seen eating ticks on buffalos) Leopard Tortoise (a fairly large tortoise with a black and yellow spotted shell)

8.6 BIRD CHECKLIST

South Africa’s Big Six birds is a fanciful grouping aimed at mirroring the Big Five animals. These birds are mostly found in and around Kruger Park. They are the Lappet faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, Saddle billed Stork, Kori Bustard and Ground Hornbill. The one curve ball is the Pel’s Fishing Owl, which is seldom seen, because of its nocturnal habits and restriction to large watercourses. For a complete printout checklist of African birds, go to www.e-gnu.com/check_004.html

 

| < BACK | NEXT >