Weather in December in South Africa
Planning a journey to South Africa this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:
What is the weather like in South Africa in December?
The weather in South Africa in December can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from pleasant to very hot and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy.
Temperatures
During the day temperatures vary from pleasant in Paternoster at 20°C to very hot in Keimoes at 36°C. At night it cools down to 20°C in Keimoes and 17°C in Paternoster.
Precipitation
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Kotzeshoop with an average of 3.3 mm to heavy rainfall in Bonjaneni with 344 mm.Average sunshine
The days are mostly sunny, with an average total of around 334 hours of sunshine in Cape Town. The sunlight during this month doesn't just make the days brighter, it also seems to make everyone a bit more cheerful.To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of South Africa in December, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our South Africa climate page.
Where to go in South Africa in December
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Popular destinations
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in South Africa?
Cape Town
In December Cape Town generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Johannesburg
In December Johannesburg generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Durban
In December Durban generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Knysna
In December Knysna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Stellenbosch
In December Stellenbosch generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in South Africa.
Is December the best time to visit South Africa?
We believe that December is one of the best times to visit South Africa with overall perfect weather in Cape Town.
Generally speaking, January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December provide perfect weather in Cape Town. On the other hand, the weather in July tends to be unpleasant.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in South Africa.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to South Africa? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in South Africa.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.