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South Africa Weather in March

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in South Africa in March.

Thinking about venturing to South Africa this March and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in South Africa in March

South Africa offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In March, one might encounter temperatures that range from pleasant to very warm, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from pleasant in Paternoster at 20°C (68°F) to very warm in Askham at 34°C (93°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 20°C (68°F) in Askham and 16°C (61°F) in Paternoster.

For a closer look at conditions across South Africa, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In March, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Port Nolloth with an average of 5.7 mm (0.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Bonjaneni with 216 mm (8.5 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Cape Town enjoys about 293 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore South Africa by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in South Africa — and find the best time to visit. (based on Cape Town)

Best Places to Visit in South Africa in March

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across South Africa.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in South Africa

What is the weather like in March for some of the most popular destinations in South Africa?

Temperature range in South Africa (March)

Precipitation variation in South Africa (March)

Cape Town

In March Cape Town generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
297 hours
293 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
19 mm (0.7 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
52 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
5 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Johannesburg

In March Johannesburg generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
26°C (79°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
239 hours
237 hours
Monthly rainfall
123 mm (4.8 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Durban

In March Durban generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
179 hours
201 hours
206 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
98 mm (3.9 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
12 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Knysna

In March Knysna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
300 hours
280 hours
262 hours
Monthly rainfall
50 mm (2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Stellenbosch

In March Stellenbosch generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
297 hours
293 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
23 mm (0.9 in)
25 mm (1 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
5 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in South Africa.

Popular cities in March

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in South Africa in March.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cape Town 24°C (75°F) 16°C (61°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Johannesburg 26°C (79°F) 14°C (57°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Durban 28°C (82°F) 22°C (72°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)
Gqeberha 24°C (75°F) 19°C (66°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Bloemfontein 29°C (84°F) 15°C (59°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Mbombela 28°C (82°F) 17°C (63°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)

South Africa weather in March: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in South Africa in March?

March in South Africa brings perfect weather. In Cape Town, daytime temperatures are typically around 24°C (75°F) and nighttime lows hover near 16°C (61°F).

What is the average temperature in South Africa in March?

Average temperatures in South Africa during March range from a nighttime low near 16°C (61°F) to a daytime high around 24°C (75°F) in Cape Town.

Does South Africa get a lot of rain in March?

Not particularly. Cape Town averages just 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain in March, making it a mostly dry month for South Africa.

Is March a Good Time to Visit South Africa?

We consider March to be one of the best times to travel to South Africa. Typically, the climate in Cape Town is perfect.

On average, the best time to visit South Africa is in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Cape Town. In contrast, July tends to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in South Africa.

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.

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