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Eastern Cape Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Eastern Cape, South Africa in December.

Planning a getaway to Eastern Cape, South Africa this December and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Eastern Cape in December

Eastern Cape, South Africa is a region in South Africa. The weather in Eastern Cape in December can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from warm to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from warm in Port Nolloth at 22°C (72°F) to very warm in Kruger National Park at 33°C (91°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 23°C (73°F) in Kruger National Park and 16°C (61°F) in Port Nolloth.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Port Nolloth with an average of 4.7 mm (0.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Maclear with 204 mm (8 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Gqeberha sees close to 279 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore Eastern Cape by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Eastern Cape in December

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

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 Eastern Cape

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Eastern Cape, South Africa?

Temperature range in Eastern Cape (December)

Precipitation variation in Eastern Cape (December)

Gqeberha

In December Gqeberha generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
250 hours
279 hours
266 hours
Monthly rainfall
59 mm (2.3 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
8 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Jeffreys Bay

In December Jeffreys Bay generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
250 hours
279 hours
266 hours
Monthly rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
8 days
7 days
Weather conditions

East London

In December East London generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
216 hours
240 hours
221 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Port Alfred

In December Port Alfred generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly rainfall
64 mm (2.5 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
8 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Addo

In December Addo generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
28°C (82°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
250 hours
279 hours
266 hours
Monthly rainfall
62 mm (2.4 in)
52 mm (2 in)
47 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
6 days
7 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: South Africa December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in South Africa in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest December day in South Africa reached 44°C (111°F) in Kruger National Park on December 13, 2024.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Eastern Cape in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Gqeberha 23°C (73°F) 18°C (64°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Jeffreys Bay 24°C (75°F) 18°C (64°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
East London 25°C (77°F) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Port Alfred 24°C (75°F) 19°C (66°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Addo 28°C (82°F) 16°C (61°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Graaff-Reinet 29°C (84°F) 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)

Eastern Cape weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Eastern Cape, South Africa in December?

Eastern Cape, South Africa typically experiences perfect weather in December, part of the season. Daytime highs in Gqeberha average around 23°C (73°F), and temperatures drop to about 18°C (64°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Eastern Cape, South Africa in December?

Gqeberha averages a daytime maximum of 23°C (73°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 18°C (64°F).

Does Eastern Cape, South Africa get a lot of rain in December?

December is on the drier side in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Gqeberha averages only about 48 mm (1.9 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Eastern Cape, South Africa?

In our opinion, December is a good time to visit Eastern Cape, South Africa with overall perfect weather in Gqeberha.

Generally speaking, provide perfect weather in Gqeberha.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Eastern Cape.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.