Knysna

Garden Route Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to the Garden Route, South Africa this December 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 the Garden Route in December

The Garden Route, South Africa is a region in South Africa. December in the Garden Route generally has warm temperatures, with moderate precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect warm maximum daytime temperatures of around 23°C (73°F) and nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) in Knysna.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Mossel Bay with an average of 40 mm (1.6 in) to moderate rainfall in Wilderness with 52 mm (2 in).

Average sunshine

December brings good sunshine to many areas. Knysna sees around 345 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore the Garden Route by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Garden Route — and find the best time to visit. (based on Knysna)

Best Places to Visit in the Garden Route in December

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

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 the Garden Route

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

Temperature range in the Garden Route (December)

Precipitation variation in the Garden Route (December)

Knysna

In December 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.

November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
320 hours
345 hours
320 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
51 mm (2 in)
52 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Plettenberg Bay

In December Plettenberg Bay 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.

November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
320 hours
345 hours
320 hours
Monthly rainfall
70 mm (2.8 in)
51 mm (2 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Wilderness

In December Wilderness generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°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
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
237 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
74 mm (2.9 in)
52 mm (2 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

George

In December George generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°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
22°C (72°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
237 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
51 mm (2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Mossel Bay

In December Mossel Bay 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
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
237 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
57 mm (2.2 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Garden Route, 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 the Garden Route in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Knysna 23°C (73°F) 17°C (63°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Plettenberg Bay 23°C (73°F) 17°C (63°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Wilderness 23°C (73°F) 16°C (61°F) 52 mm (2 in)
George 24°C (75°F) 16°C (61°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Mossel Bay 23°C (73°F) 18°C (64°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Sedgefield 23°C (73°F) 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)

The Garden Route weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Garden Route, South Africa in December?

In December, the Garden Route, South Africa generally has perfect weather conditions. Knysna sees daytime temperatures near 23°C (73°F), with nights cooling to roughly 17°C (63°F).

What is the average temperature in the Garden Route, South Africa in December?

In Knysna, the average daytime high in December is 23°C (73°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 17°C (63°F).

Does the Garden Route, South Africa get a lot of rain in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in the Garden Route, South Africa during December, with Knysna averaging close to 51 mm (2 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Garden Route, South Africa?

We consider December to be one of the best times to travel to the Garden Route, South Africa. Typically, the climate in Knysna is perfect. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December offering mostly perfect weather in Knysna.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Garden Route.

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.