Karoo Weather in December

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

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Oudtshoorn Montagu Beaufort West Calitzdorp

Planning a trip to the Karoo, South Africa this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in the Karoo in December

The Karoo, South Africa is a region in South Africa. December in the Karoo generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate. December falls during the summer season.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from warm in Sutherland at 28°C (82°F) to very warm in Merweville at 32°C (90°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 16°C (61°F) in Merweville and 13°C (55°F) in Sutherland.

For specific regional insights in the Karoo, South Africa, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Sutherland with an average of 25 mm (1 in) to moderate rainfall in Barrydale with 41 mm (1.6 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Oudtshoorn sees close to 237 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore the Karoo by month

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

January30°C (86°F) February30°C (86°F) March29°C (84°F) April26°C (79°F) May23°C (73°F) This monthJune20°C (68°F) July19°C (66°F) August20°C (68°F) September22°C (72°F) October25°C (77°F) November27°C (81°F) December29°C (84°F)
Best Time to Visit the Karoo →

Best Places to Visit in the Karoo in December

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 Karoo

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

Temperature range in the Karoo (December)

Precipitation variation in the Karoo (December)

Oudtshoorn

In December Oudtshoorn generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
237 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
52 mm (2 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
33 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Oudtshoorn →

Montagu

In December Montagu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly rainfall
40 mm (1.6 in)
29 mm (1.1 in)
29 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Montagu →

Beaufort West

In December Beaufort West generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
30°C (86°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
321 hours
347 hours
338 hours
Monthly rainfall
35 mm (1.4 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
44 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
3 days
4 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Beaufort West →

Calitzdorp

In December Calitzdorp generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly rainfall
50 mm (2 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Calitzdorp →

Ladismith

In December Ladismith generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly rainfall
37 mm (1.5 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Ladismith →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Oudtshoorn 29°C (84°F) 15°C (59°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Montagu 29°C (84°F) 15°C (59°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Beaufort West 30°C (86°F) 15°C (59°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Calitzdorp 29°C (84°F) 15°C (59°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Ladismith 30°C (86°F) 15°C (59°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Barrydale 28°C (82°F) 15°C (59°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)

The Karoo weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Karoo, South Africa in December?

Expect perfect weather across the Karoo, South Africa in December. The popular destination of Oudtshoorn averages 29°C (84°F) by day and 15°C (59°F) at night during this summer month.

What is the average temperature in the Karoo, South Africa in December?

Daytime temperatures in Oudtshoorn peak at roughly 29°C (84°F) in December, dropping to about 15°C (59°F) overnight.

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

Not particularly. Oudtshoorn averages just 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for the Karoo, South Africa.

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

We believe that December is one of the best times to visit the Karoo, South Africa with overall perfect weather in Oudtshoorn.

Generally speaking, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December provide perfect weather in Oudtshoorn. On the other hand, the weather in January and February tend to be tolerable.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Karoo.

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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