When to go · January
South Africa in January
A solid time to go
Peak summer in Cape Town
Daytime high
28°C
82°F
Overnight low
16°C
61°F
Rainfall
50 mm
moderate
Crowd levels
high
busy
Prices
high
peak rates
What to expect in South Africa in January
January brings hot weather to South Africa, with daytime highs around 28°C (82°F) and overnight lows near 16°C (61°F). Skies are typically dry with occasional showers, with about 50 mm of rainfall on average. Peak summer in Cape Town.
January is one of South Africa's busiest months, so book accommodation early and expect queues at the headline sights. Flights and hotels are at peak rates, so use our tracker below to spot any drops. Peak season runs December–January (domestic), June–September (safari), for context.
Plan your trip
Live fares for South Africa in January
Compare flights across 100+ booking sites. Hotels via Expedia.
South Africa in other months
Where else is good to go in January
Japan in January
10°C high · low crowds · good
Thailand in January
32°C high · high crowds · great
Morocco in January
18°C high · low crowds · good
Iceland in January
2°C high · low crowds · good
Mexico in January
22°C high · high crowds · great
Costa Rica in January
24°C high · high crowds · great
Australia in January
26°C high · high crowds · good
New Zealand in January
23°C high · high crowds · great