What is the best climate in South Africa? Gauteng is said to offer one of the world’s best climates: summer days are warm and wind free and winter days are crisp and clear. Johannesburg and Pretoria differ in temperature by about 2% (Pretoria being the warmer of the two). Johannesburg has a mild The climate of South Africa is determined by South Africa’s situation between 22°S and 35°S, in the Southern Hemisphere’s subtropical zone, and its location between two oceans, Atlantic and the Indian. It has a smaller variety of climates than most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and it has lower average temperatures than other countries within this range of latitude, like Australia, because much of the interior (central plateau or Highveld, including Johannesburg) of South Africa is at a higher elevation. Average temperatures (°C) in South Africa City Summer (January) Winter (July) Max Min Max Min Bloemfontein 29 15 15 –2 Cape Town 26 16 16 7 Durban 28 21 23 11 East London 26 18 19 10 George 25 15 15 7 Johannesburg 26 15 17 4 Kimberley 33 18 19 3 Mthatha 27 16 21 4 Musina 34 21 25 7 Nelspruit 29 19 23 6 Pietermaritzburg 28 18 23 3 Polokwane 28 17 20 4 Port Elizabeth 25 18 20 9 Pretoria 29 18 18 5 Richards Bay 29 21 23 12 Skukuza 33 21 26 6 Thohoyandou 31 20 24 10 Upington 36 20 21 4 Average temperatures (°F) in South Africa City Summer (January) Winter (July) Max Min Max Min Bloemfontein 87.8 59 62.6 28.4 Cape Town 78.8 60.8 64.4 44.6 Durban 82.4 69.8 73.4 51.8 East London 78.8 64.4 69.8 50 George 77 59 66.2 44.6 Johannesburg 78.8 59 68 39.2 Kimberley 91.4 64.4 66.2 37.4 Mthatha 80.6 60.8 69.8 39.2 Musina 93.2 69.8 77 44.6 Nelspruit 84.2 66.2 73.4 42.8 Pietermaritzburg 82.4 64.4 73.4 37.4 Polokwane 82.4 62.6 68 39.2 Port Elizabeth 77 64.4 68 48.2 Pretoria 84.2 64.4 75.2 41 Richards Bay 84.2 69.8 73.4 53.6 Skukuza 91.4 69.8 78.8 42.8 Thohoyandou 87.8 68 75.2 50 Upington 96.8 68 69.8 39.2 Winter temperatures may reach the freezing point at high altitude, but are at their most mild in coastal regions, particularly KwaZulu Natal Province and perhaps the Eastern Cape. Cold and warm coastal currents running north-west and north-east respectively account for the difference in climates between west and east coasts. The weather is also influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. South Africa experiences a high degree of sunshine with rainfall about half of the global average, increasing from west to east, and with semi-desert regions in the north-west. While the Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall, most of the country experiences summer rain. Temperature South Africa has typical weather for the Southern Hemisphere, with the coldest days in June–August. On the central plateau, which includes the Free State and Gauteng provinces, the altitude keeps the average temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F); Johannesburg, for example, lies at 1,753 metres (5,751 ft). In winter temperatures can drop below freezing, also due to altitude. During winter it is warmest in the coastal regions, especially on the eastern Indian Ocean coast. Warm season weather is influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). South Africa experiences hotter and drier weather during the El Niño phase, while La Niña brings cooler and wetter conditions.