Where to Go for Great Weather
South Africa · Month guide

South Africa in October

Around 27 °C with 36 mm of rain and 8.6 hours of sun a day.

October is a solid shoulder-season month in South Africa. Around 27 °C with 36 mm of rain and 8.6 hours of sun a day. Use the regional grid below to find where this month works best — national averages hide the swings between coast, highlands, and inland.

Match verdictMatch: Perfect match. South Africa · October.
Perfect match
South Africa · October
What the weather usually does

South Africa · typical month

  • Day / night
    12 – 27 °C
    Year range 5 – 30 °C
  • Rainfall
    36 mm
    Year range 12 – 79 mm
  • Sunshine
    8.6 hr / day
    Year range 6.5 – 9.0 hr / day
Compare with another destination
What’s open · October

Things to do in South Africa in October

Nothing in South Africa shuts for the season, and 1 thing below is at its best in October.

  • At its best
    Southern right whales, Hermanus

    the season runs roughly July to December, with land-based viewing from the Hermanus cliffs among the best anywhere

    Sources: whalehermanus.com, farandwild.travel

  • Open
    Kruger game viewing

    the park is open all year; what changes is whether you can see through the bush

    Sources: go2africa.com, approachtours.com

Opening seasons are checked by hand against the operators and parks themselves, not derived from the climate figures on this page. Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Dates move — confirm before you book.

Safety · 6 governments

What the governments say about South Africa

Combined advisory · most-cautious-wins
Exercise increased caution
Highest level across 6 governments · Advisory last changed
See breakdown by country
AU

Exercise increased caution

Changed Checked www.smartraveller.gov.au
CA

Exercise increased caution

Changed Checked travel.gc.ca
DE

Exercise normal precautions

Changed Checked www.auswaertiges-amt.de
UK

Exercise normal precautions

Changed Checked www.gov.uk
US

Exercise increased caution

Changed Checked travel.state.gov
Climate at a glance · 10-year ERA5

A decade of weather, in one page

Temperature°C
Temperature · 12-month climatologySouth Africa. Average daytime high by month in °C. Lowest in July (19.7), highest in January (30.3). Monthly means: 30.3, 29.7, 28.4, 25.1, 22.9, 20.0, 19.7, 21.8, 25.0, 27.1, 28.5, 29.5.
— daytime high— overnight low▬ typical range
View data table
MonthAverage daytime high (°C)Average overnight low (°C)Typical lowTypical high
January30.317.414.633.9
February29.717.314.533.2
March28.415.612.332.2
April25.112.39.029.6
May22.98.55.326.8
June20.05.52.523.3
July19.74.71.323.2
August21.86.32.726.3
September25.09.65.929.4
October27.112.37.932.7
November28.514.310.833.0
December29.516.213.333.4
Rainfallmm
Rainfall · 12-month climatologySouth Africa. Rainfall by month in mm. Lowest in August (12), highest in January (79). Monthly means: 79, 76, 55, 52, 19, 15, 13, 12, 21, 36, 55, 79.
View data table
MonthRainfall (mm)
January79
February76
March55
April52
May19
June15
July13
August12
September21
October36
November55
December79
Sunshinehr / day
Sunshine · 12-month climatologySouth Africa. Sunshine hours by month in hr / day. Lowest in June (6.5), highest in December (9.0). Monthly means: 8.9, 8.0, 7.6, 6.7, 6.9, 6.5, 6.8, 7.4, 8.0, 8.6, 9.0, 9.0.
View data table
MonthSunshine hours (hr / day)
January8.9
February8.0
March7.6
April6.7
May6.9
June6.5
July6.8
August7.4
September8.0
October8.6
November9.0
December9.0
Windkm/h
Wind · 12-month climatologySouth Africa. Average wind speed by month in km/h. Lowest in May (10.3), highest in November (13.1). Monthly means: 12.2, 11.5, 10.8, 10.5, 10.3, 11.6, 11.8, 12.1, 12.6, 13.1, 13.1, 13.0.
— average▬ typical range
View data table
MonthAverage wind speed (km/h)Typical lowTypical high
January12.29.715.8
February11.59.114.7
March10.88.414.1
April10.57.914.3
May10.37.714.7
June11.68.316.5
July11.88.517.2
August12.18.916.9
September12.69.317.3
October13.19.717.6
November13.110.316.6
December13.010.715.9
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