Weather patterns are complex and conditions variable – at times Cape Town seems to pass through all four seasons in a single 24 hour period, but generally the summers are hot, sunny and very dry.
- Cape Town falls within the winter rainfall belt – its climate being Mediterranean in character.
- Many people are attracted to Cape Town between November and April in search of winter sun, this is because Cape Town is in the Southern Hemisphere
- During the summer the sun rises early and sets late allowing you to pack so much more ‘ day’ into your holiday.
- Cape Town winters are wet and cold, but exceptional value for money can be found at the hotels and guest houses, its snows in parts of the winelands and interior !
During the summer Cape Town is cooled by a gusty, unnerving and violent wind called the southeaster that may reach gale force and last for a week or even longer. The wind is commonly known as the Cape Doctor for its supposedly cleansing effect on the city ( there may have been some truth in this in the early days when epidemic type diseases were quite common in Cape Town )
The weather in Cape Town is extremely changeable and therefore packing for a trip to Cape Town does require a little bit of pre thought. Also bear in mind that your probably combining your trip with time on Safari, on the Garden Route or in Victoria Falls, therefore your luggage space is limited and careful packing is essential !
A Jersey / Pashmina / Jacket or just something to keep you warm
In summer whilst the days can be hot and sunny, the southeaster can quickly appear and instantly chill everything down. Therefore essential that you always have something warm on hand just in case.
Winter Coat or Jacket
During the winter it can get wet and cold and therefore essential that you bring something to protect you against Cape Town’s winter weather. Remember of course that in South Africa the hotels and guesthouses are designed to keep cool and whilst the thermometer reading might be modest in comparison with winters overseas, the cold can be biting as the houses loose heat so quickly.
Dress Code
Relatively few restaurants in Cape Town have a dress code and therefore its not essential for gentleman to wear jacket and tie for dinner. This being one less thing you need to worry about packing. Cape Town is a very relaxed city and whilst people do dress up for dinner, Capetonians are laid back and clothing smart casual in the evenings.
During the Day
During the day chances are you will be doing a lot of walking and exploring. We therefore recommend utility pants, cotton shirts, shorts, sneakers, the type of apparel sold at Ex Officio, Colombia and Rhino Kit.
Speak to your Rhino Africa Travel Consultant about any specific questions you may have about clothing and how to carefully pack for the Cape Town weather.
