Best Time to Visit the Eastern Cape

Do you want to visit South Africa’s famous Sunshine Coast but are unsure when the best time to visit the Eastern Cape is? Well, then you’re on the right pageFurthermore, what weather temperatures should we expect, and what weather temperatures prevail in the Eastern Cape? Besides its beautiful coastlines and heartwarming people, the Sunshine Coast claims to have more sunshine hours throughout the year than any other coastal resort. So, if you are contemplating whether you should or shouldn’t explore South Africa’s Eastern Cape, this post is for you.

Eastern Cape Best Time to Visit

With its Oceanic climate, the famous coastal environment of South Africa’s Eastern Cape is primarily pleasant, although temperatures vary somewhat throughout the year. Of course, besides the unexpected rain and snow, the weather in Cape Town can be very unpredictable. So read further to find out what Eastern Cape climate one can expect during each year’s season.

Seasons are periods during the year that are distinguished by certain climate conditions. South Africa has temperate and sub-tropical climates, both influenced by the ocean and interior plateaus. South Africa is south of the equator in the Southern Hemisphere, east of the Greenwich Meridian, and in the Eastern Hemisphere. So, let us see what the Eastern Cape’s four seasons reveal:

seasons of the Year in South Africa

South Africa’s Seasonal months are spring, summer, Autumn, and winter, with each season boasting its uniqueness. Despite the rainfall during wintertime in the Cape Province

Winter Season

The Winter season lasts about 4.5 months. In May, South Africa is known as wintertime, with daily Eastern Cape temperatures from May to October below 70°F. July is the coldest month in Port Elizabeth, with the Eastern Cape climate a high of 68°F and an average low of 47°F. July is typically the coldest month in Eastern Cape, South Africa, with temperatures in the low 40s F.

Although days are generally pleasant with occasional cold snaps, during the winter months, from June through August, the night temperatures easily reach a minimum of 7°. Located high in the Stormberg Mountains in the Eastern Cape, Molteno is the coldest town in the Eastern Cape. Known for being the coldest town, Molteno is close to the famous Tiffendal Ski Resort, South Africa’s only ski Resort.

Spring Season

However, in the Eastern Cape, temperatures during the day average around the low 20s, and the rainfall is higher than in the other provinces in South Africa. One can expect about six days of rain, with 13 mm during June, seven days during July, and nine during August.

With cool evenings, things start to warm up again during Springtime, September to November. One can expect about 3 to 5 rainy days during these months. If possible, plan your trip to visit the Eastern Cape during summertime, when days are mostly sunny and pleasant with little rain.

Autumn Season

During the Autumn months, April to May, in the Eastern Cape, weather temperatures are moderate and humid, ranging between 21°C and 28°C. Evenings and early mornings can be pretty cool. Expect up to 4 rainy days during these months. What I love about Autumn is the changes in the colours of some plants and tree leaves.

Summer Season

The perfect summer holiday season with warm sunny days and delightful clear blue skies. Summer lasts October through March and contributes to most people’s energy, including mine. During this time, one can expect daily highs in summer months to vary between 24.6°C and the hottest months, which are expected to be 30°C. Therefore, if you’re a sun seeker who loves beach holidays, the best time to visit the Eastern Cape is from December to April. Although April is the start of Autumn, it is my favourite time to explore Cape Town Province.

Ideal Time to Visit the Eastern Cape

So now that you know what the weather seasons hold, let’s consider other aspects when visiting the Eastern Cape. The best or ideal time to visit the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa depends on the experience you want.

Weather Conditions and Climate

rainfall in the Eastern Cape

Although the rainfall in the Western Cape is during the winter months between May and August, the rain in the Eastern Cape is distributed throughout the year. Summer, which is from November through to March, is therefore unpredictable. The rainy season for the rest of South Africa is mainly during the summer months. March to April is the dryest month.

May is the driest month. The warmest month in the Eastern Cape is February, with an average maximum temperature of 27°C (82°F), and the drier season lasts 5.0 months, from April 25 to September 26. The fewest wet days in Port Elizabeth is May, with an average of 2.6 days.

The Eastern Cape High Season

Peak season, the high season in the Eastern Cape, is the busiest and most expensive time. These are the months between December and January, as well as from September to October.

Eastern Cape Humidity and Wind

With very high humidity, humid months, and other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is July (51.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is February (71.5%). Whereas the wind in the Eastern Cape can be moderate to hectic, the windiest month is June, with an average wind speed of 8.5 knots. Believe it or not, that is considered a gentle breeze.

Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually indicate the weather best. A significantly lower mean and low generally means it gets colder at night. The weather in the Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape temperatures in January

The Eastern Cape temperatures in January are scorching, although they are pretty good for a summer beach holiday. During this period, you can expect pleasant temperatures with little precipitation. The highest average temperature in the Eastern Cape region is 77°F in January.

Temperatures in February Eastern Cape

Were you worried about the average Eastern Cape in South Africa weather conditions in February and the chances of rain? Don’t stress, as the predicted rainfall during February is 18 days, totalling 28.3 inches.

March Temperatures in the Eastern Cape

There are on average 7 hours of sunshine a day in the Eastern Cape during March. Temperatures to expect are usually 77° / 64° with 28 dry days. Other opinions are the following: Maximum 76° in March in Eastern Cape with at least around 56° degrees, and it will be dry 14 days in this month.

April Temperatures in Eastern Cape

April is one of the best times to visit the Eastern Cape. With warm temperatures, the average maximum daytime temperature in Gqeberha in April lies at 25.2°C (77.36°F). The average minimum temperature goes down to around 14.1°C (57.38°F) (often, the minimum temperature is noted at night). Rainfall during April is moderate, averaging 44mm (1.7 inches). There are generally around 8 rainy days. If you enjoy blue skies and sunshine, this is a great time to go to Gqeberha, with 221 hours of sun during the entire month.

Temperature in May in The Eastern Cape

However, May is pleasant and sunny; it is too cold for swimming unless you are courageous. Besides that, May is predominantly dry, but expect occasional light showers.

June in the Eastern Cape

Travelling to the Eastern Cape during June, expect cool weather, rain, and thunderstorms. The average daily temperatures one can expect varies between 17℃ and 23℃.

July in the Eastern Cape

Usually, the days during July are relatively pleasant, although the sky might be overcast with temperatures that fluctuate around 19℃.

Weather in the Eastern Cape in August

The Eastern Cape is warm during August, with average daily temperatures between 15°C and 19°C. One can, however, expect some rainy days. I won’t recommend August as the best time to visit the Eastern Cape.

September in The Eastern Cape

Temperatures during September range around 20°C, with some rainy days but usually not more than 3-4.

Eastern Cape Temperatures in October

The temperature during October usually is pleasant and averages around 21°C.

November Eastern Cape Temperatures

In November, the Eastern Cape is warm and delightful, with an average daily temperature of about 22°C.

Wild Coast & Sunshine Coast

Check Port St.Johns Weather and Coffee Bay Weather on the Wild Coast by going to Port St.Johns and Coffee Bay Temperatures. East London is the closest city to the Wild Coast: Seven-day East London weather forecast. With its short and warm summers, Port Elizabeth on the Sunshine Coast, also known as the windy city, has long, cool, dry winters. For weather forecasts for Jeffreys Bay and the rest of the Eastern Cape, go to Eastern Cape Weather. The inland temperatures are very similar, with daily temperatures slightly higher throughout the year.

If you are visiting the mother city of Cape Town, here are the Top 10 things you won’t want to miss in Cape Town.

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