| What is the best time of year to visit Cape Town, as | | | | about Easter. During these periods there is daylight until |
| far as the weather is concerned? Of course, that all | | | | well into the evening, with an average of ten hours of |
| depends upon just what you want to see and do. You | | | | sunshine a day. However, this is also the time of year |
| must keep in mind that because Cape Town is in the | | | | that Cape Town becomes crowded with South |
| Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are the reverse of | | | | Africans on holidays. But it is also the best time to see |
| those in Europe and North America. Overall, Cape | | | | local festivals and events. This is the most expensive |
| Town has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are | | | | time to visit Cape Town. Make your travel and |
| generally warm and dry, and winters are cold and wet. | | | | accommodation reservations well in advance. |
| Be Prepared for Surprises | | | | The Joys of Autumn and Spring |
| At anytime of the year, Cape Town weather can | | | | Cape Town's autumn season, from April to mid-May, is |
| surprise you. Visitors, like the Cape Tonians, must be | | | | a very good time to visit if you like to spend your time |
| prepared for sudden hot spells in winter, and chilly days | | | | outdoors. Even though it has shorter daylight hours, the |
| in summer, so take along the appropriate clothing, just | | | | Cape Town autumn is pleasant because the tricky |
| in case you need it. You might want a short-sleeved | | | | Southeaster drops off, and the air temperatures are |
| shirt for an unseasonably warm winter day, and a | | | | comfortably warm. The sunlight is still sharp and bright. |
| jacket or hoodie for a surprisingly cool summer day. In | | | | For similar reasons, the principal spring month of |
| the summer a cool wind called the Southeastern | | | | September is very attractive. This is also the time |
| blows in across False Bay. It is a very fickle wind that | | | | when the Cape Peninsula is at its greenest, following |
| can single-handedly determine what sort of day you're | | | | the winter rains. |
| going to have. On the days when it gusts at over 60 | | | | Winter and Whales |
| kilometers per hour, you probably won't even want to | | | | Winter in Cape Town is usually very rainy, particularly |
| go outside, let alone to the beach. In its gentler form, | | | | in July and August. But temperatures are relatively mild, |
| this wind is called the Cape Doctor, and brings relief | | | | rarely dropping below 6 degrees C. It is not uncommon |
| from the summer humidity. It is this wind that causes | | | | for the days to be sunny, with clear, blue skies. The |
| the cloud cover called the Tablecloth that envelopes | | | | trees are green, and there are always flowers in |
| Table Mountain. The famous Garden Route lies within | | | | bloom. South Africa is one of the best places in the |
| overlapping weather influences, and so has rain all | | | | world for whale watching, and this is the season to |
| year, usually falling at night. | | | | see them. From your hotel in Cape Town you can go |
| For Sun and Beach Lovers | | | | out to such popular whale watching centres as |
| If you want to spend your vacation swimming and | | | | Hermanus. No matter what the time of year, the |
| enjoying the sunshine at such popular locations as | | | | weather in Cape Town is just right for some activity |
| Boulders Beach, the best time to visit the city is from | | | | that is fun and exciting. |
| October to mid-December, and from mid-January to | | | | |