Johannesburg weather and what to wear

6 min read Updated November 2026 Compare all tours

The weather in Johannesburg follows two rules. The city lies high on the Highveld, at about 1,700 m, which the South African government says keeps average summer temperatures below 30 °C. And almost all of its rain falls in summer, from October to March, while the winter from May to August is dry and clear. The figures below are long-term monthly averages from the South African Weather Service, measured near O.R. Tambo Airport.

Month by month

A rainy day here means at least 0.1 mm, so many of them bring only a short shower. The averages cover the years 1961 to 1990.

Winter, May to August

The difference between day and night is the thing to pack for. A June day reaches about 16 °C on average, and the night falls to about 4 °C. The government notes that winter nights can reach freezing point in some places, so a warm jacket, a jumper and long trousers belong in the bag, even if you spend the afternoon in a T-shirt. Rain is rare, and the sky is usually clear.

Early starts feel colder than the numbers suggest. The Pilanesberg day safari collects guests between 06:00 and 06:30 and drives in an open vehicle, and its operator asks guests to bring a jumper for the drive and light clothes for the heat of the day. The same applies to balloon flights, which South African Tourism says almost always start before sunrise.

Summer, October to March

Summer days are warm, usually 24 to 26 °C, and the evenings stay mild. From November to January, rain falls on about half of the days. Thunderstorms can be heavy: in March 2026 the South African Weather Service warned of severe storms in northern Gauteng with local flooding, damage and power disruptions. Pack a light rain jacket or an umbrella and shoes that cope with wet streets, and keep an eye on the weather warnings before long drives.

Walking tours in Soweto and Maboneng run rain or shine, according to their operators, who ask guests to bring sun protection or rain gear and, in winter, layers. Comfortable walking shoes matter on all of them. For the cave visit at Sterkfontein in the Cradle of Humankind, flat shoes with grip are better than sandals, as the tour has many stairs.

In the city and on the bus

The hop-on hop-off bus is an open-top double-decker, so the upper deck is exposed to sun, wind and rain. A hat and sunscreen help in summer, and a warm layer in the morning in winter; the full loop takes at least three hours. For what to keep in your pockets, and what to leave in the hotel, see is Johannesburg safe.

For a safari

SANParks describes the summer from October as hot and rainy, and the winter from April to September as warm and dry by day with cold nights. Pack a hat for the day and a warm layer for drives in the open vehicle in the morning and evening. Kruger is a malaria area, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases advises insect repellent with DEET, covering your skin after dark and sleeping under nets; ask a doctor about tablets before you travel. Pilanesberg, closer to Johannesburg, is described as malaria-free. One Kruger operator also reminds guests to bring their passport. More on the Kruger safari page.

Plugs, power and time

South Africa runs on 220/230 V at 50 Hz. According to South African Tourism, most plugs are 15-amp three-prong or 5-amp two-prong, both with round pins, so bring an adapter or buy one locally. The country uses GMT+2 all year without daylight saving time, which is one hour ahead of Central European winter time and the same as Central European summer time.

Planned power cuts, called load shedding, were a fixture for years. In March 2026 the government reported 300 days without them, but the UK Foreign Office notes that they can still happen and affect accommodation, ATMs, traffic lights and security systems. A power bank and a small torch take up little room.