Month guide · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town in August
What August is really like in Cape Town: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Winstonza, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Still wet, but spring flowers begin on the West Coast and whale sightings increase.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in August
August is the coolest month in Cape Town: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with July (18°C (64°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs stay near 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 07:25
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 18:17
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F)
Spring (September–November). Wildflowers on the West Coast, peak whale season at Hermanus and warming days, with the southeaster returning in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes August one of the better-value months to book.
Events in August
- West Coast wildflower season (usually August to September)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
.jpg){kind=link}
Neighbourhood · Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay harbour and village
Kalk Bay is a fishing village on False Bay where boats unload their catch in the small harbour and seals wait for scraps.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Beach · Muizenberg
Muizenberg Beach
Book a surf lesson in the morning before the wind picks up, and check the shark-spotter flag before swimming.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
- Free
Historic site · Constantia
Groot Constantia
Founded in 1685, Groot Constantia is South Africa's oldest wine estate, with a Cape Dutch manor house museum, cellar tours and tastings below the mountain.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Food
- Architecture
.jpg){kind=link}
Gallery · V&A Waterfront
Zeitz MOCAA
Look up from the centre of the atrium, then take the stairs rather than the lift to see the carved tubes up close.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 8°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Cape Town?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February–April and November are better overall. Compare every month.
Cape Town in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Cape Town?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still wet, but spring flowers begin on the West Coast and whale sightings increase.
+How warm is Cape Town in August?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in August?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.