Month guide · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg in August
What August is really like in Johannesburg: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Moongateclimber assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 1 rainy days and roughly 11.2 hours of daylight. Warming days but still cold at night; dry, dusty and windy towards the end of the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 1
- Daylight
- About 11.2 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in August
August is the 9th-warmest month in Johannesburg: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 1 of its 31 days. Compared with July (17°C (63°F)), August is warmer; by September highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:37
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 17:48
- Daylight
- About 11.2 hours
Spring (September–November). Warming days, purple jacarandas in October and the return of summer storms from late October.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 3 for crowds (the peak is October at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in October). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in August
- National Women's Day — public holiday (9 August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Architecture · Braamfontein
Nelson Mandela Bridge
Opened in 2003, this 284-metre cable-stayed bridge spans the railway lines between Braamfontein and Newtown and is lit up in changing colours after dark.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
Garden · Emmarentia
Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Emmarentia Dam
Bring a picnic on a weekend afternoon and walk the dam's edge for views back across the northern suburbs.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
Zoo · Parkview
Johannesburg Zoo
Founded in 1904 on land donated by mining magnate Hermann Eckstein, the zoo has large grassy enclosures for lions, elephants, gorillas and Siberian tigers, plus a farmyard section for small children.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Melville
Melville Koppies
Join one of the scheduled guided walks rather than going alone; the guides know the plants and the history.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 6°C and 1 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Johannesburg?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Johannesburg in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Johannesburg?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warming days but still cold at night; dry, dusty and windy towards the end of the month.
+How warm is Johannesburg in August?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Johannesburg in August?
Expect rain on about 1 days of the month, so it is usually dry.