Season guide · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: NJR ZA, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Settled, sunny weather and cooling evenings; one of the most comfortable times for sightseeing and day trips. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 17 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 6°C (43°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 17
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 24°C (75°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 9 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| April | 21°C (70°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 6 | 11.5 h | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 2 | 10.8 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 17 of the year's roughly 76 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Human Rights Day — public holiday (21 March)
- April: Freedom Day — anniversary of the 1994 election (27 April)
Make the most of the weather
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
Landmark · Soweto
Orlando Towers
Two decommissioned power-station cooling towers in Soweto, painted with murals and advertising, now host a bungee jump swinging between the towers and a viewing platform with panoramas over the township.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Views
- Photo spot
Architecture · Braamfontein
Nelson Mandela Bridge
Photograph it from the Braamfontein side in the early evening, and leave by car or ride-hailing rather than walking at night.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
Day trips in autumn
- Pretoria (About 40 minutes by Gautrain from Sandton) — South Africa's administrative capital has the Union Buildings with a nine-metre Mandela statue, the hilltop Voortrekker Monument and the historic Church Square.
- Pilanesberg National Park (About 2.5–3 hours by car) — A malaria-free Big Five reserve set inside the eroded crater of an ancient volcano, with tarred and gravel roads suited to self-driving.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Johannesburg?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Settled, sunny weather and cooling evenings; one of the most comfortable times for sightseeing and day trips.
+What is the weather like in Johannesburg in autumn?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 17 rainy days over the season.