Month guide · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg in March
What March is really like in Johannesburg: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The Heritage Portal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 12.3 hours of daylight. Pleasant temperatures and fewer storms as summer winds down; a comfortable month for sightseeing and day trips.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 6th-warmest month in Johannesburg: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with February (25°C (77°F)), March is about as warm; by April highs drop to around 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:09
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:25
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
Winter (June–August). Dry, bright days and cold, sometimes frosty nights; excellent game viewing in nearby reserves.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March 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 March
- Human Rights Day — public holiday (21 March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Theme park · Ormonde
Gold Reef City
Book the underground mine tour separately when you arrive; it is the part that explains how Johannesburg came to exist.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Active
Neighbourhood · Maboneng
Maboneng street art and galleries
Maboneng's converted warehouses around Fox Street hold galleries, studios, cafés and an independent cinema, and large murals by South African and international artists cover the walls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Food
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Landmark · Sandton
Nelson Mandela Square
Visit at dusk when the restaurants fill up, and combine it with shopping at Sandton City.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
Museum · Braamfontein
Origins Centre
At the University of the Witwatersrand, this museum explores human origins in Africa and holds one of the finest collections of southern African rock art.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 13°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March 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 March a good time to visit Johannesburg?
It is a shoulder-season month. Pleasant temperatures and fewer storms as summer winds down; a comfortable month for sightseeing and day trips.
+How warm is Johannesburg in March?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Johannesburg in March?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.