Month guide · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg in September
What September is really like in Johannesburg: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CMallwitz ( talk ), Public domain
Quick answer
September is one of the best months to visit Johannesburg. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 3 rainy days and roughly 12 hours of daylight. Spring arrives with warm, dry days; a very good month for sightseeing and safaris before the rains.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 3
- Daylight
- About 12 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in September
September is the 7th-warmest month in Johannesburg: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 3 of its 30 days. Compared with August (20°C (68°F)), September is warmer; by October highs climb to around 25°C (77°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:05
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 18:01
- Daylight
- About 12 hours
Summer (December–February). Warm days with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms; the city is quieter in late December and early January while residents are at the coast.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September 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 September
- Heritage Day — public holiday, widely celebrated with braais (24 September)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Braamfontein
Constitution Hill
Take the guided tour; former-prisoner stories bring the cells to life, and look for the court's art collection and the bricks reused in its walls.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Street · Soweto
Vilakazi Street and Mandela House
Nelson Mandela lived in the small brick house at 8115 Vilakazi Street in Orlando West from 1946 until his arrest in the early 1960s; it is now a museum with family photographs and bullet marks on the walls.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Food
Museum · Soweto
Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum
Walk the route between the museum and Vilakazi Street; markers on the pavement follow the students' march.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Soweto
Soweto by bicycle or with a local guide
Guided bicycle and walking tours from Orlando West lead through residential streets, past shebeens, schools and informal settlements, with stops at Vilakazi Street and the Hector Pieterson Memorial.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Active
- Food
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 9°C and 3 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit Johannesburg?
One of the best months to visit Johannesburg, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April–May and October. Compare every month.
Johannesburg in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Johannesburg?
It is one of the best months to visit Johannesburg. Spring arrives with warm, dry days; a very good month for sightseeing and safaris before the rains.
+How warm is Johannesburg in September?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Johannesburg in September?
Expect rain on about 3 days of the month, so it is usually dry.