Season guide · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg in spring
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: James Ball, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Warming days, purple jacarandas in October and the return of summer storms from late October. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 22 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 22
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23°C (73°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 3 | 12 h | 3/5 |
| October | 25°C (77°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 8 | 12.8 h | 4/5 |
| November | 25°C (77°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 11 | 13.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 24°C (75°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 22 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 spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Heritage Day — public holiday, widely celebrated with braais (24 September)
- October: Jacaranda bloom across Johannesburg and Pretoria (usually October to early November)
- November: Soweto Marathon (usually November)
Make the most of the weather
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
Garden · Emmarentia
Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Emmarentia Dam
Lawns, a large rose garden, herb gardens and an arboretum slope down to Emmarentia Dam, where locals walk dogs, row and picnic at weekends.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
Zoo · Parkview
Johannesburg Zoo
Combine it with lunch at Zoo Lake across the road and a walk around the water.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Melville
Melville Koppies
A rocky ridge of protected Highveld grassland on the edge of Melville, with indigenous plants, birdlife and the remains of an Iron Age smelting furnace.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Landmark · Soweto
Orlando Towers
Even if you skip the jump, the platform view helps you understand Soweto's scale.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Views
- Photo spot
Day trips in spring
- Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg (About 1 hour by car) — A reservoir below the Magaliesberg range with weekend markets, waterside restaurants and the Harties Cableway, which lifts visitors to the ridge for wide views.
- Kruger National Park (About 5 hours by road; stay two nights or more) — South Africa's flagship park covers nearly two million hectares with the Big Five and more than 500 bird species.
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 spring a good time to visit Johannesburg?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warming days, purple jacarandas in October and the return of summer storms from late October.
+What is the weather like in Johannesburg in spring?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 22 rainy days over the season.