Season guide · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg in winter
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The Heritage Portal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Dry, bright days and cold, sometimes frosty nights; excellent game viewing in nearby reserves. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 3 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 4°C (39°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 3
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 16°C (61°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 1 | 10.5 h | 2/5 |
| July | 17°C (63°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 1 | 10.6 h | 3/5 |
| August | 20°C (68°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 1 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 3 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 winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Youth Day — commemorates the 1976 Soweto uprising, with events in Soweto (16 June)
- July: Mandela Day — volunteering and community events (18 July)
- August: National Women's Day — public holiday (9 August)
Good choices for winter
Gallery · Rosebank
Rosebank galleries and Keyes Art Mile
A cluster of commercial galleries around Jellicoe Avenue and Keyes Avenue shows leading contemporary South African and African artists, with design shops and restaurants in between.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
Museum · Ormonde
Apartheid Museum
Go in the morning while you are fresh, and leave time for the temporary exhibitions on Mandela and the transition to democracy.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Soweto
Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum
On 16 June 1976 police opened fire on students protesting against Afrikaans-language schooling, and 12-year-old Hector Pieterson was among those killed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Braamfontein
Origins Centre
Do it the day before visiting the Cradle of Humankind; the context makes the fossil sites far more meaningful.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Orchards
Satyagraha House
Gandhi lived in this thatched house, designed by his friend the architect Hermann Kallenbach, in 1908–1909 while developing his philosophy of non-violent resistance.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Johannesburg?
It is a trade-off: Dry, bright days and cold, sometimes frosty nights; excellent game viewing in nearby reserves. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Johannesburg in winter?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 3 rainy days over the season.