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South Africa in January

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

January is part of the shoulder season in South Africa. While it’s summer, the safari destinations in the north of the country experience rainy weather. In Cape Town, summer is the dry season, so it’s the perfect time for days spent on the beach and exploring wine farms.

This time of the year also sees a lot of travellers! The summer season coincides with school holidays, so international tourists as well as local travellers are at game reserves, national parks, hiking trails, and beaches.

While safari destinations in South Africa – like Kruger National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve, Timbavati Nature Reserve, and Sabi Sands – are experiencing the rainy season, it doesn’t mean that safaris aren’t enjoyable. You can expect lush landscapes, sightings of baby animals, and excellent birdwatching with migratory birds in parks and reserves.

Weather in January

Wildlife in the Kruger National Park.
Kruger and its surrounding areas are green during January thanks to the rains | Photo: iStock

Kruger National Park and surrounding areas are green thanks to the rains, which start around October. Water sources are abundant, so finding wildlife during game drives can be more challenging compared to the dry season. However, temperatures are still hot with highs of 34 °C/93 °F coupled with high humidity. In Cape Town, temperatures can reach highs of 29 °C/84 °F and lows of 18 °C/64 °F. This is coupled with bright blue skies and little to no rain.

Average Weather in January

Kruger and Surrounds

Temperatures Celsius FahrenheitRainfall
Min18℃64℉3.3 inches
Max34℃93℉5 inches

Cape Town

TemperaturesCelsiusFahrenheitRainfall
Min18℃64℉0.4 inches
Max29℃84℉1.5 inches

Destinations to Visit in South Africa During January

Sunset at Tswalu Loapi
Tswalu is a year-round safari destination no matter the month | Photo: Tswalu Loapi

Tswalu Kalahari Private Wildlife Reserve

Tswalu is a year-round safari destination, with exciting sightings no matter the month. Summer brings dramatic thunderstorms and showers, causing the landscape to flourish. This is the time of the year when animals have their young – so you may see adorable newborns – and migratory birds make an appearance.

The Garden Route

If you dream of spending days relaxing on pristine beaches and going on watersports adventures, the Garden Route in January is fantastic! The warm weather in the Western Cape makes iconic destinations like Plettenberg Bay and Knysna perfect coastal retreats for beach holidays.

Activities to Do in South Africa in January

Canoeing suring sunset
Canoeing is a great activity during the warm summer months | Photo: Getty
  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Swimming and snorkelling
  • Birdwatching in game parks
  • Photographic safaris

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"I worked with Justin Van Wyk at Discover Africa Safaris to arrange safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana, including a stop at Victoria Falls, for two of my children and me. The safaris were exquisite, and Justin was phenomenal—professional, responsive, and detai..."

Bill Reid, United States24 Jul 2026

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"An outstanding safari through Discover Africa- from the organisation and attentiveness, Thanks Vihann, to the sublime wildlife viewing and stunning sunsets this was Africa as you imagine it. Okavango is stunning and pristine form the air and the camps fabul..."

Paul, United Kingdom22 Jul 2026

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Trustpilot review

"Megan Warrington was amazing to work with. She was very informative and kept us up to date on everything. I found out that I would need to have surgery a few days after returning from the trip and asked Megan if she would be able to arrange for a wheelchair..."

Carla Novak, United States09 Mar 2026

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"We had an amazing experience at Walkers Plains Camp. The wildlife viewing was superb from start to finish. Our guide Millie and tracker were super friendly, extremely knowledgeable and made the game drives an absolute pleasure. The camp was very luxuriou..."

Sue Panayiotes, United Kingdom28 Dec 2025

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"Our safari trip to South Africa was nothing short of spectacular and I would like to thank Chrizaan for putting together a wonderful itinerary for us. Our first contact with Discover Africa was with a consultant who was amazing and very personable. Our plan..."

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"We travelled this summer with Discover Africa Safaris for the first time to Botswana, after spending 2 summers in Kenya and Tanzania. We got recommendations for this travel agency from friends and were really very satisfied with the service provided! We ..."

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