What are you looking for?

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

Ready to plan your tailor-made safari?

933 Reviews - 5/5 Stars

Craft your journey with the expertise of our dedicated Africa Safari Experts

Start Planning

What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Safari Bookings review

"We wanted to spend a week in Kruger and Chrizaan put together a visit to two areas (Sabi Sands and Timbavati). She chose two lodges that met our budget requirements and both were very good (Nkorho Bush Lodge and Motswari Main Camp). All the transits between..."

Forbes, Australia•22 Sep 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Google review

"We booked our 10-day safari in Tanzania and Kenya through Discover Africa, and it exceeded every expectation. From our first conversation through the end of our journey, everything was exceptionally well organized, allowing us to focus entirely on enjoying ..."

Dwyane George, United States•04 Aug 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"Going to south and central Africa was a bucket list item for me and booking a big and expensive trip always feels a bit risky and you hope you have made the right choice. Booking with Discover Africa was fantastic from beginning to end! Our trip coordina..."

Deanna Rozak, United States•25 May 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"Working with Susan made our experience just perfect. She has everything organized and it all went so well. Her recommendations were perfect. We loved the safaris she chose, the lodges, guides, staff and the experience were wonderful."

Marlene Wheatley, Canada•22 Mar 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"We travelled last August on a trip planned with Dev at Discover Africa. It was a family trip that i wanted us to remember forever and we definetly will! We could not have had an easier or more wonderful time and we would never have been able to plan and man..."

Megan Gray, United Kingdom•16 Feb 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"I have been more than impressed with this entire experience every time. I will continue to use them year after year."

April Harrington, United States•18 Dec 2025•

Read More
View All Testimonials

Our safari traveller reviews are independently verified and sourced from trusted third-party review platforms.