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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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"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 States04 Aug 2026

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Trustpilot review

"Was just awesome, pre-service to service and after-service, just great. At the lodge, the staff had a special birthday party for my son who turned 16. The drives were awesome too...."

Priyum Koonjul, Canada08 Jul 2026

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Trustpilot review

"We booked our safari trip through Justin van Wyk from Discover Africa, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. He organized and booked everything from A to Z, so we didn’t have to worry about anything at all. Throughout the entire trip, we stayed..."

Gianluca, Switzerland12 Apr 2026

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"I used Discover Africa services for organizing our South African safari. Justin was our organizer, he did an excellent job. He was very communicative, responsive and very helpful. He helped us all the way and kept in contact also during the Safari. I will d..."

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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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"We did a 3-week bespoke tour with Discover Africa and specifically Devryn Panaino. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana game parks. Our group of 6 had a fantastic time, as the itinerary was top notch, transfers smooth and now we can’t wait to go back. We were n..."

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