South Africa in January

South Africa in January

By Andre Van Kets

Co-founder, Discover Africa

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Given the perfectly sunny weather, January is the best time for a safari in South Africa. Although some areas of the country offer exceptional wildlife sightings all year round, January is a time when almost all national parks can be enjoyed in any safari season.

Your destination of choice and the month you’d like to visit greatly impact what you see and do while on vacation. The sun is out in January, so you can enjoy various activities, including swimming, nature walks and hikes, and mountain biking. In a nutshell, the amount of activities can be endless, and this typically depends on the level of outdoors you would like to have during your safari trip.

Weather in January

The weather in South Africa is generally the best during January. This means very little rain and plenty of sunshine, making it an excellent time for game viewing.

If your idea is to do as much as possible, January allows you to experience plenty of activities and excursions, as nothing is off-limits. You’ll essentially be painting the town red!

Pros

• Abundant wildlife viewing – parks are dry during January, directly impacting how much you see wild animals
• Sunny weather – no day needs to be spent indoors

Cons

• Peak season – higher rates apply during seasons in which wildlife is more visible

National Parks to Visit in South Africa and Why

Kruger National Park

Considered one of the most popular parks in South Africa, Kruger National Park has one of the highest wildlife densities in Africa. The park tends to get very crowded during school holidays, and its high season is through December and January.

What to do:

• Swimming
• Backpacking
• Mountain biking
• Game drives

Kgalagadi National Park

Commonly known for its acres upon acres of red dunes, the Kgalagadi National Park is a place to visit if you want to get away from busy city life. Although the desert is often characterised as unoccupied, the wildlife more than makes up for this.

What to do:

• Mountain biking
• Hiking

Garden Route National Park

The Garden Route National Park is the perfect place to unwind and regroup in South Africa. Surrounded by indigenous forests and fynbos, it has a diverse cultural heritage, rich history, and unique local traditions, making it a must-visit for cultural enthusiasts.

What to do:

• Canoeing – in the wilderness section of the park
• Kayaking – hire your kayaks from the SanParks Thesen Island office
• Swimming – dive into Nature’s Valley Beach