The southernmost edge of Africa offers some of the best whale watching in the world plus a coastal terrain of lakes, mountains, forests and golden beaches.
Hermanus offers the best land-based whale watching in the world from June to October
Drive the famous Garden Route, past deserted sandy beaches, sheltered lagoons, bush and mountain passes and indigenous forests
Hike along the coast to view the Knysna Heads, rock sentinels at the entrance to the Knysna lagoon, or follow the rugged circuit round the Robberg Peninsula
Sample some of South Africa’s finest seafood at the upscale restaurants of Plettenberg Bay, or at Knysna’s event-packed oyster festival
Escape the crowds at wild and rugged Wilderness or at beautiful Buffalo Bay
Overview
From June to October the clifftops around Hermanus offer the best land-based whale watching in the world, as southern right whales come to raise their calves in the Cape’s coastal waters. Peak calving season is July and August, while the Hermanus Whale Festival runs each year in mid to late September. At some Hermanus hotels, you can even spot whales from your bedroom window. The Garden Route is perhaps the most internationally renowned destination in South Africa, after Cape Town and Kruger National Park, and with good reason. Within a few hundred kilometres, the range of topography, vegetation and wildlife is breathtaking. Roughly encompassing the coastline from Mossel Bay in the west to just beyond Plettenberg Bay in the east, it caters to everyone from families and foodies to thrill seekers and nature lovers.
Both Wilderness and Buffalo Bay are beautiful stops near the start of the route, offering long golden beaches, bird-rich estuaries and sheltered lagoons. The charming town of Knysna is a great place to base yourself, complete with cliff-fringed harbour, serene lagoon, indigenous forests and acclaimed July oyster festival. Further east still is Plettenberg Bay, a resort town through and through, with white-sand beaches, a mountain backdrop and many excellent restaurants. Just south of Plett is one of the region’s best hikes, an 11-kilometre circuit around the rugged coastline of the Robberg Nature Reserve.
When to visit
Best
Good
Varied
January
27ºC
Maximum Tempurature
15ºC
Minimum Tempurature
24mm
Average Rainfall
January is the peak of the summer season and a wonderful time to visit the Garden Route and the wider Western Cape region, with long, warm, dry days, clear blue skies and mild evenings. Reliably good weather lends itself to lazy days on the beach or around the pool. In Cape Town, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
February
28ºC
Maximum Tempurature
15ºC
Minimum Tempurature
25mm
Average Rainfall
As with January, February is the peak of the summer season and tends to be one of the hottest months along the Garden Route, with temperatures in the high 20s. Days are hot and dry with very little to no rainfall, though coastal areas and towns tend to be cooled by the ocean breezes. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town host a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
March
25ºC
Maximum Tempurature
14ºC
Minimum Tempurature
35mm
Average Rainfall
Temperatures start to cool from the height of the summer season, though days are still warm, sunny and dry. There are a number of events that take place in Cape Town in March. For cycling fans there is the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Cape Epic, while for lovers of music there's the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. March and April are the peak nesting months for the African penguins at Boulders Beach and Stony Point - a great time to visit as most of the penguins are on the beach. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
April
23ºC
Maximum Tempurature
12ºC
Minimum Tempurature
83mm
Average Rainfall
April is the Western Cape's best-kept secret. With the winter season just around the corner, the temperatures start to drop and there is increased precipitation, however days are still warm and sunny. Evenings are cooler so an extra layer may be needed. There are significantly fewer tourists, so fewer crowds and queues at popular attractions. March and April are the peak nesting months for the African penguins at Boulders Beach and Stony Point - a great time to visit as most of the penguins are on the beach. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
May
20ºC
Maximum Tempurature
10ºC
Minimum Tempurature
117mm
Average Rainfall
May heralds the end of the summer season and the onset of cooler and wetter weather, however it's still a wonderful time to visit, with mild, mostly sunny days and chilly evenings. Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands hosts the annual Franschhoek Literary Festival, which centres around writers, fine dining and classical music concerts.
June
18ºC
Maximum Tempurature
9ºC
Minimum Tempurature
143mm
Average Rainfall
The weather can be cool and wet in the Western Cape at this time, with average temperatures around 11°C. Southern right whales start to arrive in the waters off Hermanus to raise their calves. Hermanus is one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world, though whales can in fact be seen off the coast all along the Garden Route, from Hermanus to Plettenberg Bay.
July
17ºC
Maximum Tempurature
8ºC
Minimum Tempurature
131mm
Average Rainfall
The weather can be cool and wet in the Western Cape at this time, with average temperatures around 11°C. More whales arrive off the coast, offering spectacular land-based whale watching from Hermanus all along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay. Hermanus is one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world. July also sees Knysna conduct its action-packed Oyster Festival. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
August
18ºC
Maximum Tempurature
9ºC
Minimum Tempurature
126mm
Average Rainfall
The Western Cape is still chilly this time of the year, especially at night, and rainfall is to be expected. The Table Mountain cable car closes in August for annual maintenance. Outside the city there's spectacular land-based whale watching to be enjoyed from Hermanus all the way through to Plettenberg Bay. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
September
20ºC
Maximum Tempurature
10ºC
Minimum Tempurature
70mm
Average Rainfall
September heralds the start of spring in the Western Cape. The days are getting warmer though evenings are still cool. September is also mid-whale season, with excellent land-based whale watching available from Hermanus all the way along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay. September also holds the celebrated Hermanus Whale Festival, which takes place towards the end of the month. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
October
23ºC
Maximum Tempurature
11ºC
Minimum Tempurature
55mm
Average Rainfall
October offers beautiful mild and sunny days with less rainfall. Excellent land-based whale watching is available from Hermanus all along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay, with Hermanus being one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
November
24ºC
Maximum Tempurature
13ºC
Minimum Tempurature
31mm
Average Rainfall
November brings an increase in temperature as summertime arrives in the Western Cape. It's also the last month of whale-watching season in Hermanus and along the Garden Route. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings. Popular towns and beauty spots along the Garden Route are humming with activity.
December
25ºC
Maximum Tempurature
15ºC
Minimum Tempurature
27mm
Average Rainfall
Summer has arrived in the Western Cape with hot sunny days, clear blue skies and little to no rain. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings. Popular towns and beauty spots along the Garden Route are humming with activity.