CAPE TOWN WEATHER, CLIMATE AND HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Cape Town Holiday and
Tourist Information
Cape Town is the Provincial
capital of
the Western
Cape and the legislative capital and economic
hub of South Africa. It is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the
world. The city is famous for its weather, harbour and well-known landmarks, such as Table
Mountain and
Cape Point. Subsequently, Cape Town is the top holiday destination in
Africa as a whole due to offering an excellent climate, natural setting, and
well-developed infrastructure. The high volume of tourism is definitely a
contributing factor as to why Cape Town had the
honour of being named the most entrepreneurial city in South Africa. As well as
the metropolitan region having an estimated population of 3.74 million.
Cape Town Weather and
Climate
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate
that involves mild,
moderately wet winters and dry, warm summers. Due to the extensive
mountain ranges covering Cape Town, some parts of the city receive approximately
500mm of precipitation annually, whereas other parts will receive in excess of 1000mm. Furthermore,
Cape Town's average amount of sunshine per year is similar to Los Angeles.
Check out the current climate conditions for Cape Town.
During the winter months (May-September), Cape Town's
climate is very wet and tends to be a lot cooler, with temperatures ranging
from a low of -5°C to highs of 21°C. There is usually around 7 to 8 hours of
sunshine per day, with approximately 8 days of fog. During these months the
humidity is 77% and the average rainfall is 58mm, with the wettest month being
July.
The summer months in Cape Town
(November to March), are generally much drier, due to the Mediterranean
climate. Average temperatures range between lows of 8°C to highs of 29°C. In
general February is the hottest time of the year to visit. Rainfall has been
recorded at approximately 12-27 millimetres, with the average rain or drizzle
falling on 6 days of the month. Sunshine throughout these months range between 10-12
hours per day. Night time temperatures rarely drop below 14°C, providing a comfortable evening.
Cape Town Tourist attractions
A tip for getting around-
although Cape Town's public transport has improved vastly, it can still be
restricted. However they offer great car hiring services, as well as being a
well sign posted city therefore a great idea for those who want to get around
and maybe travel further than Cape Town!
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a significant
landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town. It forms a part of the Table Mountain
National Park. Tourists can either use
the cableway or hike to the top in
order to feast their eyes on the epic view. Check out a Table View forecast
here.
Top Tip: Stop for the sunset. Capetonians celebrate the
brave views of Cape Town's sunset, and recommend taking a bottle of wine and a picnic
to the tip of Table Mountain to gain the best views. This is said to be an
unforgettable experience!
Entertainment
Long Street is the best place for partying: stylish bars such
as Julep, Waiting Room and Neighbourhood will cater to your unique
tastes for atmosphere.
Cape Town’s jazz scene is an essential part of its heritage.
Cape Jazz has a distinct African style of Jazz and you will hear it everywhere
in the cape. Cape Town hosts a number of international jazz festivals and
events e.g. Jazzathon, that attracts a large number of tourists and locals each
year.
Shopping
The Cape Quarter shopping centre is situated on Somerset
Road in Green Point. It has a great array of fashion stores such as Giovanna Shoes, Desray, Democratic Republic and Vogel
& Aitken. It also houses entertainment, lifestyle stores and excellent
restaurants.
Explore the Continent’s Unique Tastes and Flavours
Cape Town offers tastes from around the African continent,
e.g. Samp (crushed maize used in porridge), Marog (African spinach) or Injeras
(flatbreads) from Ethiopia. Tastes not to be missed whilst visiting!
Beaches
Beta Beach is located just ten minutes’ drive from the
city centre. This small and intimate beach is ideal for swimming and
sun-bathing in peace.
Smitswinkelbaai is located in the direction of Cape Point;
it offers calm water that is ideal for snorkelling and an incredible view of
the lush valley.
Tietiesbaai is less than two hours’ drive from town. It
is located in the Cape Columbine Reserve on the West Coast. Tietiesbaai is a
silent haven that hosts a colourful array of wild flowers in Spring.
Dive into Shark Infested Waters
Cape Town waters have a diverse shark population, hosting 40
of the world’s shark species.
If you are an adrenalin junky then the 175-kilometre
(110-mile) journey to Gansbaii will attract you. This has been dubbed as the shark
capital of the world. Shark cage diving is a popular and profitable business there.
it is advised to check water temperature, when choosing the best time to dive.
Robben Island
For an eye opening dose of
history, visit Robben Island. It is 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town. Since the end of the 17th century, Robben Island had
been used for the isolation of mainly political prisoners. Nelson Mandela (Nobel Laureate and former President of South
Africa) was
imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years. Mandela’s prison cell definitely
warrants a visit for a thought provoking experience.